What is the difference between phsychiatrist and psychotherapist?

Answer 1

"The simplest way to describe the difference between them is that a psychologist primarily aids the depressed patient by counseling and psychotherapy. A psychiatrist may also perform psychotherapy; but, in addition, can prescribe medications and perform ECT (electroconvulsive therapy). A psychiatrist is a medical doctor. A psychologist may hold a doctoral degree (Ph.D.) and be called "doctor"; but, is not a medical doctor (M.D.)."
http://depression.about.com/cs/psychotherapy/f/psychologist.htm

Usually the psychiatrist does medical evaluations and the psychotherapist talks to the person weekly. They often work together (over the phone, etc.) with your permission to give you the best treatment possible.

Answer 2

...and I quote from an earlier book by Philip Zimbardo:
"Psychologists build castles on the clouds.
Psychiatrists collect the rent for them."
That would mean no last word has been spoken yet in the
field concerning human mind. Or of that of animals' as well.
Some, still sane and truthful, psychologists admit (after retiring
from their work) that psychology is just another religion.
Plain observations confirm such speculative nature of present
day psychology/psychiatry.
The only hope lays in the hands of neurologists. They work with
the hardware, the brain, and adhere to drawing conclusions
based on real matter, as opposed to creating theories
without looking into a closed black box being investigatined - the
brain - as the other specialists do.
These are heavily biased by the past history of their profession
and culture, that fueled the theories.
As the discoveries happen, they are being slowly applied in
the filed of mental health, with certain modifications to make
them fit into an existing dogma.
There are some avant-gardists dispersed out there in the world
but, as always, they are being alienated my the main stream for
traditional reasons. Despite it, they show real results.
They must know something right because they can willfully plan,
direct, and control the mind, and also the body, of their patients.
Body being an integral, and not only incidental, part of human
psyche.
At this time the science about mind is, like astronomy, in its early
stage of development, capable mostly of emergency solutions.
And like any other emerging knowledge, is subjected to strong
prejudice, or – expressing it in psychological terminology – it too,
is being ruled by psychological laws (which so far are enigmatic),
what by recursion creates “catch 22” for now.
Giving expanded attention to each statement here would make
this answer a bit too large, although more convincing.
Also, for the ease of reading, necessary comments were left
out.

Answer 3

A psychotherapist is someone who practises psychotherapy.

Someone who practises psychotherapy may be a psychologist, but they may also be a psychiatrist, a counsellor or a researcher.

There is not necessarily any difference.

Answer 4

A psychiatrist is licensed to prescribe psychotropic medications. A psychotherapist is basically a therapist who does psychotherapy.

Answer 5

this is something and this is anotherthing u see it is easy to answer