What’s the Difference Between a Counselor and a Therapist?

Counselors and therapists are two terms for mental health professionals who help people address mental, emotional, and behavioral health issues. Therapists and counselors typically have training in psychology, social work, or a similar area.

These professionals are more in demand than they’ve ever been, as 90% of survey respondents on the topic believe the country is facing a mental health crisis, even as one-third reported being unable to access the mental health services they needed.

People who are considering attending counseling or therapy — or who are pondering a career in mental healthcare — may have some confusion over the difference between counselor and therapist.

This guide will explain the terms, the professions, and career outlooks for the two fields.

So what is the difference between counselor and therapist? While there are more similarities between the two professions than differences, there are a few important distinctions to keep in mind.

For example, “therapist” is a general term for any mental health professional who is licensed to provide talk therapy and diagnose mental health disorders. This can include a licensed professional counselor with graduate-level training as a therapist, as well as psychologists, clinical social workers, and even medical doctors.

The terms counselor and therapist are often used interchangeably, and while some counselors are therapists, the fields are not the same. A lot of the nuance depends on how the term is being used and what training a counselor has.

For example, many states provide undergraduate-level certification for substance use and addiction counselors. Their training and skills overlap with those of a therapist, but their scope of practice is limited in comparison to therapists, who require graduate-level training.

The following chart shows some of the key differences between counselor and therapist.

There are many paths to becoming a counselor or therapist. It depends on what your goals are and what resources are available to you.

It is okay if you aren’t sure what type of counselor or therapist you want to be, or what you want to specialize in. This is often determined as you gain more experience over time.

Earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related field is a common first step. It is often required to qualify for entry-level counseling jobs and provides a solid foundation if you are interested in pursuing graduate school.

To become a fully licensed counselor or therapist, the next step after earning a bachelor’s degree is to attend graduate school. This can be a competitive process that involves:

It is important to know that each state has its own requirements for therapists to become fully licensed. Although some requirements may vary, generally the process involves completing graduate school, fulfilling clinical internship hours after graduation, and passing board exams.

Several factors influence earning potential for counselors and therapists, including workplace, specialty, geographic location, experience, and education level.

Generally, however, fully licensed counselors and therapists — in other words, those with a higher level of education — tend to have more professional opportunities and higher pay compared to bachelor’s-level counselors. For example, licensed counselors can work with insurance companies to establish their own practice, while undergraduate-level counselors cannot.

These charts use 2024 data from Payscale to give an idea of pay ranges for common counseling jobs based on education level. Due to the overlap between the fields and professions, it is difficult to group salaries strictly by education level, but the figures should offer a general overview based on job title.

The average annual salary for the entire counseling profession, including therapists, is about $57,000.

The degree you need to become a counselor or therapist depends on your goals. Many counselors and therapists earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related field, but various undergraduate majors can be considered for grad school. If you plan to work as an undergraduate-level counselor, you will want to check with your state board to see if you qualify for the position or positions you hope to pursue.

Here is a chart that shows common therapist titles and the type of degree required.

Here are some more specific degrees that can also lead to a career as a therapist.