What’s the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist?
You may be asking yourself this question as you wonder with which mental health professional you should make an appointment. Both appointments offer different types of mental health services and both professionals contribute a different component to the treatment of mental health.
Clinical psychologists assess a variety of areas—from researching human behavior to treating health conditions utilizing a variety of therapy modalities. Many times this exhibits itself in talk therapy. These modalities can include EMDR, CBT, DBT, psychodynamic therapy, etc. A Psychologist works with you to develop the best treatment plan for your mental illness.
A Psychiatrist may also provide therapy; however, it is much more common for psychiatry to focus primarily on the medication component of treating mental health conditions. Your Psychiatric Provider may be an MD, PA, or NP. They can work with you to determine the medication treatment plan that best fits you—whether it be for post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, ADHD, bipolar, schizophrenia, or something else!
Psychologists and Psychiatrists (as well as other psychiatric providers such as PAs, NPs) each have their own role to play in the treatment of mental health, and the beautiful thing is, you don’t have to choose just one! It is very common for someone to see both a Psychiatric Provider and a Psychologist as they each contribute something different to your treatment plan.
For more information about the mental health field, read our blog at PNS. If you or someone you know is showing signs of a potential mental illness, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team of mental health professionals for a thorough health evaluation.