Psychotherapist vs. Psychologist: What’s the Difference?
In the field of mental health, it can seem like every “psych” prefix is appended with a slightly different ending.
Take, for example, the difference between a psychotherapist vs psychologist.
While many people use these terms interchangeably, the educational paths, credentialing, and scopes of practice between the two roles differ considerably.
Understanding both options, including the clinical practice, professional licensure, and graduate/doctoral programs offered by Alliant University, can better prepare you for a rich, rewarding career in psychology, no matter which path you choose.
What Is a Psychotherapist?
Psychotherapists are licensed mental health practitioners who provide psychotherapy (or talk therapy) across various disciplines. Their title distinguishes them from physical or non-mental health therapists, meaning that “psychotherapist” is more of a blanket term rather than a single license or degree. Psychotherapists work closely with clients to address mental health issues, support healthy relationships, and help each person process their thoughts.
Thus, psychotherapists may be found in a broad scope of settings, including:
- Social work and community support activities
- Professional counseling (e.g., for grief, addiction, careers, etc.)
- Therapy for married couples, families, children, or groups
The core similarity is that psychotherapists primarily deliver hands-on support and coping strategies through sessions; in other words, therapy.
As we will discuss shortly, this focus is reflected in their education, which centers on therapeutic techniques and their application rather than deeper scientific or psychological theory.
What Is a Psychologist?
Psychologists are mental health professionals trained to study behavior and mental processes, holding a doctoral degree in psychology (PhD or PsyD) to do so. Psychologists often collaborate with mental health counselors and other professionals to provide comprehensive services for clients facing complex challenges.
Psychologists receive extensive training in psychotherapy, as well as extended disciplines that include:
- Psychological assessment and diagnosis
- Scientific study of behavior, cognition, and emotion
- Planning and delivery of evidence-based treatments
This blend of hands-on therapy and sharp scientific methodology uniquely qualifies psychologists to work in either academic or clinical settings.
Whichever path you ultimately choose to pursue, the doctoral psychology programs at Alliant help prepare students for licensure as psychologists through advanced coursework, research, and supervised clinical experiences.
Education and Training Differences
For students exploring these clinical psychology careers, the educational pathway for a psychologist vs psychotherapist differs greatly.
Psychotherapists typically require:
- A master’s degree, or in some cases, a discipline-specific doctoral degree
- Two to three years of supervised clinical experience
- State-specific licensure, such as Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Psychologists, on the other hand, often need to complete:1
- A doctoral degree (PhD in Clinical Psychology or PsyD in Clinical Psychology)
- Advanced coursework in assessment, diagnosis, and research
- One to two years of supervised postdoctoral training
- A national licensing Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP)2
- State-dependent requirements (further exams, number of training hours, etc.)
In short, becoming a psychologist is the longer path, requiring a doctoral degree (whereas a psychotherapist only needs a master’s) in addition to significant postdoctoral training and job readiness for independent practice as a clinical psychologist.
Approaches and Scope of Practice
Both psychologists and psychotherapists also see a significant divergence in their approach and scope of practice—in other words, how they tackle problems and perform day-to-day tasks:
- Psychotherapists primarily focus on talk therapy. The scope of their treatment extends to helping individuals or clients (or couples and families) manage emotional, behavioral, and situational challenges through counseling techniques. For example, they may help a couple build better communication skills, or work as a school counselor to address mental health issues such as avoidance or anger management.
- Psychologists deliver a broader scope of services. While psychotherapy is a core aspect of their offerings, their licensure qualifies them to combine diagnostic assessments and evidence-based treatments to handle more complex cases. This might include treating people with learning disabilities, cognitive disorders, or long-term mental illness, or working alongside mental health counselors to coordinate care.
Ultimately, both psychologists and psychotherapists share a common goal: Helping others improve their mental and emotional health. The difference, again, lies in the level of clinical training and specialization, as well as how sessions are structured to meet the needs of clients.
Choosing the Right Path for You
While there is no “wrong answer” for aspiring students, it is a good idea to consider your long-term professional goals given the extensive commitment required by each path.
To help you decide between a psychotherapist vs psychologist career, ask yourself:
- Am I more interested in therapy and supporting others with emotional and relational guidance? If so, a psychotherapist role may suit you better.
- Am I drawn more to psychological assessment, diagnostic work, research, and advanced clinical training? If so, a psychologist may be the best match.
You might also ask, “Should I become a clinical psychologist?” consider whether you want to commit to doctoral-level training, research, and possible postdoctoral supervision in order to pursue the broader diagnostic and treatment roles that come with that title.
Since psychotherapists generally require a master’s degree along with specialized licensure, this option may offer a shorter path for students seeking to practice therapy sooner.
In contrast, if you see yourself pursuing roles that require doctoral-level expertise, a psychology program may be the right choice. For example, the clinical psychology programs offered by Alliant provide a straightforward path to licensure with hands-on clinical experience grounded in a study of the psychological sciences, helping students find their ideal job in mental health care.
Keep in mind that licensure requirements vary by state. Students should review the program pages at Alliant to understand how each option aligns with state-specific conditions.
Begin Your Journey in Clinical Psychology
While both psychotherapists and psychologists support mental health, psychologists undergo more extensive doctoral training. That, in turn, enables them to deliver psychotherapy in addition to broader services for clients with complex mental health issues.
By considering your preferences and goals, you can decide between a psychotherapist vs psychologist career with even greater confidence.
If you are ready to pursue advanced study in psychology and develop the skills to assess, diagnose, and treat mental health issues, explore the clinical psychology graduate programs at Alliant today.
Sources:
- “About APA Accreditation.” APA. Accessed November 30, 2025. https://accreditation.apa.org/about
- “EPPP Exam Types.” ASPPB. Accessed November 30, 2025. https://asppb.net/exams/asppb-examination-for-professional-psychology-eppp/eppp-exam-types/
