Differences between psychology, psychiatry and psychotherapy
This page explains the significant differences between roles in psychology, psychiatry and psychotherapy.
Staff working in these roles tend to deal with different types of problems, although there is also considerable overlap in their work.
Below is a brief description of each of the different areas.
Psychology is the study of people: how they think, how they act, react and interact. It’s concerned with all aspects of behaviour and the thoughts, feelings and motivation underlying such behaviour.
Psychology is a discipline that is firstly concerned with the normal functioning of the mind and has explored areas such as learning, remembering and the normal psychological development of children. It has been one of the fastest growing university subjects and is increasingly available in schools and colleges.
Psychologists are not usually medically qualified and only a small proportion of people studying psychology degrees will go on to work with patients.
Psychologists can specialise in a number of areas, such as mental health and educational and occupational psychology. In healthcare, psychologists specialise in clinical, counselling, forensic or health psychology.
Psychological therapy roles
There are also roles using psychology for other staff, including assistant psychologists, psychological wellbeing practitioners and high intensity therapists
Psychiatry is the study of mental health problems and their diagnosis, management and prevention. Psychiatrists are medical doctors who have qualified in psychiatry. They often combine a broad general caseload alongside an area of special expertise and research.
Psychotherapy is conducted with individuals, groups, couples and families. Psychotherapists help people to overcome stress, emotional and relationship problems or troublesome habits.
There are many different approaches in psychotherapy, or talking therapies, which include:
- cognitive behavioural therapies
- psychoanalytic therapies
- psychodynamic therapies
- systemic and family psychotherapy
- arts and play therapies
- humanistic and integrative psychotherapies
- hypno-psychotherapy
- experiential constructivist therapies
A psychotherapist may be a psychiatrist, psychologist or other mental health professional, who has had further specialist training in psychotherapy. Increasingly, there are a number of psychotherapists who do not have backgrounds in the above fields, but who have undertaken in-depth training in this area.
Medical psychotherapists are fully-qualified doctors who have qualified in psychiatry and then undertaken a three or four-year specialist training in psychotherapy. Their role is in the psychotherapeutic treatment of patients with psychiatric illnesses.
Psychiatry and psychology are overlapping professions. Practitioners in both — psychiatrists and psychologists — are mental health professionals. Their area of expertise is the mind — and the way it affects behavior and well-being. They often work together to prevent, diagnose, and treat mental illness. And both are committed to helping people stay mentally well.
But there are differences between psychiatry and psychology. And people sometimes find those differences confusing, especially when they are looking for help. To make matters even more confusing, psychiatrists and psychologists aren’t the only mental health professionals you can choose from. There are mental health counselors, social workers, nurses and nurse practitioners, and others who deal with issues of mental health. And if you consider the multiple approaches to treatment, ranging from counseling to various forms of psychotherapy, the whole mental health system begins to look like a maze that’s nearly impossible to navigate.
But here’s a guide you can use to help you make your way through that maze.
Psychotherapy is conducted by a professional with specialized training: for example, a psychiatrist, a trained counselor, a social worker, or a psychologist.
But how do you make sense of the alphabet soup after their names? What are the qualifications of the person treating you?
Doctoral Degrees
Although it’s common to associate the title “doctor” with a medical doctor, this title can refer to anyone who has an advanced degree. That being said, just because someone calls themselves “doctor” doesn’t mean they are qualified to offer you treatment. They could just as easily have a Ph.D. in English or archaeology. If you are in doubt, ask to see their full credentials.
Here are some professional titles you may run into with therapy.
M.D. (Medical Doctor)
Training for an M.D. begins by earning a bachelor’s degree that includes coursework in subjects such as biology, physics, math, chemistry, and social sciences. After passing the Medical Competency Aptitude Test (MCAT), students then enroll in medical school, where they complete two years of classroom coursework followed by two more years of clinical rotations in different medical facilities. After finishing medical school, students pursuing psychiatry then complete a four-year residency in their specialty area.
M.D.s are also required to pass tests to earn a medical license and obtain medical board certification.
Psychiatrists are M.D.s because they possess a medical degree, they can prescribe medications, as well as administer psychotherapy.
Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy)
Ph.D. programs may offer degrees in many diverse areas ranging anywhere from agriculture to urban planning and development. Psychologists often have this degree as well. Psychologists generally cannot prescribe medication, although in the states of Idaho, Iowa, Illinois, Louisiana, and New Mexico, adequately trained psychologists may be granted the right to prescribe medications.
A Ph.D. requires first earning a bachelor’s degree, which usually takes four years to complete. Students may choose to earn an undergraduate degree in a subject such as psychology, sociology, counseling, education, or social work. The next step is to complete graduate school, which usually takes between 5 to 7 years to finish.
While degree requirements vary, Ph.D. programs tend to be research-oriented and require students to complete original research and a dissertation. Students are required to complete a supervised internship in a clinical setting and pass state exams before becoming a licensed psychologist.
Psy.D. (Doctor of Psychology)
This type of psychology degree focuses more on the practice of psychology than scientific research and teaching. The Psy.D. degree option emerged as an alternative to the Ph.D. and focused on training psychologists as mental health practitioners.
A Psy.D. typically takes around 4 to 6 years to complete and is focused more on professional practice rather than research. Course work is focused on topics such as diagnosis, assessment, and clinical interventions.
For psychologists, both a Ph.D. and Psy.D. require students to complete a supervised internship in a professional setting and pass state exams in order to be licensed.
D.Min. (Doctor of Ministry)
The Doctor of Ministry is a degree that may be held by a minister. The D.Min. degree is a professional degree that allows religious ministers to offer pastoral counseling.
In the United States, the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) recommends that students to first earn a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) or an equivalent degree, and complete a minimum of three years of full-time ministry work before earning a D.Min. degree. A Doctor of Ministry degree will usually take 3 to 6 years to complete.
Master’s Degrees
Whereas medical doctors may have 3 to 4 years of education plus years of internship and residency beyond a bachelor’s degree, and the other specialized advanced degrees have their own education combinations, as mentioned, master’s programs are generally closer to two years.
Some degrees you may encounter include:
- M.S.W: Stands for Master of Social Work. This is the degree that social workers generally possess. After completing a bachelor’s degree, it typically takes 2 to 3 years of graduate study to earn an M.S.W.
- M.Ed.: Stands for Master of Education. Many counselors have this degree. It may be given in any field of education. This degree usually takes around 2 to 3 years of graduate study to complete.
- M.S.Ed.: Stands for Master of Science in Education. Like an M.Ed., this degree usually takes 2 to 3 years to earn.
- M.S. or M.A.: Stands for Master of Science and Master of Arts, respectively. These are the traditional degrees given by colleges of arts and sciences in the United States. Generally, a master’s degree is not sufficient to be licensed as a psychologist, although some states and Canadian provinces do allow it.
- Ed.S.: Stands for Educational Specialist. This degree is actually intermediate between a Master’s and a Doctorate. Some school psychologists and counselors have this degree. After earning a master’s degree, students may opt to earn an Ed.S. as a way to advance their degree and skills. This degree often takes about two years to complete.
- M.Div.: Stands for Masters in Divinity (see above). Ministers who are pastoral counselors may have this degree. This degree (or its equivalent) is required for those interested in earning a D.Min. degree.
Licenses
Licensed counselors in the U.S. use different titles depending on their area of expertise. Those may include:
- L.P.C. (Licensed Professional Counselor)
- L.M.H.C. (Licensed Mental Health Counselor)
- L.C.P.C. (Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor)
- L.P.C.C. (Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor of Mental Health)
- L.C.M.H.C. (Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor)
- L.M.H.P. (Licensed Mental Health Practitioner)
- M.F.C.C. (Marriage, Family, and Child Counselor)
In some states, the title L.C.S.W., for Licensed Clinical Social Worker, may be used for social workers.
Special Certifications
Certifications are similar to licenses, but with a more limited scope of practice. Some certifications you may see include:
- CADC: Stands for Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor. This person usually has at least a high school diploma or bachelor’s degree and some additional training in alcohol and substance abuse. A person obtaining their CADC must train under a licensed professional. A CADC certification is not available in every state.
- CAC or NCAC: Stands for Certified Addiction Counselor. Similar to a CADC, a CAC is certification at the intermediate level and requires clinical supervision. The CAC is for those who plan to work alongside clinically trained staff to provide services to individuals with substance use conditions. The NCAC designation is certification at the national level (National Certified Addiction Counselor). NCAC credentials can be obtained at Level I and Level II.
Board Certifications
Physicians like psychiatrists generally pass “specialty boards” to become “board-certified” in their chosen specialty. Those may include:
- A.B.P.P: This board certification is a credential available through the American Board of Professional Psychology. Any psychologist who passes their exam may use these initials. Not all psychologists obtain this certification, however.
- F.A.C.P.: Fellow of the American College of Physicians.
A Word From Verywell
It’s important that you develop a trusting relationship with your psychotherapist so that you know your mental health is in good hands. If you are not sure of your psychotherapist’s credentials, just ask. Reviewing credentials is typically part of an initial interview.
