When it comes to mental health, there are many different options. You may have heard of psychiatrists, therapists, psychologists, counselors, and many other names for mental health professionals, but many people aren’t sure what the differences are. Although some of these terms are used interchangeably, they actually define different people in the field. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Therapists and psychiatrists both help people work through mental and emotional problems, but they have different backgrounds and methods that they use. A therapist looks at the patient as a whole and uses talk therapy to help them work through their emotions and problems. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who can prescribe medications to help people. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Both of these professionals do much more; continue reading to learn what makes them different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this post, we'll cover:<\/p>\n
A therapist is anyone who is licensed to provide psychotherapy to people. It can also refer to people who provide physical training, but in mental health, they are professionals who have an education and training, as well as licensure, to help people talk through their mental and emotional problems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most of the time, they are unable to prescribe medication, so they will work with a licensed doctor who can. They tend to talk to patients and help them understand why they feel certain ways. They help the patient discover how they might make changes to achieve a different outcome. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In general, a therapist is licensed as a counselor, social worker, psychotherapist, psychoanalyst, or psychologist. Many psychiatrists are not therapists because they don’t offer talk therapy; they prescribe medication and other medical treatments. However, some do offer clinical treatments, such as talk therapy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some of the licensed therapists’ specialties are as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Psychologists have a doctoral degree, and they have often completed as many as 12 years of schooling. Although psychologists who offer talk therapy are therapists, most people are referring to counselors when they use the term therapist. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A psychiatrist has a medical degree, and they can diagnose medical conditions and prescribe medication. Most of the time, they diagnose, treat, and work to prevent mental health disorders, such as anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, eating disorders, sleep disorders, substance abuse, bipolar, and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some psychiatrists do offer talk therapy, also called psychotherapy, and they can prescribe medications. These meds might include sedatives, antidepressants, hypnotics, mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, and stimulants. A psychiatrist who uses talk therapy is often called a therapist, but they still have been to medical school. They often work with other types of therapists<\/a> to treat patients. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The primary similarity between therapists and psychiatrists is that they both work with patients to improve their mental health. They approach it in different ways, but they have the same goals. If a psychiatrist offers talk therapy, they are often called a therapist. However, there are some psychiatrists who are not therapists, and there are many therapists who are not psychiatrists. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
