The Differences Between Psychology and Psychiatrist FAQs

1. What is Psychology?
The study of the mind, emotions, and behavior, psychology was considered a branch of philosophy before becoming an independent discipline in the mid-1800s. Psychology students examine the cognitive and social factors that influence people's actions and reactions. Psychologists employ a variety of therapeutic techniques to help patients heal from trauma and improve their mental health.

2. What is Psychiatry?
Psychiatry is a branch of medicine focused on diagnosing and treating mental health disorders. The term literally means the "medical treatment of the soul." Like psychologists, psychiatrists use psychotherapy to help clients. However, they also understand how biology factors into a person's mental health and how to treat mental illness with medication.

3. Similarities and Differences between Psychology and Psychiatry?
While the disciplines of psychology and psychiatry share a lot in common, there are some key differences in the education and practices associated with each path.

• Training and Education:

Psychologists must earn a bachelor's degree, a master's degree, and a doctoral degree in psychology. In many states, candidates also complete a postdoctoral fellowship to accrue additional supervised experience before obtaining licensure and treating clients. The educational process to become a licensed psychologist takes about 8-10 years.
To become a psychiatrist, candidates complete a bachelor's degree before attending medical school. Prospective psychiatrists study pharmacology, anatomy, biology, neurology, and disease, acquiring the knowledge necessary to prescribe medication. Graduates complete a residency, which typically lasts about 4 years, before seeking licensure. The process lasts about 12 years in total.

• Differences in Practice:

Both psychologists and psychiatrists can provide psychotherapy. However, most psychiatrists treat patients primarily by prescribing medication, while psychologists mainly rely on providing talk and/or behavioral therapy. Some states now grant psychologists prescription privileges once they complete the required education and training.

4. Are therapists psychologists or psychiatrists?
The word "therapist" is a generic term that can refer to a licensed counselor or clinical psychologist authorized to treat mental illnesses without the use of drugs. While psychiatrists can provide psychotherapy, they usually do not refer to themselves as therapists.

5. Is psychiatry a type of psychology?
Psychiatrists and psychologists are both trained to identify mental issues and disorders. Psychiatry is technically a branch of medicine, while psychology is its own separate discipline.

6. Can psychologists prescribe medication?
Generally, no. There are five states where clinical psychologists can prescribe medication: Louisiana, New Mexico, Illinois, Iowa, and Idaho.

7. Who spends more time in school: psychiatrists or psychologists?
Psychiatrists spend about 12 years in higher education, while psychologists maximum spend about 8-years studying.

8. Are psychologists doctors?
Clinical psychologists belong from Para medical field in the sense that they attend graduate Master's in clinical psychology and obtain a doctoral degree (PsyD or Phd). However, they are not medical doctors like psychiatrists.

9. Choosing Between Psychology and Psychiatry!?
Choosing between these two career paths comes down to your personal priorities, as both professions come with pros and cons. Differing factors include educational requirements, average salary, and scope of practice.

• As a Career
  Psychiatrists typically pay more for their education than psychologists because they spend longer in school. However, the return on investment quickly pays off, as the average psychiatrist out-earns the typical clinical psychologist. While this initially attracts many students to psychiatry, there are other factors to consider when choosing between the two professions. Are you more interested in environmental and social effects on mental health, or biological factors? Psychology students dive deep into the external causes of mental disorders and the therapeutic approaches to treating them. Psychiatrists spend a significant amount of time exploring the biological and neurological elements of mental health, which requires a strong aptitude for math and science.
  Some prefer clinical psychology because it allows practitioners to spend more time getting to know their clients and fostering deeper relationships with them. While some psychiatrists do choose to provide therapy, most focus on helping patients with medication.
• As a Client
  It can be tricky to determine the type of mental health professional that is best for you. If you think you have a serious mental health condition, such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, consider seeing a psychiatrist. While individuals with these conditions can benefit from psychotherapy, medication is also a helpful treatment for many people.
  As a general rule, seeing a licensed counselor or clinical psychologist is a good place to start. Talk therapy can help you process trauma and give you tools to deal with stress, depression, and anxiety without medication. If your therapist determines that therapy alone is not improving your symptoms, then you may consider seeing a psychiatrist.

10. What Is the Difference Between Clinical and Counseling Psychology?
Clinical and counseling psychology have similar focuses within the field. Both counseling and clinical psychologists assist clients with emotional difficulties that affect their daily lives. They also study, identify, and manage psychological disorders.

• Counseling psychologists work with individuals to address communication, decision-making, and behavioral issues within settings such as healthcare offices, schools, private practices, or major companies. Required coursework consists of social psychology, abnormal psychology, and statistics. Specialty areas include couples, workplace stress, college life, and family issues.
• Clinical psychologists analyze and treat mental conditions by providing counseling and conducting psychological assessments. Their required coursework leans toward psychopathology, which is the study of mental conditions. Clinical psychologists’ practice in hospitals, healthcare settings, social services, residential communities, or research facilities.