The tricky part is in finding the right professional for your needs but this will be important as a first step toward the change and healing process. Which begs a question when considering therapy: therapist vs. psychiatrist which one do I need?
While both therapists vs psychiatrists play crucial roles in the world of mental health treatment, their thinking, training and treatment modalities differ completely. Knowing your differences becomes key to ascertaining that you get the right kind of care be it for stress, anxiety, depression or even something more complex. This article will lead you through how to make a choice between a therapist vs psychiatrist.
What is a therapist?
A therapist is a licensed professional who is trained to assist individuals in working through emotional and behavioral struggles that can be improved by talking and other techniques. The goal involves the betterment of emotional well being, solving psychological struggles and teaching coping strategies. Therapists are not medical doctors and they are not permitted to prescribe medication.
A therapist may hold a degree in psychology, counseling, social work or marriage and family therapy. Most common types of therapists include clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists (MFTs) and licensed professional counselors (LPCs).
What can a therapist help with?
Therapists are ideal for people they work with:
- Some of the emotional challenges include anxiety, depression and stress.
- Behavioral issues, including anger management or coping mechanisms that are unhelpful
- Recovering from trauma or processing past traumas
- Relationship problems such as marital communication or family issues
- Goals pertinent to personal growth or development
It primarily consists of evidence based therapies like CBT, DBT and many others. These models were collectively designed to enable the patient to tackle the challenges of daily life, improve their interpersonal relationships and handle emotional pressures over an extended period.
What is a psychologist?
Though physicians are medical professionals, psychologists specialize in mental health. Psychologists diagnose and treat mental conditions by combining medical treatment and psychotherapy. One major difference between physicians and psychiatrists is that the latter are allowed to prescribe medications which makes them important in treating serious mental disorders.
Psychiatrists are individuals who have completed medical school and in most cases, specialize in the field of mental health disorders through psychiatrist residency training. Their expertise allows them to diagnose, evaluate and treat a wide range of mental health disorders, including those that may require medication such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and major depression.
What does a psychiatrist help with?
Following are the types of issues for which psychologists are best suited:
- Severe symptoms include those caused by mental health disorders, such as delusions or suicidal ideation.
- Any mental disorders requiring medication, for example, bipolar and schizophrenia.
- Long term conditions, many of which require continuing management with medication.
- Conditions for which medication and psychotherapy are likely to be effective include major depression or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
During medication management, psychologists work on symptom stabilization though they also provide support in the form of therapy. You will be in a situation where you require a psychologist when your symptoms are interfering with life and not responding appropriately to the treatment itself.
Key differences between therapists and psychiatrists
Now that we have gone through what each professional does, let us proceed to comparing them. The major differences between a therapist vs psychologist are specified next:
1. Approach to Treatment
These therapists employ talk therapies in treating emotional problems and issues of behavior. They help the client learn to cope, reduce stress and understand and improve relationships through discussion and reflection.
Similar to medical doctors, it is a tendency of psychologists to approach mental health from the biological viewpoint. They are capable of prescribing medications, such as antidepressants or antipsychotics, for better symptom management. They do psychotherapy, but for them medication is the treatment.
2. Training and Credentials
While therapists do have a degree in psychology, counseling or social work, they sometimes specialize or get certified in at least one type of therapy. They are not clinically trained.
They first attend medical school, then undergo specialized training in psychology. They are therefore medical doctors, either MDs or DOs and hence prescribe medications; they also manage more complex cases.
3. Prescribing privileges
They cannot prescribe medications as their part is talk therapy only, to help their clients find a way to work through their emotional or behavioral struggles.
While psychiatrists are allowed to prescribe medication they are also required in many instances where medication is likely to be needed to treat mental health disorders.
4. Appointment frequency
The therapists normally see their clients once a week or once in two weeks. Sessions usually take 45 to 60 minutes per session, helping the patients build coping skills and emotional resilience little by little.
In this regard, the psychologists may see them less often particularly as time progresses after initial phases. Meeting times with psychiatrists may range from 15 minutes to one hour, mainly for medication management and follow-up assessments.
5. Treatment Goals
These therapists are professionals who would like to treat emotional and mental conditions through therapies. They try to improve emotional well being, establish different coping mechanisms and resolve past traumas.
They diagnose different mental conditions and prescribe medication, among other medical interventions to enable the patients to lead a better quality of life.
Therapist vs Psychiatrist for PTSD: Whom to Consult?
With PTSD, there definitely is a weighing that needs to be done between a therapist and a psychiatrist depending on the severity of symptoms and treatment needs.
Therapist: If you have trauma, then you would look for a therapist trained in therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy or EMDR. These therapies have been set out specifically for trauma to process and heal the person.
Psychiatrist: In the case of more serious symptoms of PTSD, one might consider seeing a psychiatrist who could prescribe medication. The medications prescribed to individuals suffering from PTSD include SSRIs or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, which will help in managing symptoms such as anxiety, depression and intrusive thoughts.
Most of the time, the combination of a therapist and psychiatrist manages PTSD well. While therapy covers emotional issues, a psychiatrist can stabilize the condition with medication.
Is a psychotherapist considered a doctor?
A psychotherapist is not a medical doctor. Though they can be very specialized professionals, they are not medically schooled. They usually have a master’s or doctoral degree in psychology, counseling or social work. If your mental conditions are more complicated and might involve medication or medical testing, you would want to go with a psychiatrist. While psychologists are doctors in their own right they are qualified to diagnose and prescribe treatments for medical conditions.
Psychologist vs. Psychiatrist: Which Is Which?
In comparing both professions when considering psychologists versus psychiatrists-the big difference, ultimately is in the kind of treatment they provide. Psychiatrists are experts with higher training in psychology who offer treatment to patients. They often diagnose psychological ailments, although they do not have the privileges to prescribe drugs. Psychiatrists are medical doctors with licensure to prescribe medications. They medically treat people with mental health concerns. They might also practice psychotherapy; however, they often focus much of their time on the diagnosis and medication management of patients.
Where to Go: Therapist vs Psychiatrist In conclusion
When it comes to the question of therapist versus psychiatrist, it all comes down to the nature of one’s concern. A therapist might be best if there is some emotionally challenging situation or trauma involved. They will help you work through your feelings, manage your stress and develop good coping mechanisms. At other times, these symptoms are not mild for example, symptoms of bipolar disorders, schizophrenia or depression and they may involve going to a psychiatrist because that professional will manage the medication and provide more serious care. Sometimes, the best option is to consult with both a therapist and a psychiatrist when the conditions are complicated such as in PTSD.
At these junctures in life, when one is confused about whom to call MindVita will be able to guide one further in choosing between a therapist and psychiatrist. Contact MindVita today for an appointment and begin the mental health journey you need.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Will a therapist be able to help me with severe anxiety?
Yes, a therapist will be able to help people with anxiety by teaching them how to cope and offering techniques such as CBT. In extreme cases one would also need to see a psychologist who would recommend medication.
2. Isn’t a psychologist better than a therapist in the treatment of depression?
Mild depression may be treated by a therapist who can help the sufferer learn to cope with the symptoms. However, serious depression may require medication and therefore, be treated by a psychologist.
3. How often will I have to go to a therapist to treat PTSD?
Some therapists will recommend going every week and some recommend biweekly until going through traumatic events in therapy that may vary based on symptom severity.
4. Is it possible for a therapist to prescribe medication for mental health disorders?
No, a therapist cannot prescribe medications. They practice the different techniques of therapies while psychologists, whenever needed, are allowed to prescribe medications.
5. What should I do if I am not sure whether I should see a therapist or a psychiatrist?
If you are unsure, then it is often helpful to begin with a therapist especially in emotional challenges. Then, if those are not providing symptomatic relief you can seek a psychologist’s advice for further evaluation and treatment.
