Hi,
Thank you for posting. The difference between the two mental health professions is the nature of treatment.
Psychiatrists are trained medical doctors, while psychologists must obtain a PhD or doctoral degree.
Psychiatrists can prescribe medications and spend much of their time with patients on medication management as
a course of treatment. They are exposed to a lot of patients as part of their training. On the other hand,
psychologists focus extensively on psychotherapy and treating emotional and mental suffering in patients with
behavioral intervention. They are also qualified to conduct psychological testing, which is critical in
assessing a person's mental state and determining the most effective course of treatment.
After seeing your primary physician for a referral,you might meet regularly with a psychologist in addressing
behavioral patterns. That psychologist may refer you to a psychiatrist who can prescribe and monitor
medication. Both psychologist and psychiatrist work in tandem to treat the symptoms from both behavioral and
clinical standpoint.
Take care and regards.
