As demand for mental health care continues to increase in the U.S., there is a growing need for professionals who can provide this type of support to individuals, families, and communities. Clinical social workers and therapists both help clients manage their mental health in various settings, but they provide different types of services in different ways.
Understanding the nuances that distinguish the careers of a clinical social worker vs. a therapist can help you make more informed decisions about your future. A Master of Social Work degree program can prepare you to work in either role.
What Is a Clinical Social Worker?
A clinical social worker is a licensed professional who offers various types of care and support to children, adults, families, and communities. Clinical social work is a specialty that focuses primarily on mental health, in addition to helping clients navigate issues related to emotional, behavioral, and social conditions.
Clinical social workers can work in various settings, including hospitals, child and family services agencies, religious organizations, public health organizations, and, in some cases, their own private practices. No matter the setting, these professionals may refer their clients to other specialized professionals to ensure adequate support.
What Is a Therapist?
Therapists are also responsible for treating mental, emotional, and behavioral health issues with a primary focus on their clients’ well-being. They identify the impacts that families, relationships, and even careers can have on their clients’ mental health, implementing a variety of therapeutic interventions in an effort to create positive change in the lives of the people they work with.
Therapists work in many of the same settings as clinical social workers, and while they tend to focus on therapy as a primary course of treatment, they also work with teams of other providers to ensure their clients receive the care they need.
Differences Between Therapists and Clinical Social Workers
Despite the many similarities, there are several key differences between clinical social worker and therapist careers. While a therapist might focus primarily on using talk therapy to help clients manage their mental health and relationships with others, clinical social workers often take a more comprehensive approach that also addresses various types of environmental and psychosocial issues.
Primary Functions and Approaches
Therapists tend to concentrate specifically on internal psychological processes, helping clients identify and reverse negative thought patterns and behaviors to improve their overall mental health. Clinical social workers not only provide therapy but also act as advocates and case managers to help clients address broader challenges, such as navigating recovery from disasters, finding stable employment, or adjusting to life changes caused by illness or injury. They may work with government agencies and nonprofit organizations to give clients access to resources such as housing, financial assistance, or healthcare services. Both types of professionals can work with children or adults, couples, families, and communities.
Key Skills
Therapists and social workers share many of the same skills. Both careers require advanced knowledge of client assessment, intervention, and ethical practice. A clinical social worker’s skills focus on advocacy, social justice, crisis intervention, and behavioral health. On the other hand, a therapist’s skills tend to be rooted in human behavior, psychology, relationships, and the safety and well-being of the individual.
Education Requirements
All states require therapists and clinical social workers to have graduate-level degrees to obtain licensure and practice. A Master of Social Work degree program can prepare students for different mental health careers, but it is geared primarily toward those interested in social work and one or more of its many subspecialties. Therapists often earn Master of Psychology or Master of Counseling degrees, but may also elect for a Master of Social Work (MSW) instead.
Job Outlook
When comparing the job outlook for clinical social work vs. therapist careers, employment is expected to grow in both fields. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment in the field of social work as a whole is projected to climb by 7 percent between 2023 and 2033. Clinical social workers are more concentrated in health care and mental health areas, and employment in those fields is expected to grow by 10 percent and 12 percent in the same time frame, respectively.
Employment of counselors, which includes therapists, is projected to increase 19 percent between 2023 and 2033, according to the BLS. Numerous factors could drive job growth in both fields, including rising demand for mental health services, the aging U.S. population, and the ongoing need to support individuals with behavioral issues and substance abuse disorders.
Prepare for a Career in Clinical Social Work With a Master of Social Work Degree
Careers in clinical social work and therapy can both be good options for those who want to focus on helping others in a professional capacity. Tulane University’s Online MSW degree program can prepare you to work in either field.
With part-time and full-time options available for both on-campus and online students, our clinical-community curriculum offers the flexibility to earn a degree on a schedule that best suits your needs. Learn more about how you can make an impact on countless lives with a degree from Tulane University.