The letters after a clinician's name tell you what kind of training they have and what they are licensed to do. They do not tell you who is good at helping with anxiety. This page explains what each title means in Massachusetts, who can prescribe, and where to start.
The descriptions come from the American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association and the Massachusetts General Laws. No profession here is better than another for anxiety. They do different things, and they often work together.
What is a psychologist?
A psychologist holds a doctoral degree and provides assessment and psychotherapy. The American Psychiatric Association describes psychologists as holding a doctorate, typically a PhD or a PsyD, and says they can evaluate a person's mental health, perform psychological testing, make mental health diagnoses and treat people with psychotherapy.
The American Psychological Association says psychologists spend an average of seven years in graduate education and training, complete a supervised clinical internship, pass a national examination and must be licensed by the state where they practice.
Massachusetts law sets the state's requirements. A licensed psychologist must have a doctoral degree in psychology from a recognized educational institution. The law also requires the equivalent of at least two years of full-time psychological work under the supervision of, or in collaboration with, a licensed psychologist, at least one year of it before the doctoral degree (M.G.L. chapter 112, section 119).
What is a psychiatrist?
A psychiatrist is a physician. In the American Psychiatric Association's words, a psychiatrist is "a medical doctor (an M.D. or D.O.) who specializes in mental health, including substance use disorders." The training is medical school, licensing examinations and four years of psychiatry residency. A psychiatrist is able to conduct psychotherapy and to prescribe medications and other medical treatments.
Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners also diagnose and prescribe. The association describes them as registered nurses with a master's or doctoral degree in advanced practice psychiatric nursing, trained in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions, including counseling and medication management.
What are counselors and clinical social workers?
Both are master's-level clinicians who provide therapy. The American Psychiatric Association says therapists and counselors have a master's degree in a mental health field, and that licensed professional counselors are trained to evaluate a person's mental health and can provide individual, group or family therapy. It says a licensed clinical social worker is trained to evaluate a person's mental health and to provide mental health therapy. Massachusetts has its own names and requirements:
- Licensed mental health counselor (LMHC). State law requires a master's degree in a relevant field, two additional years of supervised clinical experience in that field, and a written or oral examination administered by the board (M.G.L. chapter 112, section 165).
- Licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW). State law requires a master's or doctoral degree in social work, three years of full-time experience in clinical social work, at least two of them after the master's degree, and a specialty examination in clinical social work (M.G.L. chapter 112, section 131).
This guide does not rank the licenses. A master's-level license is a different training route to providing therapy. For any license, what matters most to you is the person's experience with anxiety and whether you can work with them.
Who can prescribe anxiety medication in Massachusetts?
Physicians and psychiatric nurse practitioners prescribe. Massachusetts law defines the practitioners who may dispense controlled substances, a term the law uses to include prescribing. The list includes physicians, nurse practitioners and psychiatric nurse mental health clinical specialists, among others (M.G.L. chapter 94C, section 1). Psychologists are not on it.
For psychologists, that conclusion is drawn from the statutes. No Massachusetts page says it in one sentence. The state's Board of Registration of Psychologists has a 1998 policy saying that a psychologist may offer a medication recommendation to the prescribing physician about a patient the psychologist has evaluated, and that it is then up to the physician to decide what, if anything, to prescribe. The licensing statutes for counselors and social workers describe training requirements only.
Primary care is part of this picture. The American Psychiatric Association notes that primary care physicians, physician assistants and family nurse practitioners often provide first-line treatment, make referrals and work collaboratively with mental health professionals.
This page does not advise on medication. Whether to start, stop or change one is decided with the prescriber. Therapy, medication or both for anxiety covers what guidelines and research say.
How do these professionals work together?
Often one person provides the therapy and another manages medication. The American Psychological Association says that if you need medication, your psychologist will work with your primary care provider or a psychiatrist to ensure a coordinated approach.
It can also be one person. A psychiatrist can provide psychotherapy as well as prescribe. Whichever arrangement you have, tell each clinician who else is involved in your care.
Where should you start?
Start with the question you most need answered.
- You have physical symptoms that have not been checked, or you do not know where to begin. Start with primary care. The American Psychiatric Association notes that primary care clinicians provide general medical care, often provide first-line treatment and make referrals.
- You want talk therapy. A psychologist, LICSW or LMHC can provide it, and so can some psychiatrists. Ask about their experience with anxiety and the approach they use.
- You want to discuss medication. See a prescriber: your primary care clinician, a psychiatrist or a psychiatric nurse practitioner.
- You want both. Tell whichever clinician you see first, and ask how the two kinds of care would be coordinated.
New, severe or unexplained chest pain or shortness of breath is not a question for any of these appointments. Call 911.
Whoever you choose, check the license. Massachusetts lists psychologists, social workers and mental health counselors at checkahealthlicense.mass.gov, and physicians, including psychiatrists, at Find My Doctor. How to choose an anxiety therapist covers what to ask next.
Where does Dr. Rabin fit?
Dr. Rabin is a licensed clinical psychologist with a PsyD from Rutgers and over 21 years of clinical practice. She provides anxiety therapy in person at 1577 Beacon Street in Brookline and by secure telehealth to clients who are physically in Massachusetts. Her approach is psychodynamic, attachment-based, trauma-informed and mindfulness-based, and she also offers CBT. She does not prescribe. If medication is part of your care, she can coordinate with your prescriber.
Her training is described on the about page, and common questions are answered in the FAQ. If you are not sure whether a psychologist is the right place to start, that is a fair thing to raise in a free consultation of about 15 minutes, which you can request through the contact page. If you are looking for something specific, such as a particular kind of treatment, ask her directly whether she offers it.
Keep reading
Sources
- American Psychiatric Association, What is Psychiatry? (2026)
- American Psychological Association, Understanding psychotherapy and how it works (2023)
- Massachusetts General Laws, chapter 112, section 119 (psychologist license requirements)
- Massachusetts General Laws, chapter 112, section 131 (social worker licenses)
- Massachusetts General Laws, chapter 112, section 165 (mental health counselor and related licenses)
- Massachusetts General Laws, chapter 94C, section 1
- Mass.gov, Board policies and guidelines for psychologists (electronic services policy updated October 2015; medication recommendations policy 1998)
- American Heart Association, Warning Signs of a Heart Attack (last reviewed December 12, 2024)
Last reviewed October 2026. This guide is general information, not medical advice or a diagnosis. If you are in crisis, call or text 988, or call 911 in an emergency.
