# Which mental healthcare provider should I use?

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-mental-healthcare-provider-should-i-use/405113
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [May 22, 2007, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-mental-healthcare-provider-should-i-use/405113 "2007-05-22T18:41:11Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![Avarie537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@Avarie537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avarie537)
#### Post date: [May 22, 2007, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-mental-healthcare-provider-should-i-use/405113/1 "2007-05-22T18:41:11Z")

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(I’m not asking for medical advice - I’m trying to figure out where to go for medical advice. Hope that’s OK!)

Here’s the deal:

I’m depressed - I have been for years. I’m currently on Celexa (10mg SID), but I have finally gotten to the point where I’m ready to add counseling/therapy to my treatment. (My regular doctor prescribed the Celexa.)

So when I look up a mental health care provider, who should I look up? What’s the difference between a clinical/independent psycholgist, professional counselor (LMFT or LMHC) , and a social worker (LCSW)? I know that psyciatrists are the only ones who can prescribe medications. When I check my provider listing, it seems like there tends to be a group of psychologists/counselors and one psychiatrist listed at each office. Is that so there’s someone “in charge” who can write prescriptons?

Thanks for your help.