A psychologist typically holds a doctoral degree and in many cases provides formal psychological testing; a therapist is a broader term covering several licence types that all provide psychotherapy. The overlap between them is large, and the two places they genuinely diverge are testing and prescribing.
“Psychologists near me” is usually shorthand rather than a technical request. Most people typing it mean “someone qualified I can talk to”, and if that is what you mean, the field is far wider than the word suggests. But the distinctions are real, and there are two situations where getting them wrong wastes months.
The credential map
Titles and scope vary by state, so treat this as orientation and confirm anything decisive with the licensing board in your own state.
| Role | Typical training | Provides psychotherapy | Formal psychological testing | Prescribes medication |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Psychologist (PhD or PsyD) | Doctoral | Yes | Commonly | Generally no, with narrow state exceptions |
| LCSW — licensed clinical social worker | Master’s plus supervised clinical hours | Yes | No | No |
| LPC or LMHC — licensed professional or mental health counsellor | Master’s plus supervised clinical hours | Yes | No | No |
| LMFT — licensed marriage and family therapist | Master’s plus supervised clinical hours | Yes, with a relational focus | No | No |
| Psychiatrist (MD or DO) | Medical | Sometimes | No | Yes |
| Psychiatric nurse practitioner | Advanced nursing | Sometimes | No | Yes, within scope |
| Coach | Varies; not a licensed clinical role | No — non-clinical support only | No | No |
The row that surprises people most is the psychologist row. A doctorate is a serious credential and it does not, in most states, come with prescribing authority. If medication is the question, the search term you want is psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner.
When you specifically need a psychologist
Formal psychological testing is the clearest case. If someone — a school, a physician, an employer, a court — has asked for a formal assessment, or you are seeking evaluation for something like ADHD or a learning difference, that is testing work and it is where doctoral-level training is directly relevant. Ask specifically whether the psychologist does the type of assessment you need, since testing is itself specialised.
Neuropsychological evaluation after an injury or illness is a related and even more specialised case. Both usually involve a battery of standardised instruments over several hours and produce a written report, which is a different product from weekly therapy.
When the licence letters matter less than people fear
For ongoing talk therapy — anxiety, burnout, boundaries, grief, identity, life transitions, relationship stress — the evidence base does not support choosing on credential letters alone. What predicts outcome far better is the working relationship: whether you trust the person, whether you agree on what you are working on, and whether you keep going.
That is why the consult call is worth more than the profile. Two clinicians with identical letters can be entirely different to sit with, and the letters will not tell you which is which.
A short decision path
- Do you need a formal assessment or report? Look for a psychologist who does that specific type of testing.
- Is medication part of what you are looking for? You need a prescriber — a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner. Many people see a prescriber and a therapist in parallel, and that is a normal arrangement rather than a duplication.
- Are you looking for ongoing talk therapy? Any of the licensed therapy roles above can provide it. Filter on fit, focus, availability and cost instead of on the letters.
- Is what you need non-clinical — goals, decisions, boundaries, momentum? Coaching may be the better match, and it is explicitly not therapy or a substitute for treatment.
- Is this urgent? None of the above is a crisis pathway. Use emergency services.
What Hicks Consulting is, plainly
Hicks Consulting is a licensed clinical social work practice. Monika Hicks is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, not a psychologist and not a prescriber. The practice provides psychotherapy; it does not provide psychological testing, formal assessments or medication management, and if that is what you need the honest answer is to look elsewhere for it.
What it does provide is virtual individual therapy for eligible clients located in Tennessee, working with high-functioning stress, anxiety and overwhelm, burnout and boundaries, identity, self-worth, life transitions and generational patterns. Sessions are typically 53 to 60 minutes, most clients begin weekly, and the practice is private pay at $200 for an initial intake, $165 for 60 minutes and $85 for 30 minutes, with a superbill available for possible out-of-network reimbursement.
Two documentation questions come up often enough to answer here: forms for medical leave or short-term disability are completed for established clients only, and letters for emotional support animals are provided when clinically justified for clients who have been thoroughly assessed. Neither is available as a standalone service.
The Memphis-specific catch
Whichever role you decide you need, confirm the licence covers the state you will physically be in during appointments. The Memphis metro crosses into Mississippi and Arkansas; licences do not. This catches out more people here than almost anywhere, and it is worth resolving before you spend an afternoon reading profiles.
What this page recommends
Decide what you actually need before you filter by title. Testing points to a psychologist; medication points to a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner; ongoing talk therapy is provided by psychologists, LCSWs, LPCs and LMFTs alike, so choose on fit and practicalities rather than on letters. Hicks Consulting sits squarely in that third category and does not do testing or prescribing — if either of those is your reason for searching, use this page to find the right professional and come back if talk therapy turns out to be the piece you also want.
Book a consult with Hicks Consulting · Take the intake quiz · Request a consult
Frequently asked questions
Is a psychologist better than a therapist?
Not inherently. Both provide psychotherapy. Psychologists commonly hold a doctoral degree and in many cases provide formal psychological testing, which other therapy licences generally do not. For ongoing talk therapy, the working relationship predicts outcome more reliably than the credential.
Can a psychologist prescribe medication?
Generally no, with narrow exceptions in a small number of states. Prescribing is usually the role of a psychiatrist or another medical prescriber such as a psychiatric nurse practitioner.
Is Monika Hicks a psychologist?
No. Monika Hicks is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Hicks Consulting provides psychotherapy and does not provide psychological testing, formal assessments or medication management.
Do you do ADHD testing or formal assessments?
No. Psychological and neuropsychological testing is not offered. Those assessments are typically carried out by a psychologist who specialises in that type of evaluation.
What if I need help right now?
Hicks Consulting does not provide crisis or emergency services. Call or text 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, call 911, or go to your nearest emergency room.
Where these figures come from
Every fee, policy and service detail on this page is taken from the Hicks Consulting frequently asked questions, which is the published source of record for rates and policies. If a figure here ever disagrees with that page, the FAQ is correct. General mental health information is drawn from the sources below.