I wanted to know if you could be a psychologist and a pshyciatrist. Cause I cant decide. thanx!?

Question

Um... I already know about college and how many years for both and stuff. So dont tell me.
Best answer is 10 points as you know!

sorry I spelled Psychiatrist wrong*

Um I think that I read that you dont have to go 10 years but it said that after 5 years you are qualified to start working and making money($30,000- 40,000). To some degree some psychiatrist only have to go 5 years. But Ill check.

Answer 1

The answer is yes and no. Psychiatrists are those who go to med school and are primarily concerned with diagnosing mental illnesses and prescribing meds to control the illnesses. Psychologists focus more on talk therapy / psychotherapy.

In most states, a psychologist cannot prescribe meds (although there are a few states that are reconsidering that law). However, a psychiatrist can pick up coursework in addition to that required for the med degree, in order to learn how to do psychotherapy with patients. If I'm not mistaken, this extra coursework does NOT take an additional 10 years (you don't have to be a licensed psychologist in order to do psychotherapy with client). However, it would involve a few years beyond med school.

It's really up to you how far you choose to go. Good luck!

Answer 2

It is theoretically possible to be both a psychologist and a psychiatrist. But as others pointed out, there would seem to be little reason to pursue both careers. The problem is, you can't study both at the same time. That means you have to become either a psychologist or psychiatrist first and then start all over to get the training to become the other. There are very clear and strict licensing requirements for both and the training required really does not overlap that much. It's not just that psychiatrists can prescribe medication and psychologists cannot (in two states, New Mexico and Louisiana, psychologists have prescription privileges). The fields come from very different perspectives. Psychiatry is a medical field. The training is in medicine and an illness model for mental health problems. Psychology comes from a mind / behaviour perspective with a strong emphasis on research. I think you might want to consider which better fits your view of the world and go that route. Good luck to you.

Answer 3

Both degrees would be a little overkill. The main difference between the two is that a psychiatrist can dispense meds, and a psychologist cannot. Usually because as a psychiatrist you wind up with more people who need them. A psychologist takes cases more on a counseling level than psychotic behaviors.

Answer 4

There are three types of people that go into this field:

A)Those that are seeking answers to their own mental condition or explanation of their situation.
B)Those that can’t pick a direction (dislike math and PSY101 seemed easy)
C)Those that have a true and genuine sense of altruism and seek to better the lives of those that cannot help themselves.

If you identify with A or B, get out of the field while you have a chance. If you pick C. Then decide if you want to go to medical school

Answer 5

you could but you'd have to do training for both, which will be about 10 years for each. so 20 years training in total. You can't do both with only one qualification.

Use google to explore the differences between Clinical Psychology and Psychiatry to get a better idea.

Hope this helps.

Answer 6

what's the difference? im interested in that field, too, so i was just wondering. i want to be a pediatrician AND a psychologist/psychiatrist, but idk which one to choose. and also, it takes 10 years. do you honestly think you can stick it out long enough? i worry that i can't..plus, aren't your 20's the years you're supposed to be having fun? i mean how can you (or me) possibly go to college for that long?? i mean, i want to, but it seems kinda hard. can you post a detail helping me out a bit?