Psychiatrist vs. psychologist: What are the key differences?

Key Takeaways

Both psychiatrists and psychologists work to understand human thoughts, feelings, and behaviors to improve lives. However, they focus on different parts of mental health treatment.

While psychiatrists and psychologists both receive extensive education and training, what they do can vary significantly. For example, a psychiatrist is a medical doctor who can prescribe medications.

If you think you might benefit from a psychiatrist or psychologist’s services, a therapist or primary care doctor can assess your situation and provide a referral to meet your needs.

The work of both psychiatrists and psychologists centers around improving people’s lives. They do this by trying to understand their feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. But there are many differences between the two professions. And which type of mental health professional is right for you will depend on your unique needs.

Educational background and training

Psychiatrists and psychologists receive extensive education and supervised training. Both professions require an advanced degree and varying licensing and certification requirements depending on the setting and specialization.

Becoming a psychiatrist or psychologist starts with getting a bachelor’s degree, preferably in a related field. But from there, the academic and training requirements vary in some important ways. Psychiatrists must receive a medical degree and complete a residency. This is necessary for prescribing medication and working with other medical professionals to support their patients’ overall health.

Psychologists, however, are not medical doctors, and they do not prescribe medication. So they don’t need to get a medical degree or complete a residency. Instead, they must complete a doctoral degree and meet state licensing requirements if they choose to provide direct patient care.

Scope of practice and treatment methods

Psychiatrists and psychologists focus on different parts of mental health treatment. Their work complements each other, and many people see both types of professionals, but what they do varies significantly.

Most psychiatrists spend their time on patient care. They can provide therapy and medication, as well as other medical treatments. Their work helps people better understand the causes of dysfunction (of all kinds), reduce symptoms, and streamline the path to effective treatment.

Most psychologists also spend their days working directly with clients, but some also conduct research. They can provide assessments and psychotherapy in many different settings to help people manage their mental health and well-being.

Areas of specialization

There are many different ways to practice psychology and psychiatry. While many work in private practice or research settings, you can also find them in:

Community clinics and agencies
On-campus student health centers
Hospitals and clinics
Emergency rooms
Correctional facilities
Military settings
K-12 schools

In addition, after their general psychiatry training, some psychiatrists go on to specialize in:

Addiction psychiatry: focusing on behavioral health and medicine for substance use issues
Forensic psychiatry: working with patients in the legal or correctional system
Geriatric psychiatry: supporting elderly patients’ mental and physical well-being
Hospice medicine: supporting patients with serious illnesses who are nearing the end of their lives
Child and adolescent psychiatry: focusing on the unique developmental and mental health needs of young people
Sleep medicine: researching, diagnosing, and treating sleep disorders
Consultation-liaison psychiatry: supporting patients with complex medical and mental health concerns

Similarly, in addition to providing general therapy or counseling, psychologists can specialize in different areas. For example, they may receive additional training in:

Clinical psychology: focusing on diagnosing and treating mental health conditions
Cognitive psychology: researching mental processes like problem solving, memory, learning, and language
Developmental psychology: studying how psychology changes and adapts across the human lifespan
Organizational psychology: using psychological principles to improve workplace culture and quality of life
Neuropsychology: studying the brain to better understand how it functions and the relationships between our thoughts and behaviors
Social psychology: researching how social connections and interactions with others influence people’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors
School psychology: supporting student learning by identifying learning differences, behavioral challenges, and mental health concerns that present in the academic environment

Of course, these lists are just a starting point representing some of the most common areas of practice for psychologists and psychiatrists. These professionals can work in many other settings and specialize in other treatment areas.

Their role in your mental healthcare

If you need support to improve your mental health, asking for help is one of the first and most important steps. But with so many different mental health professionals to choose from, how do you know where to turn? The simplest answer is that it depends on your unique treatment needs. Fortunately, you don’t have to move through this process alone.

As a general rule, it might be helpful to connect with a psychiatrist if you’re living with a serious mental illness, like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, that requires ongoing medication management. It can also be helpful to work with a psychiatrist if you’re dealing with a complex medical concern that impacts your emotional well-being or cognitive functioning.

Psychologists, therapists, and other mental health professionals often work with psychiatrists, but they cannot prescribe medications. Instead, their main role is to support their clients’ mental health through therapy, education, advocacy, and a collaborative working alliance.

If you think you might benefit from a psychiatrist or psychologist’s services, a therapist or primary care doctor can provide a referral to the right provider for your needs. Whether you need medication management, inpatient or outpatient therapeutic support, or medical care, all of your providers can work together to strengthen your mental and physical health.

Find the right mental health provider for you with Rula

At Rula, we believe that finding the right mental health professional for your needs shouldn’t be confusing. And that it shouldn’t take months to see a provider. So we built our therapist-matching program to make it easy to connect with a therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist who takes your insurance in just a few clicks.

And don’t worry if you’re unsure which type of provider is right for you. Our team is always happy to guide you through the process, answer questions, help you schedule appointments, and make it easier to access the specialized treatment you deserve.