What is the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist?

Question

What is the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist? Is a counsellor a psychiatrist, a psychologist or neither?

Answer 1

A psychiatrist has an MD and can prescribe medication. At one time psychiatrists would do deep psychoanalysis, that is rapidly falling by the wayside and most of them are into psychopharmacology and/or medication management. Usually work in conjuction with a "therapist" . . . . any of those below.

A psycholgist can do testing, talk therapy, EMD, etc. They usually have a PhD, or PsyD, but in some states an MS, MA, or M.Ed.,Ed. D., MFMT (Masters in Family and Marriage Therapy), D,Min, M.Div. may qualify.

A Clinical Social Worker, has an MSW (Masters in Social Work) with a clinical focus in counseling and can do testing, and therapy.

Counselors, depending on what their field is may be Chemical Dependency Counselors, School Counselors, Job Counselors, etc. Their educational credentials may run from a Bachelors, through a Masters.

Answer 2

Counsellor can be both I think, but is usually a psychologist, since psychiatrists have better things to do than that. Psychiatrists are more professional, can prescribe drugs and know how to cut people up.

Answer 3

A psychiatrist has to get a B.A., then go through four years of medical school. Then the residency in psychiatry, then a fellowship, etc. As others have said, they can prescribe medication.

A psychologist has only a bachelor's degree in psychology and some extra courses in counseling.

The psychiatrist has much more schooling. Which doesn't always make them better, in my experience.

Answer 4

a BS or BA in psychology doesn't make u a psychologist, a masters in counseling, its just that, a counselor. To be a Psychologist you need to get a Phd or PsyD. which gives you as much school hours as any psychiatrist, whom as was well explained before, hold an MD. and just to throw it out there, in NM some counselors can prescribe medication... so you know...

Answer 5

hi nivedita
i m having psycho sub as an optional.
so i tell u that a psychologist is a person who treats a person by his behavior .a psychologist has no idea of medicines
and a psychatrist is the person whotreats the patient with medicines and psychatrist needs to have science sub as he needs to deal with medicines.

Answer 6

Pschchiatrist has been to med school and then to psychiatric school so he can also prescribe meds. A psychologist is somebody who has studied Psychology and can counsil you.

Answer 7

i think psychologist is someone who knows alottt about psychology , thats all ,

but a psychiatric is the one people go to seek his help when they have psychological or mental problems

Answer 8

psychologist..........gives advises pertaining to emotional
problems
psychiatrist............with a doctor degree treats people with
diseases of the mind

Answer 9

PHYCHOLOGIST IS A MORE EXPERIENCED COUNLSELOR AND A PHYCHIATRIST IS THAT TOO, BUT ALSO CAN PRESCRIBE MEDS FOR YOU.