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Psychologists and psychiatrists have different training and work in different fields, but both play an important role in understanding human behavior. Psychiatrists are physicians who can prescribe medication and administer therapies, while psychologists usually earn a doctoral degree and offer various types of therapy. Therapists and counselors are broad terms that cover professionals with different educational backgrounds. It’s important to do research and find a mental health professional that you feel comfortable with.
Psychologists and psychiatrists both specialize in human behavior and mental conditions. However, the training for the two professions is different and the two also work in slightly different fields. Both types of mental health professionals play an important role in understanding how human beings behave and interact with each other.
The main difference between the two has to do with training. A psychiatrist is a physician, which means that he or she has attended both graduate and medical school and followed up with a professional residency in psychiatry. During the residency, the resident can choose a particular area to focus on, such as the treatment of schizophrenia or depression. After qualifying as a physician, a psychiatrist is able to prescribe medications and administer therapies such as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), also known as shock therapy. These doctors usually work with individual patients who need help.
A psychologist usually earns a doctoral degree, although a limited number of careers that require only a master’s degree are available in this field, such as an industrial-organizational psychologist. A person who wants to treat patients will need an advanced degree and additional training in order to become a clinical psychologist. A person in this profession can offer various types of therapy, depending on the training they have received.
There are, however, many different types of psychologists. Research psychologists work in laboratories and field experiments to gain a deeper understanding of human behavior. Forensic psychologists lend their expertise to the legal profession. Child psychologists and school counselors focus on working with children and young adults.
For patients, sometimes the main difference between the two is that a psychiatrist is able to prescribe psychotropic drugs. These doctors rarely rely on drugs alone for therapy and treatment, but sometimes drugs can be an important component of treatment for patients with problems. Often, a doctor also trains to offer a particular school of therapy to his patients and may bring things like hypnotherapy, Jungian theory, and Gestalt therapy to the table.
A therapist or licensed clinical social worker can be a psychologist, but the terms are not interchangeable. The terms “therapist” or “counselor” are broad terms that can cover professionals with a variety of educational backgrounds. While therapists may not prescribe like a doctor can, they usually have specialized training in treating patients and coping with various situations. They also tend to be less expensive to see than psychiatrists, although not all insurance companies cover visits to a therapist.
As with any medical professional, you need to do some research before choosing a mental health professional. Even if your doctor refers you to a specific doctor, your therapy won’t be productive if you don’t feel comfortable with your provider. Have several sessions before making a decision, but be aware of how you interact with the person and decide whether or not you think you will work well together. Don’t be afraid to seek advice from other professionals who can meet your specific needs; most mental health professionals want to see patients improve, regardless of who is treating them.
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