Clinical Psychologists
Clinical Health Psychologists
Clinical Neuropsychologists

Both Dr. Kilcoyne and Dr. Shelton are
Licensed Clinical Health Psychologists.

Clinical Psychologists hold a license from the State Board of Psychology allowing them to practice independently and provide treatment for emotional, mental, and nervous conditions. They must hold a doctoral degree in clinical psychology and complete a post-doctoral residency and a post-residency fellowship or equivalent training experience. They must also pass a national and state board exam. Health psychologists must complete specialized training in psychological factors related to medical conditions. Neuropsychologists must complete specialized training in neuropsychology and pass a national subspecialty exam. Psychologists provide psychological testing and evaluation, psychotherapy, and in some states prescribe psychotropic medications.

Psychological Practitioners

Psychological Practitioners hold a masters degree in psychology. They do not complete residencies or fellowships. They must have 5 years of experience working under the active supervision of a doctoral level licensed psychologist and must then pass national board exam before receiving licenses to practice independently.

Psychological Associates

Psychological Associates hold a masters degree in psychology. They do not complete residencies or fellowships. They must pass a national board exam to obtain a license. They must practice under the active supervision of a doctoral level licensed psychologist and may not practice independently.

Certified Psychologist with Autonomous Functioning

Certified Psychologists with Autonomous Functioning hold a masters degree in psychology and have passed a national and state board exam. They are allowed to practice independently because they were licensed as psychologists prior to the law requiring a doctoral degree to use the title “psychologist.”

Psychiatrists

Psychiatrists hold a doctorate in medicine or osteopathy or, in some states, naturopathy. They are physicians who after receiving their doctoral degree completed residencies in mental health. They must pass national and state board exams to receive their license to practice independently. Sometimes psychiatrists provide psychotherapy but most often they focus on pharmacological treatment of emotional and mental disorders.

Psychiatric Nurses

Psychiatric Nurses hold either a bachelors or a masters degree in nursing and have completed some coursework and training in mental health. They must pass a national board exam in order to receive their certification. Registered nurses, nurse practitioners, and clinical nurse specialists must practice under the supervision of a licensed physician.

Licensed Professional Counselors

Licensed Professional Counselors hold a masters degree in a counseling related field. They have completed two years of post-masters supervised clinical experience and must pass a national board exam before receiving licenses to practice independently.

Licensed Clinical Social Workers

Licensed Clinical Social Workers hold a masters degree in social work and have completed two years of post-masters supervised clinical experience. They must pass a national board exam prior to receiving a license to practice independently.

Licensed Marriage & Family Therapists

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists hold a masters degree in marriage and family therapy or an equivalent course of study and have completed two years of post-masters supervised clinical experience. They must pass a national board exam before receiving a license to practice independently.

Professional Art Therapists

Professional Art Therapists hold a masters degree in Art Therapy or related course of study. They must complete a year of supervised clinical experience and pass a national board exam prior to receiving a license to practice independently.

Fee-Based Pastoral Counselors

Fee-Based Pastoral Counselor are ordained ministers who hold a masters degree of divinity and have completed an advanced degree program or other approved course of study by the state board in pastoral counseling. They are licensed to practice counseling independently within the context of their religious denomination or faith group.

Christian Counselors

Christian Counselors may hold professional licenses in the mental health field and choose to define themselves by this title to reflect the integration of the Christian faith into their work. However, lay persons with absolutely no education or experience in counseling whatsoever may still be members of the American Association of Christina Counselors and refer to themselves as Christian Counselors.

Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselors

Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselors hold a bachelors degree and have completed specialized coursework and supervised clinical experience in drug and alcohol disorders. They must pass a national and state board exam in order to practice independently in the area of substance abuse treatment.

School Psychologists

School Psychologists are credentialed by the State Board of Education. They may provide services independently only within the school setting. They are not equivalent to Clinical Psychologists and legislation is pending set forth by the American Psychological Association that may result in their inability to use the term “psychologist” at all.

Guidance Counselors

Guidance Counselors are teachers who have been certified by the State Board of Education to use this term. Guidance Counselors may provide services only within the school setting.

“Psychotherapists” or “Therapists”

The terms “Psychotherapist” or “Therapist” are not legally protected. Therefore, individuals sometimes refer to themselves by these titles when they do not have a license from a state board authorizing them to provide mental health services. They may have little or no training in mental health.