Mental care is one service that requires the right corrective action from appropriate specialists. Otherwise, the healing takes longer than usual which has its consequences per se. And in your journey of finding the mental health care specialist, were you able to reach out to the right professional?
We know how confusing mental health care specialist terms and their service limitations are. Sometimes you might wonder what is the difference between a therapist and a psychiatrist or psychologist and a mental healthcare coach.
Thus, via this article, we would like to educate you all about the two major healthcare specialists viz. Therapists and Psychiatrists.
Who is a Therapist? What Does a Therapist Do?
As a whole, a therapist is a collective term that includes many mental health care specialists such as:
- Psychiatrists,
- Psychologists,
- Mental health care counselors
- Relationship therapists,
- Social workers, etc.
In order to become a therapist, the candidate has to obtain a master’s degree either in psychology, social work, or counseling. In addition, they need to obtain a license to practice it.
Based on their interests, candidates can choose one or more specialization/s. Some renowned and high-in-demand specializations include:
- Behavioral Disorder Therapy
- Rehabilitation Therapy or Counseling
- Family or Marriage Therapy
- Clinical Social Working
- Child Therapy
- Cognitive Therapy
- Sexual Abuse Therapy
- Substance use disorder (SUD) Counseling
- Mental Health Counseling
Post their specialization, training, and licensing, they can handle patients with any mental or health problems related to their vocation.
When do you need a Therapist?
You have to reach out to a therapist just in case:
- You feel medication is not the solution to your problem
- You discover physical health is good but not the mental health
- You experience mental instability over a long period of time
- You sense that you need counseling, therapy, or coaching
Who is a Psychiatrist? What Does a Psychiatrist Do?
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who specializes in mental health care treatments. To become a psychiatrist, the candidate has to obtain a minimum medical degree (4-5 years in a medical school like MBBS doctors). Pursuing specialization in psychiatric care is most recommended. It might take another 4-5 years of education and residency training. Psychiatrists can train themselves in psychotherapy and become a therapist too.
Generally, psychiatrists treat serious mental illnesses like:
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD),
- Schizophrenia,
- sleep disorders,
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD),
- Bipolar disorder,
- Substance abuse disorder,
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD),
- Anxiety & Depression.
According to WebMD, a psychiatrist is a medical doctor who aids in preventing, diagnosing, and treating mental illness.
When do you need a Psychiatrist?
You can reach out to a Psychiatrist just in case:
- You wanted to diagnose your mental/ health issue accurately
- You need to explore what are the side effects of medication
- You’re physically or biologically affected for months or years
- You experience different or critical symptoms like chest pain
- You’re confused about what to choose from the various treatment options
Importantly, these are just a few cases or situations. And seeing a psychiatrist does not require specific symptoms like those mentioned above. You can consult them if you have no idea what to do. Or don’t even know where to start.
Answer to Your Question of What is the Difference Between a Therapist and a Psychiatrist?
Now that we’ve seen who are therapists/ Psychiatrists and what they do, we can pinpoint the key difference between these two specialists.
Therapists are mental health care specialists who can treat your mental illnesses and disorders with their therapeutic or counseling approach. But not with prescribing medications. On the other side, Psychiatrists are mental health care specialists who can majorly treat your mental illnesses and disorders with medications.
Also, a psychiatrist who obtained a specialization in therapy can provide you with end-to-end mental health care. Whereas, a therapist cannot serve you with end-to-end mental health care services.
Naveen Hospital has the best psychiatric care facility & Psychiatrists in Coimbatore. They provide the best-in-class holistic and individual psychiatric care to mentally affected people or addicts.
