13/12/2023
Psychologist, psychotherapist or psychiatrist?
Although there are significant differences between roles in psychology, psychiatry and psychotherapy, many of us still use the terms interchangeably as if they all mean the same thing. Being a psychologist doesn’t necessarily equal being a therapist or a psychiatrist. Being a therapist doesn’t necessarily equal being a psychologist. However, some psychologists and/ or psychiatrists are psychotherapists….
That’s confusing…. So, who should I see?
It really depends on what you would like to achieve, what troubles you, what your expectations are, your goals, what you want.
Psychiatrists are medical doctors who have qualified in psychiatry. This means they can prescribe medication as well as recommend other forms of treatment (for example they can refer you to psychotherapy). Their role is to assess, diagnose and treat mental, emotional and behavioural disorders. In the UK, the majority of referrals to psychiatrists come from GPs.
Psychologists are those who gained a degree in psychology. Psychology is a science, the study of people: how they think, how they act, react and interact. It's concerned with all aspects of behaviour and thoughts, feelings and motivation underlying such behaviour. Psychologists do not usually have medical qualifications and only a small proportion of people studying psychology degrees will go on to work with patients. Clinical psychologists can diagnose mental health problems can also diagnose mental health problems.
Psychotherapists use talk therapy to help you work through daily life troubles which include but are not limited to: relationship problems, anxiety, stress, major life changes, mood disorders, eating disorders, managing unhealthy reactions, overwhelming emotional responses etc. Psychotherapy has been shown to improve emotions and behaviour, and to go along with positive changes in the body and brain. There are different approaches in psychotherapy, for example, humanistic and integrative, CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy); psychoanalytic, psychodynamic, to name just a few. Psychotherapists help people overcome stress, emotional and relationship problems or troublesome habits.
If I still don’t know if psychotherapy is for me….
It's very normal not to know if psychotherapy is for you, especially if you have never experienced one. A therapist will be able to guide you and enable you to make the best decision for you. The majority of therapists offer free initial consultation. It’s an opportunity to explore what brings you to the therapy and if it is something which can be addressed in therapy. If a therapist feels that what you bring to therapy is not something they can help you with, they will help to find you the most appropriate support.
