Psychologists

• According to the American Psychological Association, there were 106,000 licensed psychologists in the US in 2015, the latest data available.
• According to the Bureau of Labour Statistics, the total number of psychologists in the US in 2018 is 181,700. Although most are licensed psychologists, not all are licensed and data for just those licensed is not provided by the BLS.
• However, BLS notes that the growth rate of psychologists in the US between 2018 and 2028 is 14% (0.14). This represents an annual growth rate of 1.32% (0.0132) [(1+0.14)^1/10)-1)*100].
• Assuming that the growth rate of psychologists in the US is the same as that of licensed psychologists, it will mean that the total number of licensed psychologists in the US in 2018 would have grown to 110,253 [(106,000 * (1+0.0132)^3)] from 106,000 three years prior in 2015.
• It will also mean that in 2019, the total number of licensed clinical psychologists in the US will be an estimated 111,709 [(106,000 * (1+0.0132)^4)].

Psychiatrist

• The total number of psychiatrists in the US in 2018 is 28,600. Psychiatrists in the US are all licensed physicians, and so are generally referred to as just psychiatrist.
• The number of psychiatrists in the US is expected to grow by 15.8% (0.158) between 2018 and 2028. This represents an annual growth rate of 1.48% [(1+0.158)^1/10)-1)*100].
• Hence, the total number of psychiatrists in the US in 2019 is 29,023 (28,600 + 1.48%).

Case Load of Psychologists and Psychiatrists

• The average caseload of licensed psychologists in the US is about 25-45 patients a week. A caseload of 25 is considered standard for a psychologist.
• According to the American Psychiatrist Association, psychiatrists in the US generally deal with serious mental illness (SMI), especially because drugs may need to be prescribed to treat the illness. About 7.5 million people in the US were treated for serious mental health illness in the US in 2017.
• Assuming that all those with serious mental illness were treated by a psychiatrist, it can be estimated that the average caseload of a psychiatrist in the US is about 262 patients a year (7.5 million patients/28,600 psychiatrists).

Institutions Where they Work

• Psychiatrists work in general medical and surgical hospitals, psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals, outpatient care centers, offices of physicians, residential intellectual and developmental disability, mental health, and substance abuse facilities, psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals, and psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals, and offices of other health practitioners.
• Licensed psychologists work in private practice, hospitals, organized human service settings, and educational settings.

How They Get Paid

•  According to Medscape, the top three forms of payment for psychiatrists are insurance (66%), fee-for-service (28%), Accountable Care Organization-ACO (19%)
• For psychologists, the payment is either out-of-pocket, paid by insurance, or shared by between the client and the insurance provider.

Licensed Psychological Associates (L.P.A.)

• The US Bureau of Labour Statistics (BLS) doesn't have a job by the title "Licensed Psychological Associates (L.P.A.)".
• However, the total number of Licensed Psychological Associates in Texas is 849 in 2018, so we decided to find the ratio of the total Licensed Psychologist in Texas to that of the US in general in order to estimate the total number of Licensed Psychological Associates in the US from that of Texas.
• It was previously estimated that the total number of Licensed Psychologists in the US in 2018 is 110,253.
• The total number of licensed psychologists in Texas in 2018 is 4,638. This means that 4.21% (4,638/110,253 * 100) of all Licensed Psychologist in the US are in Texas.
• Assuming that the 849 Licensed Psychological Associates in Texas in 2018 also represents 4.21% of all Licensed Psychological Associates in the US in 2018, it will mean that the total number of Licensed Psychological Associates in the US in 2018 is about 20,166 (849 * 100)/4.21).
• It was also established that the annual growth rate of psychologists in the US is 1.32%.
• Assuming that the number of Licensed Psychological Associates in the US will grow by the same percentage, it will mean that the total number of Licensed Psychological Associates in the US in 2019 is 20,432 (20,166 + 1.32%).

Average Caseload

• Licensed Psychological Associates in the US are therapists and the average caseload is between 25 and 45 patients per week. A caseload of 25 is considered standard in the industry.

Where They Work

• They work in private practices, schools, hospitals, or continuing care homes.

How They Are Paid

• The payment is either out-of-pocket, paid by insurance, or shared by between the client and the insurance provider.

Licensed Professional Counselors

• According to the American Counseling Association (ACA), there were over 120,000 licensed professional counselors in the US in 2011, the latest data available.
• The US Bureau of Labour Statistics (BLS) doesn't have a job by the title "Licensed Professional Counselors", however, the American Counseling Association states that licensed professional counselors are also called “licensed mental health counselors” and defines them as "master’s-degreed mental health service providers."
• The Bureau of Labour statistics has a job classification titled Mental Health Counselors and they note that "a master’s degree and an internship is typically required to become a mental health counselor." This suggests that this job classification is the same as "Licensed Professional Counselors".
• Hence, the total number of licensed professional counselors in the US based on BLS data is 139,820 in 2016, the latest data available.
• The BLS notes that employment in the category will grow by 22% (0.22) in the next ten years. This represents an annual growth rate of 2.01% [(1+0.22)^1/10)-1)*100].
• Based on the annual growth rate above, the total number of licensed professional counselors in the US would have grown to 145,497 in 2018 [(139,820 * (1+0.0201)^2)] from 139,820 two years prior in 2016.
• It will also mean that in 2019, the total number of licensed professional counselors in the US will be an estimated 148,422 [(139,820 * (1+0.0132)^3)].

Average Caseload

• Licensed professional counselors in the US are therapists and the average caseload is between 25 and 45 patients per week. A caseload of 25 is considered standard in the industry.

Where They Work

• Licensed professional counselors work in individual and family services, offices of other health practitioners, private practices, outpatient care centers, psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals, and residential intellectual and developmental disability, mental health, and substance abuse facilities.

How They Are Paid

• Licensed Professional Counselors are paid either out-of-pocket, by insurance, or shared between the client and the insurance provider.

Licensed Clinical Social Workers (L.C.S.W.)

• The US Bureau of Labour Statistics (BLS) reports data for Licensed Clinical Social Workers under the title "Healthcare Social Workers".
• The BLS also notes that "clinical social workers must also be licensed in the state in which they practice", hence licensed healthcare social workers are referred to as just healthcare social workers as licensing is a must.
• According to the BLS, the total number of licensed clinical social workers (L.C.S.W.) in 2018 was 168,190.
• Given that the total number of healthcare social workers in the US in 2017 was 167,730, the growth rate in the profession is about 0.27% (168,190 - 167,730)/167,730 * 100).
• Assuming that the growth rate remains the same in 2019, it will mean that the total number of licensed clinical social workers in the US in 2019 is about 168,644 (168,190 + 0.27%).

Average Caseload

• Licensed clinical social workers in the US are therapists and the average caseload is between 25 and 45 patients per week. A caseload of 25 is considered standard in the industry.

Where They Work

• Licensed clinical social workers in the US work in individual and family services, general medical and surgical hospitals, private practices, outpatient care centers, home health care services, and nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities).

How They Are Paid

• Licensed clinical social workers are paid either out-of-pocket, by insurance, or shared between the client and the insurance provider.

Number of Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists

• The total number of licensed marriage and family therapists in the US in 2018 is 55,300, according to the US Bureau of Labour Statistics (BLS).
• The BLS projects that employment will rise by 22% between 2018 and 2028, which means that in ten years the total number of LMFT's in the US will be 67,466 (55,300 + 22%). This represents a cumulative annual growth rate of 2.01% (calculation with the aid of a CAGR calculator).
• Hence, in 2019, the total LMFT's in the US will be an estimated 56,412 (55,300 + 2.01%).
• It is important to note that in the US "all states require marriage and family therapists to earn a master’s degree and be licensed to practice therapy", and so are generally referred to as marriage and family therapists since they are all licensed.

Average Caseload

• At any given time in the US, the 55,300 LMFT's are treating over 1.8 million people. This represents an average caseload of 33 patients (1.8 million/55,300).

Type of Institutions they Work

• The types of institutions they work for include Individual and Family Services, Offices of Other Health Practitioners, Outpatient Care Centers, State Government, Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities, and Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services.

How They Are Paid

• They are paid either out-of-pocket or with insurance. While some accept insurance payment where applicable, some only accept out-of-pocket payment.