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More Psychotherapy TopicsWho Can Provide Psychotherapy?Types of TherapyWhat is the DSM-IV? Q. What's the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist?A. The question sounds like the setup for a joke, but its an important difference to understand, whether you are a student of psychology or a consumer searching for a mental health provider. The terms psychologist and psychiatrist are often used interchangeably to describe anyone who provides therapy services. While psychologists and psychiatrists both conduct psychotherapy and research, there are significant differences between the two professions.
Education, Training, and CredentialsThe simple answer is that a psychiatrist is a medical doctor, while a psychologist is not. Educational background is the most obvious difference between psychiatrists and psychologists.Psychologists receive graduate training in psychology and pursue either a Ph.D. or Psy.D. in clinical or counseling psychology. Doctorate programs typically take five to seven years to complete and most states require an additional one or two year long internship in order to gain licensure. Other states require an addition year or two of supervised practice before granting full licensure. The title of psychologist can only be used by an individual who has completed the above education, training, and state licensure. Informal titles such as counselor or therapist are often used as well, but other mental health care professionals such as licensed social workers can also claim these titles. Psychiatrists are physicians to have specific training in the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental illnesses. Psychiatrists attend medical school and receive an M.D. After completing medical training, they complete an additional four years of residency training in mental health. In addition to this, some receive additional training in a specific area of interest such as geriatric psychiatry, child and adolescent psychiatry, addictions, and other areas. Prescribing MedicationsA second important distinction between the two careers is that psychiatrists can prescribe medication, while psychologists cannot. There has been a recent push to grant prescribing powers to psychologists, with states such as New Mexico and Louisiana now allowing psychologists to write prescriptions after consulting with a psychiatrist.Which is Better?If you are considering a career as a therapist, you will need to determine which career path is best for you. Are you interested in conducting psychotherapy, administering psychological tests, and conducting research? If so, a career as a psychologist may be the best choice for you.If you have an interest in medicine and want to be able to prescribe medications to your patients, a career in psychiatry might be your ideal choice. If you don't want to invest five to eight years in graduate training, consider pursuing a career as a licensed social worker or counselor, which typically requires two or three years of graduate study. Psychiatric nursing is another great career option for students interested in medicine. Advanced Psychiatric Nurses hold a Master's degree or higher in psychiatric-mental health nursing and are able to assess patients, diagnose disorders, provide psychotherapy, and prescribe medications. More Psychotherapy TopicsWho Can Provide Psychotherapy?Types of TherapyWhat is the DSM-IV? |
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