Difference Between Psychologist And Psychiatrist

How Are Psychiatrist And Psychologist Different? People go through emotional stressors every day of their life. While some stressors are not as severe, others can have a grave impact on your mental health. Often certain people find ways to deal with such stressors or get habituated to it; however, that is not the right approach to take.

Subduing such feelings will often lead to emotional problems, which gradually can pose issues in your daily life. If you are feeling depressed, agitated, lethargic, or any other unusual feelings, you should not delay a meeting with a professional.

Nevertheless, this is where the million-dollar question arises, should you go to a psychologist or a psychiatrist? These are the two professions that come up when talking about mental health, and although used synonymously, they are quite different.

While both of them are trained in the same practice of mental health care, the treatments they offer for different issues can often differ. If you are having the same problem, this blog is a great read. Here you will learn everything you need to know about how a psychiatrist and psychologist’s practices differ.

Educational Background

When it comes to the subjects both psychiatrists and psychologists study, it is the same. However, their approach to each material is quite different. For starters, a psychiatrist studies to get a legal medical degree to get an MD or DO (doctor of medicine or doctor of osteopathic, respectively) in the field of mental health.

Once they have graduated, they have to write an exam, passing which gives them a license to practice in their country of choice. After this, they have to continue field practice for a minimum of four years under the supervision of seniors. After that, they can choose to continue their service in the hospital or start their private practice. However, they also have to renew their practice license every decade.

On the other hand, a psychologist has to take part in a medicine graduate program for at least four or six years. This allows them to be qualified enough to get a PhD or a PsyD (doctor of philosophy or doctor of psychology, respectively) degree.

After this, they will need to pass another exam to get the license in their chosen state, after which they can practice professionally. Contrary to the former, they do not have to wait four years before they can start their private practice. In addition, they are not licensed to prescribe any kind of medication.

Choice of Treatment Method

Now that you understand how their education and practice differ, this section states how they suggest different treatment methods. A psychiatrist, being a certified medical professional, is legally authorised to determine and treat any kind of documented mental illness.

A psychiatrist will most likely be employed by a major hospital, medical university, rehabilitation centre, nursing home or private institution. Their treatment can include suggesting counselling to the best psychologist known to them or medication.

Psychologists, on the other hand, cannot prescribe any kind of medication. Instead, they are keener on providing talk therapies or exercises that might help with such mental conditions. These approaches work best for early or mild to moderate mental conditions.

For instance, you can hire a child psychologist if they have gone through a rather stressful period and you do not want it to affect their future. Most psychologists will execute these treatments, mainly through careful observations and counselling sessions.

Who Should You Consult?

Even before you book an appointment with either professional, you should consider determining what kind of issues you are facing. For one, if you or someone you know is undergoing a lot of stress and lately showing signs of depression or anxiety, a psychologist is the better option. They can help ease their troubled mind by assisting them in venting out.

However, if you see a severe case of mental illness where the person is not in their right senses, a psychiatrist is a better choice. This can be evident from serious mood fluctuations, unusual behavioural patterns and disruptions in their daily life. In such cases, the professional needs to diagnose the problem, which a psychiatrist is trained for.

Alternatively, there are some cases in which both professionals play an important role. The two usually work in tandem, where the psychiatrist helps recognise the issues, and the psychologist aids in the treatment. With the right help and treatment, you can rest assured your quality of life will improve significantly. Just make sure you check the reviews and reputation of the clinic you visit.

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Now that you know who you should choose, if you are looking for the best psychologist or psychiatrist, WellBeing help can indeed be a great choice. They have the best and most qualified professionals who will surely take into account your personal experience and suggest treatment accordingly. In addition, having all the help in one place will surely help you recover faster.