In California, if you are delivering mental health services to the public in private practice or a clinical setting, you must be licensed as a psychologist to call your self a psychologist in that setting (and on public representations of yourself, such as business cards). So your colleagues could be Dr. X, Ph.D, LPC...and a "psychotherapist" but not a "psychologist" in their private practice. However, in other settings (teaching, organizational practice) the use of "psychologist" is not restricted as it is outside the domain of health services to consumers. Your state licensing board is the one to consult for clarification, always.
|