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Your mental health matters to you, but you may not know where to start when considering therapy. So, what do a psychiatrist and a psychologist do that makes them different from one another? What exactly is psychiatry and psychology?
In this blog, we will explore the difference between psychiatry and psychology. We will explain the difference between a psychiatrist and a psychologist and how they approach their patients’ needs with therapy, medication, and counseling. After reading this blog article, you will gain some insight into who you want to employ to help you with your specific mental prognosis, which you want addressed by one of these two mental health professionals.
What Does a Psychiatrist Do?
Focus on Medication and Medical Management
So, what does a psychiatrist do, exactly? A psychiatrist is a medical doctor (MD) who focuses on mental health. The one standout difference between a psychiatrist and a psychologist is the fact that a psychiatrist can prescribe medications to address mental problems for their patients, while a psychologist cannot prescribe medications due to their lack of education. It is important to remember that psychiatrists are educated as medical doctors and they are typically a lot more educated, having spent a minimum of 12 years in school with a mandatory 4-year residency after graduation.
More specifically, a psychiatrist will focus on the biological aspect of your mind, treating your mental health from a medical perspective, balancing your physical body and mental concerns in tandem, and showing how they might contribute to the psychological difficulties that may be affecting you. Psychiatrists will first seek to treat you through medication prescribed by them for you if they diagnose you with a mental impairment that can be treated with medication. They may also provide you with additional therapies that either they can provide or will refer you to a psychologist that they deem specializes in your particular medical disorder.
Do Psychiatrists Provide Therapy Too?
So, do psychiatrists provide therapy? Psychiatry and psychology overlap in so many ways, with the only exception being the ability to prescribe medication by a psychiatrist. The answer is, they will first seek to treat you through medication prescribed by them for you if they diagnose you with a mental impairment that can be treated with medication. In a limited fashion, some psychiatrists will practice some counseling therapies, although their medical training prepares them to perform multiple lab and psychological tests to diagnose both the physical and mental health conditions their patients may be facing and then prescribe the appropriate medications to provide relief. Psychiatrists practice what is known as psychotherapy with talk therapy, which includes some therapeutic techniques, counseling, and psychoanalysis.
What Does a Psychologist Do?
Therapy, Testing, and Behavioral Interventions
A psychologist is a mental health professional who typically employs the use of counseling, talk therapy, and behavioral therapy. There are different types of psychologists, and the avenues they take for their education will determine what type of psychologist they will become. For example, a school psychologist will specialize in working with children in a grade-school setting, being employed during the school year inside the school as a counselor. School psychologists provide their services to students, teachers, and parents while helping to determine if the student may need to be placed in a special education program.
In the psychologist’s handbag of treatment for their patients, you will find a lot of different therapeutic methodologies, group and individual counseling, which will depend a lot on the patients’ needs and wants, as well as the environment that affects the patient. The prognosis of the disorder is addressed by a psychologist, depending on the disorder, such as anxiety, depression, behavioral problems, learning problems, and social interaction issues with the patient’s peers.
Clinical Psychologist Vs Psychiatrist: Key Distinctions
Listed below are some of the key differences between a clinical psychologist and a psychiatrist.
- Job description – psychologists focus on the psychological and environmental aspects that impact their patients’ well-being. Psychiatrists are trained as medical doctors who take a biological approach to treatment with medication to resolve their patients’ mental health disorders.
- Educational requirements – the scope of each of their practices is the main difference between a clinical psychologist versus psychiatrist. The psychologist doesn’t need to complete a PhD to practice school psychology, just a master’s and an educational specialist (EdS) or a certificate of advanced graduate study (CAGS). A psychiatrist needs to complete a full medical doctor degree (PhD) with a 4-year residency afterward, which means that a psychiatrist is far more educated than someone being trained as an MD.
The skills required of each of the disciplines and the difference between the psychologist and psychiatrist fields are listed in the table below:
| Psychologist | Psychiatrist |
| Psychology | Psychiatry |
| Student services | Geriatrics |
| Special education | Mental health |
| Mental health | Behavioral Health |
| Individualized education programs (IEP) | Psychology |
| Behavioral Health | Treatment planning |
| Treatment planning | Medication administration |
| Psychotherapy | Mental diseases |
| Clinical psychology | Primary care |
| Psychiatry | Mental status examination |
When Should You See a Psychiatrist Vs a Psychologist?
Psychiatry and psychology are so similar that it can be hard to make a decision for yourself about whom you may want to consult, as you cannot diagnose yourself or put yourself through therapy. If medication is needed, and this is what you think will help you, then see a psychiatrist. If additional therapy is needed, depending upon the psychiatrist you see, they may refer you to a psychologist who may specialize in the type of diagnosis of your particular disorder. If it is just therapy that you are seeking, then seeking a less expensive specialist from a psychologist would be the best option for you. This is not just because of the money, but because the psychologists are trained in behavioral and emotional therapies that you will find are helpful without the need for medication.
Please also consider the following bullet points when making your decision on whom to see for your initial consultation:
- There are many benefits of utilizing both disciplines to address your mental health needs by taking advantage of medication treatments from a psychiatrist and psychological treatments from a psychologist.
- Some psychiatrists may provide additional therapies along with their medication prescriptions that they give you. A phone call before consultation, or looking it up on their website, should be able to provide this information to you.
- Starting with either of the psychiatry and psychology professionals may end up with a referral by them to the other type of mental health professional to address your specific needs of mental treatment.
- Familiarize yourself with the differences between a psychologist and a psychiatrist, being able to define what a clinical psychologist is versus a psychiatrist.
How to Choose the Right Mental Health Professional for You
Several factors will go into choosing the right mental health professional for you. You will need to start by developing a list of your needs and goals you want to accomplish by employing one of these professionals. Then, you might want to sit down and look at your financial standing and how much you may want to invest in either of the mental health professionals, or both.
Utilizing referrals from friends and family, or reviews online, may make your selection journey easier if you can find detailed information specific to your condition. Doing a little research on your own, on specializations, and the education required to get a professional to assist you with your niche issues would also greatly benefit you. While considering the professional’s credentials, educational background, and therapy approaches, you should always just trust your intuition as well.
Still Not Sure Who to See? Lonestar Mental Health Can Help
We can help you understand and manage your anxiety at Lonestar Mental Health. We are a patient-centered practice tailored for your comfort and peace of mind. We offer expert, personalized care tailored to your needs in a peaceful environment with comprehensive care in mind, made up of a team of experts. You can contact us at any time, and we will respond to you promptly as our team is online 24/7 to assist you when you may need it most.
FAQs
What is the difference between a psychiatrist and a psychologist?
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor (MD) who can prescribe medications, typically treating their patients from a biological, physical medical condition to treat their patients’ mental health. A psychologist takes a therapeutic approach, such as talk therapy, to address the needs of their patients and employs several different methodologies to help their patients understand and overcome their mental afflictions.
Can a psychologist prescribe medication?
No, a psychologist does not have the proper medical training or educational background to be able to prescribe any medications to their patients.
When should I see a psychiatrist?
You should see a psychiatrist when you think that you will need medication to treat your particular mental health problem.
Do psychiatrists provide therapy?
Some psychiatrists will provide mental health therapy for you, but this is not typical. Oftentimes, they will refer you to a psychologist for your particular disorder while prescribing your medication to address your needs.
How do I choose between a psychologist and a psychiatrist?
Doing your share of research on specialized treatment you think you may need online, while utilizing referrals, word of mouth from friends and family, and checking your pocketbook for the best possible outcome you can muster for yourself for treatment. If all else fails, the professional that you see will determine who you need to see and will make a recommendation for a referral to the correct professional to address your particular needs.
