Psychologist and psychiatrist - what is the difference between specialists? The words are similar in sound, but different in meaning.
A person’s mental and emotional state is just as important as their physical state. Let's remember the definition: health is a state of mental, physical and social well-being. All areas of life must be normal for us to feel comfortable.
Various problems require a suitable solution, and here a natural question arises: what is the difference between a psychologist, a psychiatrist and a psychotherapist? In what situation, who should I contact? Let's figure it out now.
Who is a psychologist
The subject of psychology is the functioning of the human psyche. This science is taught in universities in a short course so that every student has at least a superficial understanding of mental processes.
A significant difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist and psychotherapist is that he is not a doctor. Usually a psychology specialist has a humanities education, sometimes short-term courses. The more a specialist delves into a topic, the more extensive his knowledge and, accordingly, the higher the level of assistance he can provide.
A psychologist helps to cope with difficult life situations when we are not able to come to a specific decision on our own. It is important to admit in time that some problems cannot be solved on your own, but a specialist is able to provide help and seek it. It is equally important to realize that your best friend, mother, sister or brother is not a certified psychologist and is not fully capable of providing the help that may be needed.
In such cases, they say that it is better to consult a psychologist yourself, since later you may need a more serious specialist and more complex treatment than conversations and tests.
Features of the work of a psychologist
There are clinical, medical, cognitive psychology, neuropsychology and others. There is even zoopsychology - the science of the mental activity of animals. And if even animals sometimes need diagnostics, what can we say about humans?
By the way, about diagnostics - this is what a psychologist conducts at meetings with clients. The specialist uses various tests and questionnaires that help identify problems. In cases where the problem is serious enough and cannot be solved through oral consultations, the psychologist can refer the client to a doctor.
A psychologist, as already mentioned, is not a doctor and does not have a medical education, so he cannot make diagnoses and prescribe treatment. The scope of activity of a psychology specialist is limited to methods of assessing the human condition and oral work.
If the problem turns out to be serious, who should I contact next? What is the difference between a psychiatrist and a psychotherapist? Let's figure it out further.
Who should I go to for treatment?
The modern rhythm of life is accompanied by regular stress, nervous tension, and our psyche is subjected to powerful stress. Someone is able to cope with this by relaxing in time, giving the body rest. But sometimes your internal resources run out, and you realize that something incomprehensible is happening to you, something that you are not able to cope with on your own. And this means that it is time to seek help from a specialist.
To whom exactly? Let's try to figure it out. A psychologist, psychotherapist and psychiatrist have one goal - to help the patient restore his damaged psyche. But they do it in different ways.
Who is a psychiatrist
A psychiatrist is a doctor who determines and makes a diagnosis. The doctor prescribes treatment, and methods for diagnosing the patient’s condition already include tests and various procedures. Note that with a psychologist you were a client, and with a psychiatrist you became a patient.
Psychiatry studies mental disorders from a medical perspective. Here we are talking not just about difficulties in life, but about diseases. Some mental disorders can be dangerous to others, so it is important to diagnose them in time and monitor the patient.
Features of the work of a psychiatrist
Let us clarify and give specific examples. A psychiatrist is involved in identifying and treating mental disorders. Among them:
- schizophrenia;
- psychoses;
- Alzheimer's disease (systematic memory loss);
- depression;
- bipolar personality disorders.
They can be of a different nature, be dangerous to others, or may be invisible to the average person. The psychiatrist will detect a hidden disease and prescribe treatment in time, if possible. For example, Alzheimer's disease cannot be completely cured, but patients must be constantly monitored. People with this disease may forget their name, how to hold a fork correctly, or how to walk.
To summarize: a psychiatrist treats mental illnesses. In most cases, psychiatric patients require inpatient therapy and constant monitoring. Your doctor may prescribe medications and procedures.
Neurologist
Despite the association with nerves that shake and quiver, a neurologist has a very indirect relationship with a person’s psychological state. It is in charge of the nervous system of the body.
A neurologist graduated from a higher medical institution with two years of residency in his field and knows everything about the structure of the spinal cord and brain, the mechanism of operation of nerve fibers, and pathological conditions resulting from their disorders.
Due to his specialty, this doctor is faced with strokes, encephalitis, brain tumors, neuralgia and osteochondrosis. Rehabilitation courses after brain surgery and spinal fractures are indispensable without it. If a person complains of causeless dizziness, he will definitely be referred to a neurologist, but they will help him cope with depression or neurosis in another office.
Who is a psychotherapist
One of the roots of the word suggests that this specialist is a doctor. Is it so? And in general, is a psychotherapist more of a psychiatrist or a psychologist?
Let's go in order. A psychotherapist is a psychiatrist who has a medical diploma in Psychiatry and has received additional education in the field of psychotherapy. In order not to get completely confused, let’s clarify right away:
- The psychiatrist prescribes medication.
- The psychotherapist uses non-drug treatment methods.
A psychotherapist is involved in identifying and treating mental illness, just like a psychiatrist. However, he is a kind of “borderline” specialist. The psychotherapist also provides comprehensive support to patients and carries out diagnostics, but does not treat “severe” patients.
Features of the work of a psychotherapist
A specialist in the field of psychotherapy works with patients on two levels at once thanks to his extensive knowledge. The psychotherapist has studied both psychiatry and psychology, which allows him to provide competent assistance.
Unlike a psychologist, a psychotherapist has the right to prescribe various medications. Usually these are antidepressants, sedatives, tranquilizers. But, unlike a psychiatrist, a psychotherapist does not treat complex diseases. Schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, severe forms of depression - this is the work of a psychiatrist.
A psychotherapist is like a good friend - he will listen, give good advice, provide emotional support, and also prescribe calming pills if necessary.
Psychoanalyst
This is a specialist who may be a psychotherapist or a psychologist-psychotherapist. Psychoanalysis
is a well-known technique that has existed for many decades and has long established itself as an absolutely proven technique in both psychiatry and psychology. Modern psychoanalysis can be called an independent discipline, based on the key principles of the architecture of the human psyche, discovered by Sigmund Freud and his followers and based on the theory of the unconscious. Once you see a psychoanalyst, you will have the opportunity to discover a lot of new things in the content of your mental life and direct its course in a direction that is comfortable for you.
How to choose the right specialist
Well, we have dealt with these seemingly complex comrades. Having identified the differences between a psychologist and a psychiatrist and psychotherapist, it is easy to understand who to turn to for help in certain situations.
You can make an appointment with a psychologist in the following cases:
- the emergence of intrapersonal conflicts;
- difficulties in communicating with people;
- lack of purpose in life;
- loss of value orientations;
- dissatisfaction with life.
A psychologist will help you cope with such difficulties and get out of difficult situations, understand yourself and establish contacts with people. You may have to carefully work through moral and emotional traumas and attend dozens of sessions, but the result will not be long in coming. If the psychologist cannot help the client, the next step is to make an appointment with a psychotherapist. A psychotherapist will help you cope with difficulties in the following cases:
- mild forms of depression;
- neurotic disorders;
- obsessive thoughts;
- phobias and fears;
- suicidal tendencies;
- emotional instability.
A psychotherapist is able to cure diseases through non-drug interventions, but also prescribes medications (sedatives, antidepressants, tranquilizers). He will identify the problem, make a diagnosis and work with the patient if the disease does not require serious treatment by a psychiatrist. Contact a psychiatrist if you notice:
- inappropriate behavior;
- inadequate perception of information;
- visual and auditory hallucinations;
- hysterical fits;
- dangerous aggression.
This is not a complete list of symptoms, but if some facts cause concern, it is better not to delay going to the doctor. Often, potential psychiatrist patients do not realize the need for treatment, and it is difficult to get them to seek treatment. It is important to persuade a loved one to undergo therapy before the disease becomes chronic and untreatable.
There is another equally interesting profession - a psychoanalyst. A specialist in this field studies psychoanalysis in depth, the founder of which is considered to be Sigmund Freud. Psychoanalysis includes dream interpretation, association method, interpretation and other methods of work.
Unfortunately, the mentality of the Russian people does not allow them to admit that they have problems, much less seek help. The following is often said: “I’m not crazy enough to go to a psychiatrist.”
The modern trend of working on oneself is encouraging - people are trying to understand themselves, improve personal qualities, and reach a new level of knowledge. Psychology, psychotherapy and psychiatry are unique areas of study, which would not hurt anyone to delve into.
