What’s the Difference between a Therapist and a Psychiatrist?

Therapists and psychiatrists both provide mental health services, but they’re not the same. Medically speaking, therapists are very different from psychiatrists, and choosing between a therapist vs a psychiatrist can help you find the right kind of help you need. 

A psychiatrist is a trained medical doctor who specializes in psychiatry, which means they can prescribe medication and look after your physical health as well. Therapists are also highly trained professionals who can assess, diagnose, and treat mental health issues, but they don’t attend medical school and thus can’t prescribe medication (with the exception of some American states). 

It can be hard to know which type of health professional is best suited to help you. Ideally, you should first consult your primary care physician so they can refer you to a therapist or psychiatrist, depending on your situation.  

That being said, it’s important to understand the difference between a therapist and a psychiatrist and how each works. 

Who Is a Therapist? 

By definition, psychology is a scientific field of study that seeks to understand the human mind and human behavior. Therapists study how humans think, feel, and behave in response to cognitive and social factors. 

Thanks to their unique training, therapists work with patients to overcome personal struggles with trauma, grief, addictions, depression, anxiety, behavioral problems, relationship problems, work challenges, learning disabilities, and many more.  

Therapists provide help through various types of therapy rather than medication, although they can work with psychiatrists to prescribe medication where necessary. Some psychotherapeutic treatments they may provide include cognitive therapy, desensitizing, humanistic therapy, or integrative (holistic) therapy. 

School and Training Requirements for Therapists 

Before you can become a licensed doctor of psychology, you have to complete a doctoral degree in the field. That means 8–12 years of study which includes four or five years of an undergraduate degree, a master’s degree, and graduate studies. 

Luckily, you don’t need an undergraduate in psychology to become a therapist; you can get your master’s in psychology with an undergraduate degree in health science, psychology, or arts, as well as a Bachelor of Science (B.S.).  

After a master’s in psychology, you can then become a certified therapist by earning a conventional Ph.D. in psychology or a more specialized Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D) degree. Most licenses to become a therapist in the USA require the completion of a master’s degree.  

Regardless of the educational background, therapists who go into practice must be licensed by the state and continue learning to maintain their license. School therapists can also get licensed if they have an Educational Specialist (EdS) or a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (CAGS) degree. 

It’s important to note that in most American states, therapists cannot legally prescribe medication. 

What Are the Different Types of Psychology? 

Psychology is multifaceted, and there are many fields and subfields within the discipline. Of these, there are eight major branches from which psychologists can choose one to specialize in. 

• Clinical psychology: mainly studies mental processes such as memory, perception, language, and behavior 
• Developmental psychology: focuses on psychological growth and changes over the human lifespan, from birth to childhood and onwards into old age 
• Behavioral psychology: focuses on observable behavior in response to environmental and social factors 

• Biopsychology: covers the biological causes of behavior, such as genes, hormones, and neurotransmitters 
• Social psychology: focuses on how people interact with each other and how social influences define human behavior 
• Forensic psychology: applies the science of psychology to criminal investigation and justice 
• Health or medical psychology: explores the influence of human biology, behavior, and social influences affect their health 
• Occupational psychology: also called organizational psychology, it covers how people and groups of people work and behave in organizations 

Due to their highly specialized nature and hands-on approach to therapy, therapists are often the best-equipped health professionals to diagnose and treat common mental health disorders. 

Who Is a Psychiatrist? 

Psychiatry is a branch of medicine that covers mental illnesses, abnormal behavior, and emotional disturbances. Psychiatrists study the biological, neurological, and biochemical side of mental illnesses and how to treat them. This makes them qualified doctors just like an OB/GYN or dermatologist, except that they specialize in psychiatry. 

As a trained medical doctor, a psychiatrist can assess the physiological causes and impact of conditions such as major depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. In particular, psychiatrists are qualified to deal with conditions such as schizophrenia, ADHD, bipolar disorder, and seizure disorders.  

Psychiatrists use various forms of psychotherapy, medications, and specialized treatment such as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to treat patients. They’re also qualified to perform laboratory and psychological tests to help them diagnose and treat mental health conditions. 

Although psychiatrists can and often perform talk therapy, they usually prefer to work with patients who suffer from serious or complex conditions that require medication or combination therapy. 

Education and Training for Psychiatrists 

Psychiatrists complete a very intensive course of schooling and training before they can become licensed to practice. They typically do four years of medical school, four years of supervised residency, and a further four years to get a master’s and doctorate degree specializing in psychiatry. 

Many psychiatrists also go on to complete a fellowship program during which they specialize further in one or more fields of psychiatry, which include: 

• Child and adolescent psychiatry 
• Medical psychotherapy 
• Forensic psychiatry 
• Geriatric psychiatry 
• Addiction psychiatry 
• Neuropsychiatry 
• Occupational or organizational psychiatry 
• Psychosomatic (consultation-liaison) psychiatry 

After all this training, psychiatrists also have to sit state exams before they can be certified by the state board. The license typically must get renewed every 10 years. 

By comparison, regular therapists are required to hold at least a master’s degree, although many also choose to get a doctorate. Most therapists specialize in one field, such as behavioral therapy or psychotherapy, and they too must be licensed to practice in that state. 

Therapist vs Psychiatrist: Who Should You See First? 

Psychiatrists are medical specialists, so you need a referral to see one. They usually work at major hospitals, medical universities, psychiatric institutions, nursing homes, or private institutions.  

Due to their extensive training, psychiatrists are more expensive and rarer to access. That’s why most of them focus on treating complex or serious conditions such as major depression, schizophrenia, seizure disorders, bipolar disorder, and suicidal patients. According to American Psychiatric Association, a psychiatrist can “conduct psychotherapy and prescribe medication” per the needs of the patient.  

On the other hand, you don’t need a referral to see a therapist. Many of them work at private practices or are employed by organizations, schools, and hospitals, and they consult with other healthcare specialists such as psychiatrists.  

Although therapists can’t prescribe medication in most states, they have an arsenal of highly effective therapies they can use to treat mental health conditions and help patients recover their quality of life. There are also more of them, and they may be a cheaper option for you. 

If necessary, therapists also work hand in hand with psychiatrists (with your permission) so you can also get the medication you need to manage depression, anxiety, and other problems. 

When to See a Therapist? 

Therapists handle a wide range of mental health issues. It’s perfectly okay to just walk into a therapist’s office and talk to them about what is troubling you, which makes them the ideal mental health professional to talk to about mental health problems. 

However, therapists are just one type of mental health professional you can see. Others include clinical social workers, counselors, therapists, and psychiatric nurses. Each of them can offer the help you need to deal with mental health conditions, or they will refer you to someone who can. 

Technically speaking, you would be referred to a therapist if you have an anxiety or mood disorder. You can also be referred if you’re not responding to conventional treatment or therapy prescribed by your primary care physician. 

If you’re looking for a mental health professional to help you, the most important thing is to find someone with whom you’re comfortable talking about yourself and whom you trust fully. Both therapists and psychiatrists can offer therapy depending on your condition, but there are cases where psychiatric treatment is necessary. 

When Do You Need a Psychiatrist? 

You should see a psychiatrist instead of a therapist if you know or suspect that you have a mental illness. This can be indicated by a change in personality or emotion, abnormal isolation, lack of self-care, suicidal thoughts or tendencies, extreme fears or worries, inability to focus or think, and problems sleeping, among others. 

If you have a diagnosed condition such as severe depression, ADHD, bipolar disorder, or a neurological condition, you should definitely see a psychiatrist because they’re better equipped to help you by using a combination of psychotherapy, medication, and specialized treatment. 

Conclusion

Psychology and psychiatry are rigorous professions that require hands-on training and experience, but there are many other programs that you can learn online. The University of the People (UoPeople) is a revolutionary online university that offers access to university education to people of all backgrounds. 

Based and accredited in America, UoPeople currently offers associate, undergraduate, master’s, and doctorate degree programs in health science, business administration, and computer science, as well as non-degree programs in English as a Second Language (ESL) and Information technology. 

Learn more about UoPeople and how you can achieve your academic dreams from anywhere in the world.