Key result
Licensed psychologists, clinical social workers, and professional counselors all provide competent clinical therapy, but differ in degree requirements, case management scope, and sport psychology specialization recognition.
Why the study?
An examination of the differences between licensed psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, and licensed professional counselors who provide mental health services to student-athletes was absent from the literature.
This essay clarifies the distinctions between licensed psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, and licensed professional counselors to assist athletic administrators and student-athletes in making informed decisions about mental health care.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Athletic programs may weigh provider distinctions in referrals; literature review leaves open outcome comparisons in collegiate athletes.
The high rates of depression, anxiety, suicide, and other mental health disorders among collegiate student-athletes have resulted in the need for appropriate mental health services. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has released a best practices guide for mental health in college sport that includes licensed psychologists (LP), licensed clinical social workers (LCSW), and licensed professional counselors (LPC) as competent to provide mental health services to student-athletes. However, an examination of the differences between these three licenses is absent from the literature. This essay offers an overview on these differences to clarify the purview of each license as there is confusion surrounding the different types of professionals that can provide mental health services. A detailed description of what is means to hold an LP, LCSW, and LPC distinction is provided, followed by a discussion of the difference between mental health licensure and certification as a certified mental performance consultant (CMPC). This will assist administrators, athletic administrators, and student-athletes in making informed decisions about mental health care.
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Beasley et al. (2022) conducted a review in Mental health in collegiate student-athletes. Licensed psychologists, clinical social workers, and professional counselors all provide competent clinical therapy, but differ in degree requirements, case management scope, and sport psychology specialization recognition.
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