Psychologist, Psychotherapist, Psychiatrist – What Is The Difference?
Written by Yeva Mariya Podlevska
Psychology is the science that studies the human mind, how people think, behave, and what emotions they experience. Extensive research in this field allows experts to explore the nature and psyche of human beings, enabling experts to deepen their understanding with a view to improving individual well-being. Psychological support is generally provided by various specialists, whose scope of assistance varies depending on their qualifications and expertise: psychologists, psychotherapists, and psychiatrists. This article will outline the specific differences and similarities between these three professionals to help choose the most appropriate form of support for individual needs.
What Is a Psychologist?
A psychologist is a qualified expert in the field of psychology who studies the human mind and behaviour. They study the human psyche, ranging from cognitive processes (such as thinking, memory, and perception) to complex phenomena relating to emotions, personality, and social relationships. Psychologists use the knowledge they have gathered to understand and refine ways of improving human well-being. Their profession is based on diagnosis – that is, observations of the patient, interviews and psychometric tests (tests that assess the patient’s cognitive abilities, competencies and personality) – on psychological help and support offered through one-off or repeated sessions, counselling, crisis intervention or assistance with the patient’s everyday difficulties, and on providing expert opinions and assessments in matters such as legal, educational or professional cases.
Psychological support provided by a psychologist is an immediate, short-term form of help addressing a problem the patient is currently facing. This form of support is particularly important for people experiencing a sudden and severe crisis in their lives, such as the loss of a loved one, an accident, the loss of a job or home, the breakdown of a relationship, or intense negative emotions and feelings. The shared aim of the patient and the psychologist in their work is to restore balance to the person in distress and to help them find the strength and strategies to cope with their current, complex situation. For some people, seeing a psychologist is the first step towards recovery, particularly when, for example, they are unsure exactly what problem they are struggling with. A psychologist can help the patient identify their difficulties and work with them to create a plan of action that will improve their well-being. A psychologist may refer the patient for further psychotherapy with a psychotherapist or for medical assistance from a psychiatrist. It is important to remember that no referral is required to seek help from a psychologist.
Unlike a psychiatrist or a psychiatrist-psychotherapist, a psychologist does not hold a medical licence, which means that they are not able to diagnose a patient in the same way as a doctor and do not prescribe medication. A psychologist can: carry out psychological assessments, provide support, conduct crisis intervention (helping people in sudden and severe crises), issue opinions and assessments, and run educational and preventative programmes.
Depending on the patient’s specific needs, help may be sought from psychologists with additional specialisations:
- Clinical psychologist – diagnoses and supports people with mental health conditions in hospitals and clinics. This is the only psychological specialisation that enables the diagnosis of mental health conditions, but it does not authorise the prescribing of medication,
- Forensic psychologist – acts as an expert witness on the credibility of testimony, mental capacity, or child custody in divorce cases,
- School psychologist – provides emotional support to students and works with teachers and parents,
- Sports psychologist – supports athletes in crisis and works on managing pressure and motivation,
- Prison psychologist – works with prisoners and evaluates their progress in rehabilitation.
Psychologists practise their profession in many settings, not just in private practices. Their services are available in hospitals, corporations, psychological and educational counselling centres, crisis intervention centres, the military, the police, and the prison service.
The profession of psychologist places high demands on a specialist’s knowledge. The only requirement for qualifying as a psychologist is to hold a master’s degree (in Poland) in psychology, during which students acquire a broad knowledge of human psychobiological functioning, general, developmental, social and clinical psychology, as well as research methods and medical diagnostics.
What Is a Psychotherapist?
A psychotherapist is a specialist who has completed a four-year psychotherapy training programme in a chosen subfield offered by a school of psychotherapy (in Poland), such as: cognitive-behavioural, psychodynamic, systemic, humanistic, integrative, Gestalt or psychoanalytic. They work under ongoing supervision, which enables them to develop continuously in their psychotherapeutic practice. A psychotherapist provides psychotherapy, which involves long-term, regular collaboration with a patient and comprises a range of methods for treating persistent disorders, dysfunctions, and problems. The psychotherapist focuses on patterns of thinking, relational patterns, and working through past experiences with the patient that continue to affect their functioning. They utilise conversation and the psychotherapeutic relationship to reduce or eliminate the symptoms of the disorder and improve the patient’s functioning within society. This process places particular emphasis on long-term and regular work – sessions may last for six months, a year or longer, depending on the patient’s needs and the psychotherapist’s assessment of the treatment process.
A psychotherapist is familiar with and understands the main schools of psychotherapy, their principles, applications, and effectiveness. They apply their knowledge of psychopathology (the field concerned with the scientific study of mental disorders) and take into account the nosological diagnosis (a diagnosis involving the classification and description of a specific mental disorder). They have practical skills such as building a therapeutic relationship, working with the patient’s experiences, cognitive-behavioural modification (changing harmful habits into healthy ones) and supporting insight and a change in the patient’s personal narrative. They are familiar with the ethical standards of psychotherapy.
A psychotherapist may offer individual, couples’, family, or group psychotherapy. They help clients work through specific issues, and they use the school of psychotherapy in which they are certified. It is important to remember that a psychotherapist, like a psychologist, does not have medical qualifications. Their role is to focus on treatment through conversation and the therapeutic relationship, rather than on the use of medication or hospital treatment.
A psychotherapist’s range of knowledge and skills enables them to support people with:
- neurotic disorders (disorders associated with severe anxiety, phobias, and somatic symptoms that have an emotional basis)
- mood disorders (depression)
- personality disorders
- trauma and its long-term effects
- repeated difficult relationship patterns
- crises and conflicts in relationships and partnerships
It is worth remembering that psychotherapy is not exclusively available to people with a diagnosed mental health condition. It is both worthwhile and advisable to consult a specialist when seeking long-term and regular support based on discussions about issues relating to emotions, mood, functioning in daily life, relationships, life events, loss, the body, or simply as part of one’s personal development – when one is looking for someone to talk to and for support in day-to-day life.
To choose the right psychotherapist, you should first check whether the person offering help has completed a certified, comprehensive training programme at a psychotherapy school and whether they work under ongoing supervision. The first consultation is an opportunity for the patient to see what the therapeutic relationship and conversation are like – whether they feel safe and comfortable in it.
What Is a Psychiatrist?
A psychiatrist is a doctor who has completed a six-year integrated medical degree and a five-year specialisation in psychiatry, culminating in an examination (in Poland). Their main responsibilities include the diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses and disorders such as depression, anxiety, and neurotic disorders, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, addictions, and sleep disorders. A psychiatrist, unlike a psychologist or psychotherapist, holds medical qualifications; therefore, their profession combines medical knowledge – pharmacology, neurology, drug interactions, and knowledge of illnesses affecting mental health – with the key skills required for working with patients, which are also used by psychologists and psychotherapists, such as empathy, active listening, and patience.
A psychiatrist is authorised to:
- write prescriptions
- issue sick notes
- refer patients for further medical tests
- refer patients for hospital treatment
- make a medical diagnosis
It is worth remembering that no referral is required to see a psychiatrist.
Some psychiatrists are also psychotherapists, as long as they have completed a full, certified psychotherapy course; however, without such a course, they are not authorised to practise psychotherapy or to engage in long-term work on a patient’s thought patterns or relationships. In some cases, a psychiatrist may refer a patient to a psychotherapist.
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You should consult a psychiatrist if you suspect a mental health problem, particularly if you experience symptoms such as:
- low mood or mood swings
- chronic anxiety
- sleep disturbances
- addictions
- chronic fatigue
If you notice distressing symptoms that persist for more than two weeks, you should seek help from a psychiatrist without delay, or encourage the person experiencing these symptoms to seek such help.
When seeking psychological help for yourself or others, you should not delay. A person’s mental health and well-being are just as important as their physical health, and unresolved problems can lead to further health issues. You should not be afraid to ask for help – it does not mean that a person is weak, ‘strange’ or ‘abnormal’. Every time you seek help, it is a sign of a willingness to look after yourself and your wellbeing; it shows courage and a desire to change for the better, which should be encouraged, not condemned.
The services offered by psychologists, psychotherapists, and psychiatrists are available to everyone. Every specialist is trained and willing to work with anyone who is experiencing difficulties in their daily life. It is important to remember that there are no ‘important’ or ‘unimportant’ problems. Every burden a person faces is equally significant, and everyone, without exception, deserves psychological support.
Sources used in this article:
https://pacjent.gov.pl/artykul/psycholog-psychoterapeuta-czy-psychiatra
https://www.sejm.gov.pl/Sejm10.nsf/PrzebiegProc.xsp?nr=1345
https://orka.sejm.gov.pl/proc10.nsf/ustawy/1344_u.htm
https://www.cphelp.pl/post/konsultacja-psychologiczna-psychoterapia-roznice
https://centrumalma.pl/wiedza/formy-pomocy-psychologicznej-roznice/
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