How Do Psychology And Psychiatry Differ In The Context Of Mental Health
There are many different types of mental health professionals one can go to when one needs support. Two of those are psychiatrists and psychologists.
Since psychiatrists and psychologists work together in many situations, their treatment plans can overlap. This can cause some confusion when looking for treatment for a mental health disorder or therapy. There are distinct differences between the two that are important to understand when considering which type of help you should look for. Keep reading to learn more about these differences.
What is a psychologist?
A licensed psychologist in the U.S. generally has a doctoral degree, such as a PsyD or PhD, along with supervised clinical training and licensure. It typically takes many years of schooling and training to become a psychologist. A psychologist will either have a PsyD (Doctor of Psychology) or a Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) and have studied behavioral therapy, cognitive therapy, psychological therapy, treatments, psychological research, and personality development. Those with a Ph.D. will also have an extensive amount of training in research. Therefore, these professionals have extensive knowledge in the field.
What do psychologists do?
Psychologists use assessments, evaluations, and tests to determine their client's needs, and they have the necessary training to administer treatment. They can make diagnoses with these assessments and can provide the therapy needed in most cases. The psychologist works to understand their client's characteristics, personality, cognitive abilities, strengths, and weaknesses.
Treatments that psychologists provide
Some of the treatments that psychologists often provide include:
- Psychoanalysis: a form of talk therapy that helps patients and psychologists discover thoughts and emotions buried in the subconscious
- Gestalt therapy: psychotherapy that helps with relationship problems and low self-esteem, anxiety, and depression
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy, or CBT: a form of psychotherapy that helps change the way patients behave by helping them change their thought patterns.
- Cognitive analytic therapy, or CAT: helps clients figure out what may have caused their current mental health problems, such as overly controlling parents or neglect.
What is a psychiatrist?
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor that specializes in mental health conditions. They are either M.D.s or D.O.s, and one of the main differences between them and psychologists is that a psychiatrist can prescribe medication when clinically appropriate. Thus, they must attend medical school to learn general medicine before completing specialized psychiatry training. Their post graduate training typically incudes four years in a medical training program as a resident, which includes working in various medical settings including a hospital psychiatric unit. A psychiatry resident will see various patients, from children to adults, with many different mental health conditions.
Like psychologists, psychiatrists sometimes specialize in one or few mental health issues or presentations. For example, some may only treat children and adolescents, while others treat mainly elderly patients. Others may be specially trained in working with brain injuries or other diseases, so they must have a high level of expertise in that area.
What do psychiatrists do?
No matter which type of psychiatrist one chooses to be, they are trained as medical doctors. They often focus on diagnosis, medication management, and medical aspects of care, and some also provide psychotherapy. Some of the treatments that a psychiatrist may use include:
- Medication management, which may include antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications when appropriate based on a full evaluation.
- Electroconvulsive therapy, or ECT, the use of electrical currents in the brain.
- Light therapy, artificial sunlight treatments to treat seasonal affective disorder.
- Transcranial magnetic stimulation, or TMS, the use of a magnetic coil to send magnetic pulses to the brain to treat depression.
- Vagus nerve stimulation, or VNS, the use of electrical stimulation to the vagus nerve to treat major depression or epilepsy when other treatments have not worked.
Psychiatrists and psychologists working together
Although many psychiatrists focus more on medication management, some also provide psychotherapy, and many work collaboratively with psychologists or therapists. In some instances, a psychiatrist will send a patient to a psychologist because their issue may be better served with psychotherapy or counseling. For example, if you and your significant other have relationship issues, a psychiatrist may refer you to a psychologist or relationship therapist for psychotherapy.
Consider online therapy as a convenient option when you need to talk to a psychiatrist or psychologist about mental health conditions
Couples counseling or therapy can be done by many mental health professionals, including psychologists, therapists, or counselors. What can you do if life feels too busy for therapy? With online couples counseling, you and your partner can be at home together or in two different places. For example, if your significant other is at work and you are at home, online therapy can make the logistics of couples therapy more manageable. With online therapy, you may have more scheduling flexibility and may also be able to message your therapist between sessions, depending on the platform.
Consider Regain if you want to work with a licensed therapist for relationship concerns.
Regain is an online therapy platform specializing in relationships. You and your partner can decide to meet with a licensed therapist separately, together, or both. You'll be matched with someone trained to work with you to resolve your specific issues—and if you happen not to connect with the first therapist you match with, you can switch with no problem.
Takeaway
Is it better to see a psychiatrist or psychologist?
Psychologists and psychiatrists have different specialties, and they often work together. There are some differences when it comes to their approach to mental health treatment. If you’re wondering, “What’s the real difference between the two? Should I see a psychologist or a psychiatrist?” here is the simplest way to define it:
Psychology and psychiatry - what is the difference?
Psychiatrists are medical doctors. They may implement psychological techniques in their work, but they approach care from the medical model they were trained in, which includes a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation. If you’re considering whether medication may be helpful as part of your mental health care, a psychiatrist may be a suitable option for an evaluation.
Psychologists complete thorough psychological evaluations, which may include assessments, and typically engage in more psychotherapy for treatment approach.
There are a variety of specialties within the psychological world. Some study forensic psychology, others study clinical psychology. Psychology students choose a specialty to focus on throughout their training to become experts in a specific field throughout their career in psychology.
Psychiatrists and psychologists both may specialize in a specific field. There are branches within both of their practices. For example, there is geriatric psychiatry, which focuses on mental health disorders related to old age.
Are psychologists medical doctors who undergo medical school?
Though psychologists have a Doctor of Psychology, they are not medical doctors. In a limited number of jurisdictions, specially trained psychologists may have prescribing authority, but this is not the norm.
This is one of the main ways psychologists and psychiatrists are different. Psychiatrists are classified as medical doctors. This makes their lens on mental health a little different, and allows them to have broad prescribing authority in most cases.
Psychologists and psychiatrists may have different backgrounds in education, but they are both highly respected specialists and have the ability to work toward healing.
Can a psychologist diagnose?
Both licensed psychologists and psychiatrists can diagnose mental health disorders.
Though psychologists and psychiatrists may approach the evaluation of a mental health condition differently in some ways, they are both experts in the mental health field. They both have extensive knowledge of the human mind—physically and functionally.
Do psychiatrists do talk therapy?
It depends. Psychiatrists are licensed, educated, and able to do talk therapy and psychotherapy if they decide to. Some decide to use tools from other therapy models in conjunction with medication management when clinically appropriate. Others decide to focus on physical treatment models—such as ECT, medication management, or light therapy.
Psychologists and psychiatrists approach mental health from different perspectives, but both help you reach your health goals.
The study of the human mind is a vast and ever-expanding field of study. There are many intricacies within it. There are significant differences in the day-to-day practice of someone practicing forensic psychology and someone who regularly practices clinical psychology.
Whether you opt to see a psychologist or a psychiatrist—or both—taking steps toward having a healthy mind is the most valuable gift you can give yourself. Psychologists and psychiatrists both have the training to help treat you or guide you in the right direction.
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