Psychiatrist, psychologist, psychotherapist - what’s the difference?
I get asked this question so much I thought it might be helpful to create a guide to help you understand the differences. This may help you decide who will be the most helpful for your individual circumstances. Unless you work in this field it’s a confusing topic but I hope I can simplify it for you.
Psychiatrist
Psychiatrists are medical doctors first and then undertake further study to understand the psychology of the brain, primarily from a medical standpoint. Psychiatrists prescribe medicine to help or manage psychological issues that are interfering in a person’s everyday functioning. For example, someone who is diagnosed schizophrenic or bipolar disorder would very likely see a psychiatrist. They are specialists at treating mental health issues with medicine. Psychiatrists fees are covered by Medicare in Australia.
Psychologist
A psychologist is usually not a medical doctor and they have undertaken extensive studies into human psychology. They are trained to recognise and formally diagnose various conditions for example depression, autism, Antisocial Personality Disorder etc. Psychologists can prescribe some medicines for some mental health conditions but more serious or complicated presentations need to be referred onto a psychiatrist. A psychologist can help people working through some emotional problems, grief, anxiety, depression etc however in Australia the majority of psychologists only work with a form of therapy called Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) which is very useful for some issues, in a shorter term, but less useful for other issues, or in the longer term. Psychologists are also covered by Medicare in Australia.
Psychotherapist
Psychotherapy is bringing treatment, or therapy, to psychological problems usually through spoken word. Psychotherapy is sometimes called Talk therapy. Freud is the most famous and popular idea of a psychotherapist (in his case he was called a psychoanalyst but we don’t need to go that deep at this time.) Sitting in a room and talking to someone about issues causing distress or confusion or someway disturbing everyday functioning is classic psychotherapy.
Psychotherapy is usually understood to be a more in-depth form of counselling. Where counselling is usually discussion of one discrete topic, ie grief over loss, psychotherapy can be that but it also can be a more prolonged, in-depth exploration of emotions, patterns of behaviour or bringing experiences into greater understanding. If you want to process a death, see a counsellor or psychotherapist, if you want to understand at a much deeper level, see a psychotherapist.
Psychotherapy can be practiced by either of the above professions, however there is also another group of people who work solely as psychotherapists. The best psychotherapists are registered with a professional body, have undertaken graduate level training and approach their work as a profession. They rely on evidence based research to inform their therapy.
In summary
If you want medicine to stop the voices in your head, see a psychiatrist.
If you feel you or someone you care for may have an ongoing, serious psychological condition that is harming their everyday functioning, see a psychologist.
If you want to understand why something is distressing you more than you think it should, or you want to explore a traumatic event, or deeply understand the effects people in your life have had on you, then see a registered, trained psychotherapist.
If you want to see a trained psychotherapist in Adelaide Australia you could consider me, I’d be happy to have a quick chat on the phone to see if I would be able to help you or I’d be happy to refer you on if I felt someone else would be better placed to help you.
