A psychologist is a specialist in psychology who examines behavior as well as mental states, and perceptual, cognitive, emotional, and social processes. They frequently experiment with, observe, and interpret how people interact with one another and their surroundings as part of their work.

Psychiatrists are medical doctors with specialized training in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses. They can order lab tests and prescribe medications, as well as provide therapy.

Psychiatrists are more likely to look at how your brain is functioning and how different processes within your brain work together, whereas psychologists may work with clients on their mental processes in private practice or other settings, such as schools, hospitals, community health centers, prisons, nursing homes, or rehabilitation centers. One of the key differences between a psychiatrist and a psychologist is that a psychiatrist can prescribe medicines to their patients whereas a psychologist cannot, but can only provide therapy.

Let’s look at the differences between these professionals in terms of their education required, the approach they use in treatment, and when should you consult them.

Education 

Before becoming a licensed Psychiatrist, one must complete an MBBS and then pursue any specialized post-graduate degree or MD. Psychologists usually acquire a bachelor’s degree and a master’s or doctoral degree in psychology.

Unlike psychiatrists, who typically lack training in psychological testing, psychologists undergo significant training in psychological testing, scoring, interpretation, and reporting. To alleviate the symptoms of numerous mental diseases, psychologists are also trained in, and frequently specialize in, one or more psychotherapies.

Approach to treatment

Depending on the needs of each patient, psychiatrists employ a range of treatments, such as different types of psychotherapy, medications, psychosocial interventions, and other treatments (such as electroconvulsive therapy, or ECT). You would usually find a psychiatrist in a hospital setting, a rehabilitation center, or a private practice. Understanding what will best benefit a client is crucial to effective treatment because everyone’s mental health needs are different. Psychologists will first determine what you require of them and how they can help you most effectively. Then, they will put their knowledge, expertise, and experience to use in creating an efficient and unique treatment plan for you. Psychologists excel at helping everyday individuals, including children, teens, adults, and seniors to better manage and cope with the effects of mental health conditions. Psychologists use many different treatment methods, including but not limited to:

 Dialectal behavioral therapy (DBT), Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), Art therapy, Client-centred therapy, Strengths-based therapy, Solutions-focused approaches, and Family counseling services.

What do they treat?

Psychiatrists focus mostly on disorders where chemical imbalances exist, whereas a psychologist is focused mostly on a patient’s thoughts, feelings, and overall psychological well-being. A psychiatrist might concentrate on utilizing prescription medications to regulate symptoms for conditions like ADHD, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and trauma, whereas a psychologist would concentrate on using psychotherapy to help resolve limiting beliefs and encourage behavioral changes.

Psychologists are adeptly skilled at helping people to cope with the effects of a variety of mental health conditions, including:

  • Depression

  • Anger

  • Chronic stress

  • ADHD

  • Addiction, substance abuse disorders

  • Borderline personality disorder

  • Anxiety

  • Post-traumatic stress

  • Dysfunctional relationship dynamics

  • Academic-related issues

When should you consult a psychiatrist/psychologist?

Anyone who has ongoing emotional, behavioral, or cognitive issues might find it helpful to see a psychologist. There are several situations in which you could find it beneficial to speak with a psychologist. For example, If your relationships, career, or a general feeling of well-being are not satisfactory or you’re finding it difficult to deal with life’s challenges, such as illness, a loved one’s death, a divorce, or difficulty at work.

People seek out psychiatric assistance for a variety of reasons. Panic attacks, acute hallucinations, suicidal thoughts, and hearing “voices” are just a few examples of sudden problems. It is suggested to see a psychologist as they can professionally assess the issue and refer you to a psychiatrist if needed.

In conclusion, although there is a lot of overlap between the two professions both of them bring something different to the table and have an important role in the field of medicine.

Importance of Professional Counseling: A friend or family member may listen to you, but they aren’t professionally, technically qualified or experienced to offer you professional advice. If you wish you can contact us at MindTribe to receive help from our team of expert psychologists.

About MindTribe.in.

MindTribe Founder Dr. Prerna Kohli, India’s eminent psychologist, established the company to leverage the strength of the online to make counseling affordable and accessible to everyone. MindTribe provides counseling, workshops, support groups, forums, and eLearning.

About the Author.

Dr. Prerna Kohli, is an eminent psychologist, a published author, a four-time gold medalist, an awardee by the President of India for her contributions to Mental Health, and the founder of MindTribe.in. You can learn more about her by clicking here www.drprernakohli.in

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of MindTribe.in, the Founders, or management team.

Acknowledgement: All images used are open source and from Unsplash.