Psychologist Vs Psychiatrist
Although the titles psychologist and psychiatrist sound similar, and their jobs do overlap often, there are differences between the two professions. This article will give you a breakdown of the difference between psychologists and psychiatrists.
Psychologist
Education
After undergraduate school, psychologists go to grad school for either a doctor of philosophy degree (PhD) or a doctor of psychology degree (PsyD). This schooling takes four to six years. They study the history of psychological disorders, mental health, how to conduct psychological research, and how to diagnose and treat mental illnesses. After obtaining a graduate degree, they will have one to two years of practice working in a clinical setting. They will complete a one-year supervised internship, and then sometimes an additional year of supervised practice. Following that, they will take national and state licensing exams.
Types
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Clinical Psychologist - Treats mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders.
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Developmental Psychologist - Studies human development throughout a lifetime.
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Environmental Psychologist - Evaluates the relationship between a person and their environment and helps patients control their environment or cope with difficult environments.
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Forensic Psychologist - Applies psychology to the criminal justice system by treating victims of crimes or criminals or by evaluating and testifying regarding a criminal's mental status.
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Health Psychologist - Determines how a patient's mental and physical health are connected and treats those who are suffering from mental illness as a result of physical illness or injury.
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Personality Psychologist - Studies personalities and how an individual's personality affects their life.
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School Psychologist - Supports students' mental health in the learning environment.
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Social Psychologist - Studies group dynamics and how individuals act in social settings and uses this knowledge to help patients in social settings.
Practice
Psychologists diagnose and provide therapy to patients who are dealing with mental, behavioral, and emotional conditions. They mainly treat patients using psychotherapy, more commonly referred to as talk therapy. They can help patients cope with depression and anxiety, manage their behavioral health, navigate difficult life transitions, and overcome addictions.
Psychiatrist
Education
After obtaining an undergraduate degree, a psychiatrist goes to medical school to study general medicine and earn their MD. Following that, they will take a state licensing exam and then have four years of psychiatric residency. When their residency is complete, they become certified through the American Board of Psychiatry exam.
Types
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Addiction Psychiatrist - Treats addiction and prescribes medication to help control withdrawal.
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Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist - Treats children and teens with behavioral and emotional disorders.
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Forensic Psychiatrist - Assesses and treats criminals and testifies regarding their mental status.
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Neuropsychiatrist - Treats disorders that affect the brain and nervous system.
Practice
When determining a diagnosis, psychiatrists will use medical testing to rule out physical causes for mental symptoms. Because psychiatrists are MDs, they can prescribe medications to help treat mental disorders. Managing these medications and monitoring symptoms and progress is their main task.
Despite these differences, the main similarity between psychologists and psychiatrists is that they are both there to help patients with their mental health.
