Labyrinth Psychiatry Group · Published · New Jersey rules read from the state licensing boards that day · Clinical review by Dr. Salvatore G. Savatta pending
The short answer
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor (MD or DO) who specializes in mental health, can diagnose, can prescribe medication and can provide therapy. A psychologist holds a doctorate in psychology, provides therapy and psychological testing, and cannot prescribe in New Jersey. A therapist is usually a master’s-level licensed clinical social worker, professional counselor or marriage and family therapist who provides talk therapy and does not prescribe. In New Jersey a fourth clinician also prescribes psychiatric medication: the psychiatric nurse practitioner, certified as an Advanced Practice Nurse.
Psychiatrist vs. psychologist vs. therapist, side by side
The table adds the psychiatric nurse practitioner, because in New Jersey that is often who you see for medication follow-up. On a phone, each row reads top to bottom.
| Question | Psychiatrist | Psychiatric nurse practitioner | Psychologist | Therapist (LCSW, LPC, LMFT) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Degree | Medical doctor (MD or DO), then four years of psychiatry residency | Master’s degree in nursing, then an advanced practice exam in the specialty | Doctorate in psychology (PhD, PsyD or EdD) | Master’s degree (social work or counseling) |
| New Jersey licence from | State Board of Medical Examiners | Board of Nursing (Advanced Practice Nurse certification) | State Board of Psychological Examiners | Social Work Examiners (LCSW, LSW), Professional Counselor Examiners (LPC, LAC) or Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners (LMFT) |
| Prescribes medication in NJ? | Yes | Yes, under a joint protocol with a New Jersey-licensed collaborating physician | No. New Jersey is not one of the nine states that allow it | No |
| Talk therapy? | Can provide it; often combines it with medication | Some provide it alongside medication care | Yes, a core part of the work | Yes, the core of the work |
| Testing and evaluation | Can order medical lab tests and psychological tests | Psychiatric evaluation | Psychological testing and evaluation | Assessment for counseling |
| Often the fit when | Medication may be part of the plan, symptoms are severe or complex, or treatment has not helped | Same as a psychiatrist for medication management and follow-up | You want structured therapy or formal psychological testing | You want regular talk therapy for stress, mood, relationships or coping |
Sources: American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association, and the New Jersey boards for medicine, nursing, psychology, social work and counseling, read October 22, 2026.
What a psychiatrist does
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor (an MD or DO) who specializes in mental health, including substance use disorders. Because they are physicians, psychiatrists can order or perform medical laboratory and psychological tests, weigh physical and mental health together, make a diagnosis, and treat with medication, talk therapy or other medical treatments. The American Psychiatric Association notes that psychiatrists often prescribe medication in combination with psychotherapy.
The training is long: medical school, licensing exams, then four years of psychiatry residency, typically 12 years of education after high school for a general adult psychiatrist. Many then take a voluntary board certification exam from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. In New Jersey, psychiatrists are licensed as physicians by the State Board of Medical Examiners, which licenses both medical doctors and doctors of osteopathic medicine.
The psychiatric nurse practitioner: the fourth option in New Jersey
Many people searching this question have never heard of the clinician they may actually see for medication. A psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner is a registered nurse with a master’s-level nurse practitioner program, a graduate pharmacology course and a national advanced practice exam. In New Jersey they are certified by the Board of Nursing as an Advanced Practice Nurse (APN).
The New Jersey Board of Nursing says an APN has prescriptive authority and must have a joint protocol with a collaborating physician licensed in New Jersey before prescribing any medication or device. Prescribing controlled substances also takes a separate state CDS registration and a DEA registration.
What a psychologist does
A psychologist treats mental health conditions with psychotherapy, and some specialize in psychological testing and evaluation, according to the American Psychiatric Association. The American Psychological Association puts the training at an average of seven years of graduate education plus several years of supervised clinical training.
New Jersey’s requirements, from the State Board of Psychological Examiners:
- A doctorate (PhD, PsyD or EdD) in psychology or an allied field.
- Two years of full-time supervised practice totaling 3,500 hours, including 2,000 hours with clients and 400 hours of supervision. Hours can be a mix of pre- and post-doctoral practice.
- A New Jersey license for telehealth. Only psychologists with a plenary New Jersey license may provide telehealth to clients located in New Jersey.
Can a psychologist prescribe in New Jersey? No. As of July 2026, the American Psychological Association lists nine states where specially trained psychologists may prescribe: Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, New Mexico, Utah and Vermont. New Jersey is not on that list.
What a therapist is
“Therapist” is a description, not one licence. In New Jersey, the people who provide talk therapy under that name usually hold one of these licences:
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). Licensed at the master’s level by the State Board of Social Work Examiners. May provide clinical social work services and supervise others.
- Licensed Social Worker (LSW). Same board. May provide clinical social work services only when supervised by an LCSW.
- Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). Licensed by the Professional Counselor Examiners Committee after a master’s degree of 60 graduate credits in counseling and 4,500 hours of supervised counseling experience (3,000 hours with 30 extra credits). A Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC) must work under a qualified supervisor.
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). Licensed by the State Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners, of which the counselor committee is a sub-committee.
The boards describe these licences in terms of counseling, assessment, consultation and clinical social work. None of them includes prescribing medication.
Which one do you need?
Start from what you want help with, not from the title. These are common starting points, not a diagnosis:
- You think medication may help, or you are already taking it and it is not working well. Start with a psychiatrist or a psychiatric nurse practitioner; they are the clinicians who can prescribe and adjust it in New Jersey. Labyrinth’s medication management page describes how that follow-up works.
- Depression or anxiety has lasted, is getting in the way of work or home, or keeps coming back. A psychiatric evaluation looks at symptoms, history, earlier treatment and safety, and can lead to medication, therapy or both. See how a depression and anxiety evaluation works.
- You have already had treatment for depression and it has not helped enough. Ask a psychiatrist about treatment-resistant depression; options such as TMS and SPRAVATO are evaluated and supervised in psychiatric care.
- You mainly want someone to talk to about stress, grief, relationships or a hard stretch. A therapist (LCSW, LPC or LMFT) or a psychologist is a common start.
- You need formal psychological testing. That is a psychologist’s specialty.
- You do not know where to start. A primary care provider can do a first mental health screening and refer you to a social worker, psychologist or psychiatrist (NIMH).
In a crisis, do not wait for an appointment. Call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or call 911 if someone is in immediate danger.
How to check a licence in New Jersey
Every title on this page comes with a New Jersey licence or certification you can look up. The Division of Consumer Affairs License Verification site covers physicians, nurses, psychologists, social workers and counselors. Look for the letters after a name: MD or DO (physician), APN (advanced practice nurse), a psychologist licence, LCSW or LSW (social worker), LPC or LAC (counselor), LMFT (marriage and family therapist).
Who you would see at Labyrinth
Labyrinth Psychiatry Group is a psychiatry practice. Its care team page lists two psychiatrists (MD), three psychiatric nurse practitioners, two licensed clinical social workers (LCSW), a licensed social worker (LSW) and a mental health therapist. The team page does not list a psychologist, so if you need formal psychological testing, ask your clinician for a referral.
- Evaluation and medication: the psychiatrists and nurse practitioners evaluate, diagnose and manage medication, with follow-up visits to adjust it.
- Advanced depression care: TMS and SPRAVATO are offered after an individual evaluation.
- Therapy: the psychotherapy page says the practice is not accepting new patients for psychotherapy at this time. A request today is for a psychiatric evaluation; the clinician can tell you where to find therapy alongside it.
Cost depends partly on who you see and how your plan pays each type of clinician; how much a psychiatrist costs in New Jersey walks through it. To start, call 908-336-1187 or send the evaluation request form. The office is at 11 Commerce Drive, Lobby Floor, Cranford, and staff follow up to arrange a time.
Questions people ask
What is the main difference between a psychiatrist, a psychologist and a therapist?
Training and prescribing. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor (MD or DO) who completed psychiatry residency and can prescribe medication. A psychologist has a doctorate in psychology and provides therapy and psychological testing but cannot prescribe in New Jersey. “Therapist” is a broad word, usually for a master’s-level licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), professional counselor (LPC) or marriage and family therapist (LMFT); therapists provide talk therapy and do not prescribe.
What is the main difference between a psychologist and a therapist?
The degree and the licence. In New Jersey a psychologist needs a doctorate (PhD, PsyD or EdD) and two years of full-time supervised practice totaling 3,500 hours before the State Board of Psychological Examiners licenses them, and psychologists can do formal psychological testing. Most therapists hold a master’s degree and are licensed as clinical social workers or professional counselors. Both provide therapy, and in New Jersey neither can prescribe medication.
Do you see a therapist or a psychiatrist first?
Either can be a first stop. If you think medication may help, your symptoms are severe, or past treatment has not worked, start with a psychiatric evaluation; a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner can prescribe and can recommend therapy alongside it. If you mainly want someone to talk to about stress, grief or relationships, a therapist is a common start. A primary care provider can also do a first mental health screening and refer you, according to NIMH.
Can a psychologist prescribe medication in New Jersey?
No. As of July 2026, the American Psychological Association lists nine states where specially trained psychologists can prescribe: Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, New Mexico, Utah and Vermont. New Jersey is not one of them. Of the clinicians compared here, only psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners can prescribe in New Jersey.
Can a psychiatric nurse practitioner prescribe in New Jersey?
Yes. The New Jersey Board of Nursing says an Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) has prescriptive authority and must have a joint protocol with a collaborating physician licensed in New Jersey before prescribing any medication or device. Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners use the APN title in New Jersey.
Is a psychiatrist or a psychologist better for depression or anxiety?
Neither is better in general; they do different jobs. If medication may be part of treatment, or depression has not improved with earlier treatment, a psychiatrist (or a psychiatric nurse practitioner) can evaluate you and prescribe. Psychiatrists often prescribe medication in combination with psychotherapy, which a therapist or psychologist can provide. An evaluation is the way to decide which mix fits you.
What degree do you need to be a psychiatrist?
A medical degree (MD or DO). After medical school and the licensing exams, a psychiatrist completes four years of psychiatry residency, which the American Psychiatric Association says typically adds up to 12 years of education after high school for a general adult psychiatrist. Board certification by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology is a further, voluntary exam.
How does a psychiatrist diagnose?
By combining a conversation with medical information. Psychiatrists can order or perform medical laboratory and psychological tests and use them, together with discussions with the patient, to build a picture of physical and mental health and make a diagnosis. At Labyrinth, a depression and anxiety evaluation starts with your mental and physical health history, uses screening questionnaires, and sometimes includes blood tests.
How can I check a New Jersey license?
Use the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs License Verification site (newjersey.mylicense.com/verification). It covers the boards that license psychiatrists and other physicians, nurses, psychologists, social workers and counselors.