If you get confused between Psychologist and Psychiatrist and use them interchangeably, don’t worry we will help you to find difference between them.

Psychologist and Psychiatrist are both trained to practice psychotherapy that involves talking to their patients about their problems. Psychologists are more likely to see people with conditions that can be helped effectively with psychological treatments. Psychiatrists tend to treat people who need their medical, psychological and social needs considered.

Now for good learning you should know both the terms individually.

Psychologist

Psychologists have a doctoral degree in an area of psychology. Psychology is the study of the mind and human behavior. Psychologists focus on causes and contributors to emotional difficulties, including environment and life situations, thinking patterns and styles, personality factors, physiological function, behavioral patterns, and learning and childhood history.

They focus on providing psychological treatments which includes behavioral problems, learning difficulties, depression and anxiety. Psychologists have at least 6 years of university training and supervised experience.

Psychiatrist

Psychiatrists are honored by a degree in medicine like your family physician, followed by specialized training in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness, emotional disorders, and behavioral problems. Psychiatrists are trained to practice psychotherapy by talking with their patients about their problems. Psychiatrists have stronger sense of neurochemistry.

Psychiatrists can provide a wide range of treatments, according to the particular problem and what will work best like medication, brain stimulation therapies, general medical care etc. Psychiatrists prescribe medication for initial treatment.

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One must understand the difference between Psychologists and Psychiatrists to fully grasp the meaning between them.

Can Prescribe Drugs?

Psychologists cannot prescribe drugs but Psychiatrists can do prescribe the drugs for treatment.

Training

Psychologists receive 5 years of graduate training leading to a PhD or PsyD in clinical psychology whereas Psychiatrists are trained to be physicians leading to MDs or DOs and complete 4 years of medical school, then 4 years of medical residency training.

Method of Treatment

Psychologists meet with clients for 45 – 60 minutes, educate about the mind-body relationship, provide emotional support, and conduct psychological testing and assessment while psychiatrists meet with clients for approximately 5 – 15 minutes and prescribe medications, they sometimes provide psychotherapy.

Physician

Physician can be psychologist but physician cannot be psychiatrist.