Psychiatrist vs. psychologist: How are they different?
Discover the key differences between psychiatrists and psychologists, including the basics of training for each type of mental health professional.
Key takeaways
- Psychologists and psychiatrists are both mental health professionals, but only psychiatrists have a medical degree.
- Psychiatrists can treat conditions by prescribing medication while psychologists typically do not and focus on addressing issues through therapy.
- Either profession may come with their own specializations and both can help with mental health challenges.
If you’re seeking help from a mental health professional, you might not know the exact difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist—and beyond that, which one you should choose.
At first glance, the words "psychiatrist” and “psychologist” seem very similar, and people tend to use them interchangeably, which is a mistake. While psychiatrists and psychologists are both experts in the mental health field, the two professions are quite different in their training and treatment approaches.
Read on to learn about what sets psychiatrists and psychologists apart and how to know which one is best for you.
Education and training
Becoming a psychiatrist or a psychologist takes a lot of education and training, but these professions require different degrees and total years of study.
To become a psychiatrist, someone must get a Bachelor’s degree (4 years), go to medical school (4 years), and complete a medical residency program (typically 4 years, with a few exceptions). That means a psychiatrist must have at least 12 years of schooling and training.
Some psychiatrists also complete a fellowship after residency, which is about a year of additional training in a specialized area. For example, a fellowship could be in child and adolescent psychiatry, geriatric psychiatry, or addiction psychiatry.
After this schooling and training, a psychiatrist can be either a:
- M.D. (Medical Doctor)
- D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine)
To become a psychologist, someone must get a Bachelor’s degree, preferably in psychology (4 years), before going onto a graduate program. Some people get a master’s degree in psychology before getting a doctoral degree, while others go straight from their Bachelor’s to work on their doctoral.
There are two main paths for psychologists-in-training are to become a
- Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy)
- Psy.D. (Doctor of Psychology)
A Ph.D. program is typically 5-7 years, and a Psy.D. program is typically 4-5 years.
This makes the total years of school and training for a psychologist around 9-11 years––slightly less than a psychiatrist.
PhD vs Psy D
If you’re wondering the difference between a Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) or a Psy.D. (Doctor of Psychology), here's a breakdown:
- Doctor of Philosophy: A Ph.D. is more research-focused. Schooling involves learning statistics, analytic techniques, and research methods so that Ph.D. candidates can conduct their own research, discover new scientific findings, and complete a dissertation, which is a final academic paper based on a specific topic.
- Doctor of Psychology: A Psy.D. focuses more on providing clinical psychological services to groups or individuals. Psy.D. candidates will learn how to apply the principles of psychology to clients in a clinical setting. These students will also typically need to complete a dissertation in preparation for graduation. Psy.D. graduates typically pursue the career path of a clinical psychologist.
Another more specialized option for psychologists is an Education Specialist (Ed.S.) degree, considered a post-master's degree program, not a doctorate. This degree sets up individuals to work as a school counselor or pursue another career path in a school system.
Licensing requirements
Both psychologists and psychiatrists must go through an official licensing process in order to see patients. The requirements differ for each.
As clinically practicing doctors with a medical degree, psychiatrists must:
- Graduate from an accredited medical school
- Attend a four-year residency program (which may be fast-tracked under a few circumstanecs)
- Pass parts I, II, and III of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE)
- For D.O. physicians: pass steps I, II, and III of the complex exam
- Apply to individual state boards for certification
Most states require psychiatrists to regularly complete continuing education hours throughout their career to maintain their certification.
The requirements for licensed psychologists include:
- One-year internship
- National licensing exam
- State licensing exam
- 1,000-4,000 hours of supervised practice, depending on the state in which they pursue licensure
Treatment approaches
Thanks to their medical and non-medical training, psychiatrists and psychologists have different treatment approaches.
What a psychiatrist can do
Treatment from a psychiatrist typically involves psychiatric medications. Common types of medications a psychiatrist might prescribe include:
- Mood stabilizers
- Antipsychotics
- Stimulants
Psychiatrists may combine talk therapy with medication. Or, they may focus primarily on medication management.
Typically a psychiatrist will conduct a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation at the first appointment to diagnose and come up with a treatment plan. Follow-up visits will consist of check-ins to assess your progress with medication, like if you’re achieving symptom relief or experiencing any side effects. Then, the doctor will adjust your medications as necessary. As time goes on and your medication becomes stable, visits can be less frequent.
What a psychologist can do
A psychologist’s treatment approach, on the other hand, is focused on providing diagnoses and talk therapy to address the diagnoses. In the vast majority of cases, they cannot prescribe medication. (However, some states allow psychologists to prescribe if they undergo specialized training, according to the American Psychological Association.) Psychologists who can’t prescribe medication might provide a referral to a psychiatrist if they think a patient would benefit from psychiatric medication in addition to therapy.
Psychologists may practice many types of talk therapy, such as:
- Psychodynamic therapy
- Humanistic therapy
- And more
Where they practice
When it comes to treatment settings, psychiatrists and psychologists may work in a variety of ways, including:
- Private practice
- Group practices
- Clinics
- Psychiatric hospitals (for inpatient care)
- Intensive outpatient programs (IOPs)
- Partial hospitalized programs (PHPs)
Which one should I see?
It can be tricky to decide whether you need to see a psychologist, psychiatrist, or both. Here are some general guidelines.
See a psychiatrist if:
- You’re experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition that are making it hard to go about your day-to-day life.
- You’re experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition and/or have a family history of mental health issues.
- You’ve previously been diagnosed with a mental health condition, and you’re looking for a new prescriber or a second opinion.
- You’re interested in exploring psychiatric medications, such as antidepressants, for mental health treatment.
See a psychologist if:
- You’re looking for a talk therapy outlet to help address behavioral or emotional challenges.
- The concern you’re hoping to address is specific to relationship challenges, stress, grieving, or life transition.
- You already have a psychiatrist for medication management but want additional support.
- You want to learn coping skills and emotional regulation strategies to incorporate into your life.
Whether you’re seeking a psychiatrist or a psychologist, it’s important to make sure they're the right fit for you beyond their credentials. You want to feel comfortable with your provider and feel like they truly hear you.
Not sure if your symptoms are severe enough to warrant medication? We always recommend consulting with a psychiatrist first to discuss. If you’re looking for a psychiatrist to diagnose you and present you with treatment options, consider Talkiatry.
We’re a national psychiatry practice that treats a wide variety of mental health conditions. We provide virtual, in-network services so you can get the care you need from the comfort of your home. To get started, complete our free online assessment to get matched with a psychiatrist.
FAQs
Here are a few more details about psychologists vs psychiatrists.
What’s the main difference between a psychiatrist and psychologist?
The main difference is that psychiatrists are medical doctors who can prescribe medication, and psychologists are not. Psychiatrists also have general medical training, such as knowledge of medical conditions, since they completed four years of medical school before moving on to their residency in psychiatry. Medical issues and medication management are out of a psychologist’s scope of practice.
What are other types of mental health professionals?
On top of psychiatrists and psychologists, there are many other types of mental health providers who can help improve your mental well-being. Common ones include:
- Licensed clinical social workers (LCSW)
- Licensed professional counselors (LPC)
- Licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFT)
- Licensed mental health counselors (LMHC)
- Psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNP)
The information in this article is for informational and educational purposes only and should never be substituted for medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment. If you or someone you know may be in danger, call 911 or the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 right away.
