whats the difference between a psychitrist and a therapist?
2007-04-08 03:57:09 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Higher Education (University +)
Hello! There are lots of related terms out there for psych professionals but the breakdown is as follows (generally):
Psychiatrist: a physician (this person has a medical degree, or MD) who specializes in psychiatry
Psychologist: anyone who has an advanced degree in psychology (doesn't have to have a medical degree but will often have a doctoral degree, or PhD)
(Psycho)therapist: anyone who has a license to practice psychotherapy.
These titles are not exclusive, meaning that if a person had an MD and a PhD, and a license to practice therapy, and practiced therapy, he/she could be all three.
2007-04-08 04:13:05 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor. They have gone to medical school, but instead of specializing in something like surgery or internal medicine, a psychiatrist specializes in treating psychiatric problems. They can prescribe medication, and some may do therapy--although many psychiatrists do not do therapy--they work with you to get your disease under control with medication, and, should you need therapy, you would go to a separate therapist. Psychiatrists might also do research involving new medications and how they affect the brain.
Therapists, on the other hand, are not medical doctors. They may have a PHD, or a doctorate of philosophy, but that is a degree that does not involve going to medical school. They do not prescribe medication. Many therapists today have master's degrees in social work instead of a PHD. A therapist's job is to work through a patient's problems with a variety of talk therapy techniques.
2007-04-08 11:18:59 · answer #2 · answered by kimpenn09 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A Psychiatrist (note spelling) is an MD. Some Psychiatrists are also therapists -- but not all of them.
Not all therapists are Psychiatrists. Some have a PhD in Clinical Psychology. Others may have a Master's in Psychiatric Social work.
2007-04-08 12:05:29 · answer #3 · answered by Ranto 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yep, psychitrist provides meds and a therapist just provides talk-therapy
2007-04-08 11:32:48 · answer #4 · answered by Jimmy 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A psychiatrist prescribes Medicine
A therapist/psychologist cannot give out medicine. they just listen to you problems and give you advice.
2007-04-08 11:00:56 · answer #5 · answered by averilyn06 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋