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The
Four Professions
Los Angeles is one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world with
thousands of professionals listed who practice in various professional
settings. These settings include: private practice, hospitals, community
clinics, state and federal agencies, educational institutions, and religious
organizations. These professional can be divided into two major groups:
the four major licensed professionals, and the field of helping professionals.
Four
Major Professions
The four major professions include the psychiatrist, the psychologist,
the clinical social worker (LCSW), the marriage and family therapist
(MFT), and the psychotherapist. Most practice researched methods, skills,
and psychotherapeutic techniques. The licensing requirements have been
standardized by the State of
California and the differences between professional titles are generally
related to formal education. The psychiatrist and the psychologist generally
have the most formal education. The psychiatrist, being a medical doctor,
is the only professional who can prescribe and administer medication.
The psychiatrist and psychologist have anywhere from 8 to 16 years of
formal education beyond high school. The clinical social worker, and
the marriage and family therapist, have 8 to 14 years. The actual length
of training will depend upon the professional's particular specialty
and interest. All four professional groups have continuing education
requirements.
Helping
Professionals
In this field formal educational requirements may or may not be standardized;
formal education can range from high school graduate to 6 years of college.
Licensing is not usually required. This group includes, but is not limited
to: psychiatric technicians, para-professionals, lay counselors, pastoral
counselors, weekend group leaders, movement therapists, art therapists,
some sex therapists, mystics. Some work as assistants or in conjunction
with the four major professions and are indispensable; others have little
or not connection with licensed and qualified professionals.
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