Psychologist, psychiatrist, psychotherapist - who do you go to for help? Who has which competences? Who prescribes medication and who conducts psychotherapy? How do I choose a good specialist?
Table of contents:
- Who is a psychologist and what is their training?
- Who is a psychotherapist and who can become one?
- Who is a psychiatrist and what does he or she do?
- How do I choose the right specialist?
- What should I look out for when choosing a specialist?
A psychologist is not a psychotherapist, although he or she can become one. The same is true of a psychiatrist. A psychiatrist is not a psychotherapist, but can also become one. So how do you distinguish between these specialists? Which one deals with what, and how to avoid falling into the wrong hands?
Who is a psychologist and what training does he or she have?
A psychologist can be called a person who has completed a five-year master's degree. Through many years of study, he or she has acquired the necessary training to work with people. A psychologist helps to deal with emotions, build new habits or find inner peace. He or she does not only deal with mental health. A psychologist works in different fields, depending on the specialisation or postgraduate school she has completed.
Of the many fields of psychology, the most popular ones are:
- Child psychology - supporting children's health and development.
- Transport psychology - studying driver behaviour, improving road safety.
- Sports psychology - helping people develop their sporting careers and achieve better results.
- Forensic psychology - exploring motives for crime, reliability of testimony, examination of offenders.
Psychologist, can also become a psychotherapist.
Psychologist, psychotherapist, psychiatrist: differences, photo: panthermedia
Who is a psychotherapist and who can become one?
A psychotherapist can be anyone who has completed several years of school for psychotherapy in their chosen stream. In order to enter such a school, one must have a degree related to social well-being. Psychotherapy training can be completed by a psychologist, psychiatrist, as well as a social worker, doctor or nurse. It is worth emphasising that one cannot become a psychotherapist after a few hours or a few days of courses. The human psyche is an extremely broad subject and the work of a psychotherapist is very responsible. That is why it is necessary to spend several years of adequate preparation before working with patients.
After obtaining a diploma, a psychotherapist treats mental disorders and illnesses. His area of work varies according to the therapeutic stream.
A psychotherapeutic current is a specific way of conducting psychotherapy, which is based on a particular psychological theory. The current determines what happens during the meetings with the psychotherapist and how the patient's problems are named.
How to choose the right specialist for psychological difficulties, photo: panthermedia
The most important therapeutic currents are:
- Cognitive-behavioural - this is one of the best researched therapeutic streams with high efficacy for anxiety and depressive disorders. It analyses the impact of thoughts and emotions on behaviour.
- Psychodynamic - focuses on the past, internal conflicts, relationships with parents. Refers to past experiences and the unconscious.
- existential therapy - finding the meaning of life, taking responsibility for one's own choices and sorting out life values.
- systemic therapy - analysing problems between family members, support in family crises, often used in family and couples therapy.
Before going to a psychotherapist, it is worth answering the question of which strand seems right for your current needs. There are also studies that show the effectiveness of each current.
Sometimes psychotherapists also recommend the use of a psychiatrist. Does a psychiatrist, therefore, deal with something that a psychotherapist cannot do?
Who is a psychiatrist and what does he or she do?
A psychiatrist is a person who has a medical degree and a specialisation in psychiatry. He or she works in hospitals and other health facilities. He or she deals with the diagnosis of mental illnesses and their treatment. Unlike a psychotherapist, he or she can issue prescriptions, select appropriate pharmacotherapy, and refer for hospital admission and discharge. However, he cannot conduct psychotherapy.
Some psychiatrists choose to complete psychotherapy school and thus: become qualified to conduct psychotherapy. In this situation, the psychiatrist can take care of the therapeutic side and the pharmacological side in one meeting, for example by prescribing the appropriate medication.
What to look out for when choosing a specialist for mental difficulties, photo: panthermedia
How do you choose the right specialist?
Choosing the right specialist depends on the difficulties experienced or other important needs.
It is advisable to see a psychologist when:
- you want to understand your needs and actions,
- you need support in coping with illness, bereavement or another crisis situation, such as divorce.
- you are looking for a safe space to talk about your difficulties and thoughts,
- you want to develop your strengths, find your potential and achieve your chosen goal.
The psychologist's competence is limited to his/her experience and level of knowledge. If you have a mental disorder, a psychotherapist and a psychiatrist would be a better choice. A psychotherapist is able to work on levelling the symptoms of the illness after completing a 4-year training. Cognitive behavioural therapy, as opposed to psychological support, is recognised as one of the effective treatments for mental illness.
What does a psychiatrist do?, photo: panthermedia
What to look out for when choosing a specialist?
In order to choose a good specialist, it is important to look at his or her training, professional path and experience.
In the case of a psychotherapist, doubts should be raised about training of a few hours or a few days. This is not a problem if the specialist has graduated from a therapy school and additionally has short courses or training in his professional history. If, on the other hand, his entire experience is built on webinars or certificates from courses of a few hours, a red light should go on for the patient. Such a short period of time does not provide the opportunity to acquire the right skills to work with a person who is struggling with psychological difficulties.
Finally, it is worth adding that neither meetings with a psychotherapist nor with a psychologist guarantee quick solutions. Therapy is a long-term process in which a lot of energy has to be invested and one has to be prepared for the difficulties involved in making changes and discovering what has so far remained unconscious.
