If you’re interested in starting therapy, then you’ve probably come across the terms psychiatrist and psychologist. Though many people use these terms interchangeably, they’re two different types of professionals with different training and roles. Below, we help you understand which one—if either—you should see.
What a Psychiatrist Does
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who graduated medical school and then specialized in mental health. Because they’re physicians, they can prescribe medication. That’s the defining feature that sets them apart.
If you’re dealing with a condition that could benefit from medication, a psychiatrist is right for you. For example, one of the best ways to manage depression is with a prescription to serotonin reuptake inhibitors or another antidepressant. A psychiatrist can evaluate your case to determine whether medication is appropriate, manage your dosage, and monitor how your body responds. Many psychiatrists also provide talk therapy, but not all.
What a Psychologist Does
A psychologist holds a doctoral degree in psychology, but it’s not a medical degree, so they can’t prescribe medication in most states. Their specialty is talk therapy, which leverages conversation as a tool for processing, intervention, evaluation, and more.
Psychologists are trained to give you the tools to analyze and change your thought patterns. For example, most psychologists specialize in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which is a framework that helps you identify the core beliefs behind your actions and empowers you with the tools to regulate your emotional responses. This method can help people effectively cope with stress and a wide variety of other challenges, including depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, anger issues, and so forth.
How To Know Which One You Need
Here’s the clearest way to think about it: If you want to explore medication as part of your treatment, you need a psychiatrist. But if your mental health concern either does not require or cannot benefit from medication management, then a psychologist is probably a better fit.
Can You Work With Both?
Absolutely—plenty of people work with both. After all, just because you take medication to manage a mental condition does not mean that parallel talk therapy isn’t also helpful. In fact, working with both professionals is often the most effective approach.
How To Get Started
If you think you should see a psychologist, psychiatrist, or both, then a good place to start is talking to your primary care doctor. They can do an initial evaluation and refer you to the right specialist.
Whichever route you take, go in prepared. Write down your symptoms, when they started, how often they occur, and how they’re affecting your daily life. And if you’re not sure what’s wrong but you simply feel off, that’s a fine starting point as well. It’s one of the well-established myths about therapy that you need to know what’s wrong or reach a breaking point before seeking professional support. The best approach to mental healthcare is maintenance, not crisis response. Whether you end up needing bi-weekly talk therapy or a psychiatrist-prescribed medication, you won’t know what helps until you explore your options.