How to Address a Psychologist
How to Address a Psychotherapist

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How to Address a Therapist?

To address your guest correctly in writing you need to know:
(#1) what is his/her academic preparation?  What are his/her degrees and professional certifications etc.?
(#2)does he/she use Dr. (Name) -or- Mr./Ms./Mrs./etc. (Name)? 

There are psychotherapists with many academic preparations. For example could be anM.D. psychiatrist, adoctor of psychology, or hold amaster’s degree in psychology, counseling or social work.  All might be generally grouped under the umbrella of psychotherapist.  Only those with a doctorate are addressed asDr. (Name). The rest are addressed asMr./Ms. (Name)

____Envelope or address block on an email:
________(Full Name), (Post nominals for degrees and certifications)
________(Address)

____Salutation if he/she uses Dr.:
________Dear Dr. (Surname)

____Salutation if he/she uses Mr./Ms..:
________Mr./Ms. (Surname)

– Robert HickeyHow to Address a Psychologist    How to Address a Therapist

Related Healthcare Links
-V——Chiropractor / Doctor of Chiropractic Medicine
-V——Dentist / Doctor of Dentistry
-V——Medical Doctor / Doctor of Medicine
-V——Military Physician / Armed Services
-V——Optometrist / Doctor of Optometry
-V——Osteopath / Doctor of Osteopathy
-V——Podiatrist / Doctor of Podiatry
-V——Veterinarian / Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

More Related Healthcare Links:
-V——Person holding a doctorate
-V——Pharmacist / Doctor of Pharmacy
-V——Psychologist
-V——Therapist

Robert Hickey author of“Honor & Respect”

Robert Hickey author of“Honor & Respect”

How to Address a Therapist

Holds a doctorate and uses ‘Dr. (Surname)”

—-Official |Envelope or address block on an letter or email:
—-—-(Full Name), (Post nominal for doctorate held)
—-—-(Address)

—-—-—-Which could look like:
—-—-—-—-James Whitlow, Ph.D.
—-—-—-—-1234 Main Street
—-—-—-—-Anytown, State, 67890

—-Social |Envelope or address block on an letter or email:
—-—-Dr. (Full Name)
—-—-(Address)

—-Salutation for either:Dr. (Surname)

—-Conversation for either:Dr. (Surname)

Does not hold a doctorate and uses ‘Mr./Ms./etc. (Surname)”

—-Official / Envelope or address block on an letter or email:
—-—-(Full Name), (Post nominal for doctorate held)
—-—-(Address)

—-—-—-Which could look like:
—-—-—-—-Pamela Harnish, MSW
—-—-—-—-1234 Main Street
—-—-—-—-Anytown, State, 67890

—-Social / Envelope or address block on an letter or email:
—-—-Mr./Ms. (Full Name)
—-—-(Address)

—-Salutation for either:Dr. (Surname)

—-Conversation for either:Dr. (Surname)     How to Address a Therapist

Robert Hickey author of“Honor & Respect”

Is a Ph.D. Psychologist a “Dr.” ?

My husband is a Ph.D. psychologist in private practice. He goes byDr. (Name).  Our son is getting married and we will be listed on the wedding invitation. The bride is asking what title to use –Dr. and Mrs. orMr. and Mrs.?

My husband prefersDr.(Name)  but I’m not sure if this is correct for an invitation. Seems like a gray area for Ph.D.s in counselling & healthcare. Thanks for input!
—-—-—-—-—-– BoxwellHow to Address a Psychologist    How to Address a Therapist

Dear Boxwell:
If your husband holds adoctorate and prefers ‘Dr. (Name)’, then useDr. and Mrs. (Full Name) on the invitation.

It’s true that not all thePh.D.s in healthcare use‘Dr. (Name)’.  In hospitals – administrators, therapists, pharmacists, even nurses withPh.D.s are not addressed as‘Dr. (Name)’.The logic as explained to me is that –for a patient the hospital can be a sea of white uniforms. By only addressing the physicians asDr. (Name) it helps them better know  who is their physician, and who is not.

In my observation – Ph.D. psychologists in private practice all useDr. (Name)  socially and professionally.

– Robert HickeyHow to Address a Psychologist    How to Address a Therapist

Robert Hickey author of“Honor & Respect”

When Should You Use the Forms on this Page?

You can use these forms of address for any mode of communication: addressing aletter, invitation, card orEmail.(If there are differences between the official and social forms of address, I will have mentioned the different forms.) The form noted in the salutation is the same form you use when you say their name in conversation or when yougreet them.
___What I don’t cover on this site aremany thingsI do cover in my book:all the rules of forms of address, about names, international titles, precedence, complimentary closes, details on invitations, place cards, all sorts of introductions,etc. I hope you’ll get acopy of the book if you’d like the further detail.

Not Finding Your Answer?

—-#1)At right ondesktops,at the bottom of every pageontablets andphones, is a list of all the offices, officials & topics covered on the site.

—-#2) If you don’t see the official you seek included or your question answeredsend me an e-mail. I am pretty fast at sending a reply: usually the next day or so (unless I am traveling.)Note: I don’t have mailing or Email addresses for any of the officials and I don’t keep track of offices that exist only in history books.

—-#3) If I think your question is of interest to others, Sometimes I post the question – but always change all the specifics.

— Robert Hickey

Robert Hickey author of“Honor & Respect”

Recommended Resources:  The Protocol School of Washington (PSOW) and Protocol and Diplomacy International – Protocol Officers Association (PDI-POA)   For more information see theProtocol Resources page.