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Psychiatrists and psychologists are both doctors that help people with mental health conditions like depression and anxiety. These mental health professionals both have to complete extensive training and obtain certification to practice, but they complete different types of training.  Psychologists have doctorates in psychology. They complete four to six years of post-graduate work in clinical psychology and counseling. They also have training in topics like human behavior, ethics, and making psychological assessments. Psychiatrists are medical doctors (MDs and DOs). They complete a program in medicine, do a year-long internship, and then complete a residency specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders. Psychologists and psychiatrists can also take different approaches to the treatment of mental health issues. Due to their training, psychologists mainly offer psychological analysis and counseling. Since psychiatrists train as medical doctors first, they can also order blood tests and complete physical exams to connect mental health issues with biological problems.  Psychologists use techniques like cognitive behavioral therapy to help patients cope with problems and to overcome mental health issues. Psychologists can also provide psychological assessments. They may look into your sleep patterns, your eating habits, and other aspects of your life to pinpoint the problem. Psychiatrists look at your mental state but also your physical health. They may order tests to determine whether your symptoms are related to underlying physical conditions. One of the major differences between psychiatrists and psychologists is that psychiatrists can prescribe medication, like antidepressants, antipsychotics, sedatives, and mood stabilizers. For example, a psychiatrist can treat depression with talk therapy alongside tests to see whether there is a physical issue, such as a thyroid problem, that may be causing your symptoms.   A psychiatrist may prescribe a medication that will treat your specific condition. For example, a psychiatrist may prescribe antidepressants to treat depression, Ritalin for Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, or antipsychotic medications for hallucinations. Psychiatrists, in the same way, can order medical tests and therapies that aren’t available to psychologists. For instance, they can use electro-convulsive therapy (ECT) for conditions like severe depression, mania, and catatonia. Psychologists rely mostly on talk and behavioral therapy to help you come to terms with issues and to cope. They are not normally licensed to prescribe medicine, but psychologists in Louisiana, New Mexico, and Illinois who have received the appropriate pharmacological training are permitted to prescribe certain medications. Psychologists and psychiatrists can use talk therapy, but psychologists may rely on this treatment method more since medication is not usually part of the treatment options that they offer. Talk therapy can be quite effective and some people seem to prefer counseling to other treatment options.  Therapy has also been found to be as effective as medications in some situations, but medication may still be necessary in conjunction with talk therapy. Therefore, if you choose to see a psychiatrist, then you may need to see a therapist in addition to seeing a psychiatrist. Some psychiatrists operate medication only practices, while others offer medication and talk therapy. If the psychiatrist you are considering offers medication only, then you will need to seek talk therapy from a different mental health professional. If the psychiatrist offers medication and talk therapy, then you can see the psychiatrist for talk therapy. Keep in mind that talk therapy is essential because even though medication can be helpful, medication alone is not enough to change the way you deal with your emotions.  Talk therapy can allow you resolve conflicts with loved ones or a spouse, work through anxiety, relieve stress, cope with major changes in life, manage unhealthy behavior like anger, or deal with sexual problems. Many people also prefer talk therapy with a psychologist to medicine and a psychiatrist’s “pharmacologic” treatment. This may be because they fear becoming addicted to meds or don’t want to change their brain chemistry.
Learn about the differences in training. Consider the types of treatment offered. Decide if you want medication therapy. Plan on going through talk therapy.