Those of us in mental, behavioral health and substance abuse fields generally know the difference between all the different professionals that support individuals and families. Unfortunately, we don’t always do a great job of helping clients understand the differences (and similarities). So, without further explanation, we present a humble attempt at defining professionals you may come across.
Educational Consultant: Also known as E.C.s, educational consultants started out decades ago helping families get their kids into college, private school and boarding schools. As family needs changed, so did E.C.’s focus. Nowadays, E.C’s serve families looking for academic advice and placement recommendations. In times of crisis, parents are often overwhelmed by a barrage of emotions, options and information. The confusion and desperation associated with having a struggling teenager or child can be extremely difficult. Parents may not be aware of the choices available, or may not be able to decide on their own which alternative best meets their situation and the needs of their child. Among the questions consultants often hear: How do we know when treatment is necessary? What would be best for our child? Is an intervention needed? Should we find a residential program? Would a wilderness therapy program be a good choice, or would an emotional growth boarding school be better? There is no one certification or academic program for educational consultants. Their quality and experience span a huge continuum.
Case Manager: Case Managers use a collaborative process of assessment, planning, facilitation, care coordination, evaluation, and advocacy for options and services to meet an individual’s and family’s comprehensive health needs through communication and available resources to promote quality, cost-effective outcomes. Basically they specialize in the organization and treatment planning for families that need finding a treatment program or need help transitioning their child back home. Educational Consulting is often a part of good case management. Case management serves as a means for achieving client wellness and autonomy through advocacy, communication, education, identification of service resources and service facilitation. The case manager helps identify appropriate providers and facilities throughout the continuum of services, while ensuring that available resources are being used in a timely and cost-effective manner in order to obtain optimum value for both the client and the reimbursement source. Case management services are best offered in a climate that allows direct communication between the case manager, the client, and appropriate service personnel, in order to optimize the outcome for all concerned. Not unlike E.C.’s, Case Managers do not require certification or specific academic credentials but are often clinicians with at least a Master’s degree in a disciplin like counseling, psychology, social work or marriage and family therapy.
Therapist: A therapist is a general term for counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, psychotherapists and psychoanalysts. They are trained professionals that treat mental and behavioral health and substance abuse problems through talk, discussion and interaction. A therapist helps clients you learn about conditions and moods, feelings, thoughts and behaviors. Therapy helps the client learn how to take control of one’s life and respond to challenging situations with healthy coping skills. There are many specific types of therapy, each with its own approach. The type of therapy that’s right for a client depends on their individual situation. Therapy is also known as talk therapy, counseling, psychosocial therapy or, simply, therapy.
Check back next time when we talk about Counselors, Psychologists, Psychiatrists, Social Workers and Clinicians. Got a clinical term you’re confused about? Contact us and we’ll post info on it. More than likely, you’re not alone in your confusion.