Counselor vs. Therapist: What’s the Difference?
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The U.S. is facing a mental health crisis. In a 2022 Kaiser Family Foundation and CNN survey, 90% of people agreed with that assessment. Consequently, mental health professionals, especially counselors and therapists, are in high demand.
Many people think counselors and therapists are interchangeable because they both address mental, emotional, and behavioral concerns. While the two professions certainly overlap, key differences set counselors apart from therapists.
Use our guide below to explore both professions, including what it takes to become a counselor or a therapist and how much you can earn in each role.
What Is a Counselor?
Counselors assess clients who come for help with mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders or with relational challenges. They create a treatment plan that includes non-pharmacological interventions, such as talk therapy, and teach their clients new skills for managing their lives and relationships.
Counselors who provide clinical services to clients must hold state licensure to practice in their field, and most states legally protect the terms licensed professional counselor (LPC) and licensed mental health counselor (LMHC).
In every state, counselors must have a qualifying master’s degree or higher to meet licensure requirements. Counselors may specialize in a specific area, such as substance use, play therapy, or sex therapy, and some counselors are specially trained to work in schools.
Reality Check: How Long Does It Take To Become A Counselor or Therapist?
These professions typically require a four-year bachelor’s degree, a two-year master’s degree, and two years of supervised experience. From start to finish, you’ll spend at least eight years in work and study to qualify as a counselor or therapist.
What Is a Therapist?
The term “therapist” can refer to someone practicing in one of several helping professions, including physical, occupational, or speech therapy, or it may mean certain mental health professionals, including licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFTs), behavioral therapists, addiction therapists, child therapists, and many others.
Therapists, like counselors, are master’s-level practitioners who provide non-pharmacological interventions for clients with emotional or relational dysfunctions. Also like their counselor counterparts, they must hold state licensure.
The chart below breaks down the similarities and differences between these two similar professions. As you’ll see, they are quite similar, with one main difference being that counselors focus more on meeting short-term goals, while therapists focus more on longer-term treatment.
Counselor vs. Therapist
| Characteristics | Counselor | Therapist |
|---|---|---|
| State Licensure Required | Yes | Yes |
| Bachelor’s Degree | Yes | Yes |
| Master’s Degree | Yes | Yes |
| Optional Specialization in Substance Use | Yes | Yes |
| Optional Qualification as Registered Play Therapist | Yes | Yes |
| Can Prescribe Medication | No | No |
| Qualifies as a Social Worker | No | No |
| Qualifies as a Psychologist | No | No |
| Median Annual Salary (2023) | $53,710 | $58,510 |
Counselor vs. Therapist: Becoming a Mental Health Professional
STEP 1: Becoming a counselor or therapist begins with a bachelor’s degree. Some graduate counseling programs prefer a bachelor’s degree in counseling or a human services field such as psychology, while others accept any academic major.
STEP 2: Once you have earned a bachelor’s degree, you must complete a master’s degree in counseling or marriage and family therapy.
- The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) requires counselor preparation programs to include a minimum of 60 credits.
- The Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) does not establish minimum credit hours for therapy degrees, but individual state licensing boards may.
STEP 3: After graduation, if you are pursuing licensure as an LPC, LMHC, or LMFT, you need to meet state requirements. Typically, that includes passing a standardized exam and completing two or more years of supervised counseling experience under a licensed supervisor.
| Requirements | Counseling Degree | Marriage and Family Therapy Degree |
|---|---|---|
| Internship and Practicum | 700 hours minimum | 400 hours minimum |
| Programmatic Accrediting Agency | Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs | Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education |
| Required Credits | 60 credits or more | Varies; typically 60 credits |
Counselor vs. Therapist Salary: Who Earns More Money?
As an LPC or LMFT, you will probably earn more than a substance use counselor, case manager, or school counselor but less than a psychiatrist or psychologist. In terms of salary comparison between a counselor and a therapist, their earnings potentials are comparable.
In 2023, the BLS stated that marriage and family therapists earned a median annual salary of $58,510, and mental health counselors earned $53,710. Both salaries exceed the national median wage of $48,060 for all occupations.
However, these are just data points, and your income depends on many factors. For example, LPCs and LMFTs in private practice can earn higher-than-average wages compared to those working in community mental health.
Counselor vs. Therapist Job Outlook
The BLS projects:
- Employment for substance use, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors would grow by 19% from 2023-2033.
- The economy would see 48,900 annual openings for these counselors from 2023-2033.
- Employment for marriage and family therapists would grow by 16% from 2023-2033.
- The economy would see 7,500 annual openings for LMFTs from 2023-2033.
How to Get a Counseling or Therapy Degree
- Choose a Regionally Accredited College or University: Your college should hold institutional accreditation with a regional accrediting agency. Regional accreditation ensures access to financial aid, state licensure qualification, and value for your degree in the marketplace.
- Prioritize Accredited Programs: Accreditors are different for therapists and counselors. Look for accreditation with CACREP for counseling programs and COAMFTE for therapy degrees. Some states require programmatic accreditation if you intend to pursue licensure.
- Select a School That Aligns With Your Values: What are your beliefs regarding diversity and inclusion, counseling theories, and religion’s role in the helping relationship? Look for schools that support your beliefs and values.
- Pick a Program With a Specialization You Want: There are several types of counseling degrees with different focus areas. If you hope to specialize in substance use disorders or career counseling, find a school that offers that specialization. Consider an online counseling degree program if you cannot find a suitable program near you.
- Consider Affordability and Accessibility: Lastly, is your preferred program located near your home or available online? Can you afford the tuition without going deep into student loan debt? Consider these and other practical aspects of going to school before you enroll.
Frequently Asked Questions About Counselors and Therapists
The primary difference lies in their scope of practice. “Therapist” can be an overarching term for anyone who works in mental health. More specifically, however, a counselor offers broad-based, non-pharmaceutical interventions for short-term issues, while therapists tend to focus on longer-term issues and treatment. Counselors also work with individuals more often than therapists, who may focus on relationship work.
In a clinical sense, counselors and therapists are both mental health clinicians with much overlap in their responsibilities. The differences between the two are often a matter of semantics.
