How Psychiatrists and Psychologists Differ

The author of several peer-reviewed articles, Joseph Kenan is a psychiatrist and psychopharmacology professional in San Francisco, California. Working with nonprofits, charities, and high-tech professionals, psychiatrist Joseph Kenan collaborates closely with therapists and other mental health professionals to provide effective treatment solutions for various mental difficulties. Many people often mistake psychologists for psychiatrists. While both psychologists and psychiatrists work with people who have mental health concerns, they are technically two different professions.

Psychologists and psychiatrists are both trained to diagnose and treat mental health conditions. They understand how the brain works and have a clear idea of the typical thoughts and emotions that people have. Perhaps the most obvious difference between the two is that psychologists cannot prescribe medication, while psychiatrists can. This is due to the fact that psychiatrists are medical doctors who have attended medical school and hold medical degrees. On top of that, they have completed both a residency and specialty program in psychiatry. In total, psychiatrists are in school for at least 11 years.

Psychologists also have advanced degrees, but this is typically a master’s or doctorate in psychology. Psychologists who have doctorates can refer to themselves as “doctor,” but they are not medical doctors. Since they cannot prescribe medication, they instead provide psychological treatments to people who have mental health conditions that respond well to such an approach, such as depression and anxiety.