Mental Health America states that mental health counselors are trained to provide individual and group counseling sessions. They can diagnose mental health issues, but they cannot prescribe medications. To make a diagnosis, professionals usually perform a psychological evaluation and ask about the patient's history. In some cases, special tests may be ordered to rule out other medical conditions.
Many experts believe that labels can lead clients to focus on the wrong aspects of their mental health condition. For instance, a psychiatrist, a doctor trained to evaluate mental health disorders, may be more confident in making a diagnosis than a mental health professional with different qualifications. Whether or not your therapist diagnoses mental health conditions depends on various factors, including your own preferences. The following is a list of the types of mental health treatment professionals to help you understand the differences between the services they provide. Getting a mental health diagnosis can help you and your therapist select the right treatments for your condition and identify potential health risks in the future.
