What is the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist?

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I do not know how long it takes in our country, what kind of cataclysms should happen, that people stop being afraid of psychologists and scoff at this worthy profession.

Drinking alone, pouring alcohol problems on your problems, is not ashamed, whining and complaining everywhere -not embarrassed, letting your one-and-only life go under your breath, feeling unhappy all the time-do not be ashamed.

But to ask for professional help is, well, a kapets, what a shame.

Yes what am I talking about!

After all many do not even know, than the psychologist differs from the psychiatrist and with what problems it is necessary to address to this or that specialist.

My friends, remember: these are different people engaged in different activities!

"Oh, nothing that psychologist from a psychiatrist is different. .."


You will be surprised if you find out how many people do not know at all how the psychologist differs from a psychiatrist, continuing to confuse both terms.

Do not believe me?

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At best, you will be told that these are still different specialists, but they will not name exactly what they differ.

Only a few understand the difference and understand the nuances, most are afraid of both.

Here is one example.

My mother's colleague experienced an extremely painful divorce: first, a woman who lived with her husband for 20 years, had to learn about the existence of a young mistress and a child born out of wedlock, then long and tediously divide the property with the now ex-husband.

In short, she did not get out of stress.

Colleagues, regretting it and understanding that they will not be able to help her, they advised us to go to a psychologist, the good that she did not have a financial problem.

A woman instead of gratitude for such a wise advice was mortally offended and began to shout: "I'm not crazy, to psychiatrists shuritsya! Want to close me in Durk? Will not work!".

My mother tried to explain to her how the psychologist differs from the therapist, but she did not achieve much success, the lady remained at her opinion: enemies everywhere.

What is the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist: let's look at the terminology of


. In order to understand the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist, it's enough just to look into the dictionary.

These two words have even different etymologies:

  1. The psychologist ( translator with Greek Ψυχή - soul and λόγος - knowledge) - is engaged in research and correction of mental phenomena in various spheres of human activity and provides psychological support.
  2. Psychiatrist ( doctor with Greek psychḗ - soul and iatréia - treatment) is a doctor who deals with the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of mental disorders, including - and medication.

That is, psychiatry is a branch of medicine, whereas psychology is a humanitarian science.

To become a psychiatrist, you need to get medical education by choosing psychiatry as your specialty.

How to find a good psychologist?

But a psychologist can become, having graduated, for example, a pedagogical college in the relevant specialty.

The psychologist and psychiatrist are related concepts, but they are by no means identical, because they are fundamentally different.

Activities that distinguish a psychologist from a psychiatrist


Naturally, most of the psychologist from a psychiatrist differs due to the types of activities that they are engaged in.

For example, a psychologist is an expert who:

  1. Conducts a conversation with a client in order to understand the essence of his problems and contribute to their solution.
  2. Works with mentally healthy people, but such that they have certain mental problems or just need psychological support or behavior correction.
  3. Has no right to work in medical institutions, but, having obtained a diploma, can open its own practice, enter the service in educational and other organizations, where the unit of psychology is based on the staff.
  4. Works with clients, not patients.

The activities of a psychiatrist are somewhat different from a psychologist, because a psychiatrist:

  1. Works with people who have obvious mental illnesses( such as schizophrenia, psychosis, manic depression, etc.) or are prone to such.
  2. deals with patients, because the scope of its activities is precisely medical institutions, private medical centers, etc.
  3. Obliged to receive a specialized medical education before embarking on practice.
  4. His wards are patients.

In addition, in many countries( including Russia and Ukraine), a psychologist can open his own office, only having a diploma of a psychologist, without getting any licenses.

While a psychiatrist, if he is not going to enter the state psychiatric clinic, must, in addition to graduating from a medical school, obtain a special license giving him the right to conduct private practice.

What is the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist in a manner of treatment?


Psychologist is not engaged in treatment, his specialization is psychological( consulting) help, his medicines are words, but not tablets.

If some careless expert tries to sell powerful anti-depressants or some other psychotropic drugs from under the floor, run away from his office, or even better - inform the police that some charlatan is trying to maim people.

The psychologist can use the following tools:

  1. Dialog with his client.
  2. A monologue to explain to him his problems.
  3. Non-pharmacological ways of relaxation of its client:
    • classic from the films "Arrange on this couch as you like";
    • room aromatization;
    • quiet muffled tone in the interior of the cabinet;
    • aquarium or decorative fountain;Muted light, etc.

That is, in fact, all that a psychologist can do to help you solve your problems is to listen to you and understand what is oppressing you or makes you unhappy, or what obstacle is in your way.

During the sessions, he gives recommendations that are not mandatory for execution, if they seem unprofessional to you.

In addition, you can easily change a specialist if he does not suit you, and the rejected psychologist is obliged to keep all your secrets, unless, of course, you are plotting something illegal or dangerous for yourself / others.

How to choose a psychologist?

The method of treatment of a psychiatrist is very different.

He precisely heals( medically, permanently, using various permitted methods of therapy) complex mental illnesses.

He usually does not have long heartbreaking conversations with his patient and, after a short test and analysis, immediately starts preparing a treatment program.

A psychiatrist has the right to assign you forcible hospitalization if he thinks that you are capable of harming yourself or others.

What else is the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist,

and also, who such psychotherapist and psychoanalyst,

you will learn from the video:

Psychologist and psychiatrist: how are their clients different?

The psychiatrist is the "sick on the head" people.

I will repeat once again: this is a doctor, the same as a surgeon, an oculist, a traumatologist, etc., but he does not operate, folds broken limbs, corrects vision, but treats mental illnesses.

But the psychologist is addressed by mentally healthy people who have certain problems in life, mostly this happens when:

  • family life is not going well;
  • can not find contact with a scoundrel-boss or fool-colleagues;
  • has to recover after a difficult divorce, death of a loved one or another mental trauma;
  • no sladu with difficult teenagers;
  • overcomes complexes, etc.

The main thing is, than the psychologist differs from the psychiatrist , because the first one is a paid friend who can always perform the role of a waistcoat for crying and will give good advice, while the second is a doctor with not very pleasant methods of treatment and with whom, I hope none of my readers will ever meet.

  • Mar 04, 2018
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