Lesson 2.8 Types of Mental Health Providers and Their Scope
Another way that you can support others with their mental health journey towards wellness is sharing information about mental health providers and professionals roles.
Descriptions of Mental Health Provider Services and Roles
- In-patient services: You spend the night at the treatment facility and can access staff support 24/7.
- Out-patient services: You don’t spend the night at the treatment facility but you go to your appointments.
- Partial day services: You go to your scheduled appointments during the day but you don’t spend the night.
- Support groups: You meet with people with similar lived experiences for one to two hours. A clinician or trained counselor leads these meetings.
Professional Roles
Case managers assist with applying for resources such as Social Security benefits and Medicaid. They’re aware of housing options in their area and know how to get housing vouchers or rental assistance. They know about community programs and groups, and about job training and possible work.
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Nursing assistant/psychiatric aid/mental health worker/behavior technicians work under the direction of psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses and social workers in inpatient settings to provide routine nursing and personal care for the patient, including eating, dressing, grooming and showering. They help ensure that the unit is safe.
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Patient advocates assist families to resolve or address issues regarding quality of care.
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Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in psychiatry and are typically in charge of the patient’s care plan.
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Psychologists administer diagnostic tests, conduct individual, family or group therapy sessions.
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Psychiatric nurse practitioners diagnose and treat mental health conditions and provide health care, including prescribing medication.
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Physician assistants treat illnesses, including prescribing medications.
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Registered nurses (RN) assess the patient’s progress and provide emotional support, encouragement and health education. The RN also administers medications and monitors the overall health of the patient.
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Social workers identify social service and therapeutic needs, help connect the patient with community resources, and make referrals for services. They work directly with the patient, their family and community providers to explain treatment options and plans and identify any ongoing needs for the patient.
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Therapists conduct individual, group, or family therapy. The therapist can be a Psychologist (Ph.D.), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), or Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT).
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Providers’ Scope of Practice
Understanding mental health terminology and professional roles can help you:
- navigate what can be a complex mental health system
- improve your ability to support others in choosing the best care for themselves
- know what mental health providers can and can’t do
“The practice of clinical mental health counseling includes, but is not limited to, diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders, psycho-educational techniques aimed at the prevention of mental and emotional disorders, consultations to individuals, couples, families, groups, organizations and communities, and clinical research into more effective psychotherapeutic treatment modalities.”
– Emphasis added. AMHCA Standards for the Practice of Clinical Mental Health Counseling (2020).
This is called the scope of practice.
When you understand a mental health provider’s scope of practice, you have the knowledge needed to aid you in going to the right person for the right type of care.
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