Psychological services: what are the differences

As it turns out, most people do not know the difference between a psychotherapist and a psychologist. Accordingly, it is not clear who to contact when such a need arises.

What are the differences?

Both of them deal with people’s mental health.

But contrary to the myth that a conversation with a psychologist or psychotherapists is a “conversation for money,” these specialists have special technology and methodology that allows them to help effectively.

There are many types of psychotherapy (transactional analysis, art therapy, psychoanalysis, CBT, existential therapy, symboldarama, positive cross-cultural psychotherapy, etc.)

In theory, a psychologist may have an idea of ​​working in these methods, but for practical work, specialized psychotherapeutic education is necessary.

In Soviet times, a psychotherapist was more classified as a specialist in drug therapy (indeed, some have a medical education, in addition to the actual psychotherapeutic one), now here, after all, like in the West, psychotherapy is considered to be related to psychology.

Psychotherapistscan work in private or public clinics or practice privately.

In general, psychology is a broader field of knowledge; there is the psychology of work, pedagogy, business, sports, and so on.

Medical (clinical) psychologists can also diagnose and help people with mental disorders.

Psychiatrist, unlike psychologists and psychotherapists without medical education, can write prescriptions and deal only with mental disorders.

Psychologists and psychotherapists work with healthy people. 

Consulting psychologist has a higher psychological education and is proficient in the methods of practical psychology (for example, social, child or management psychology)

A psychologist understands the characteristics of individual differences in personality psychology, the functioning and development of the psyche.

Psychiatrist is well versed in the biochemical features of the development of mental disorders. This is why they can prescribe medications.

Psychotherapist - can be a psychiatrist (with additional psychotherapeutic education) or a psychologist (who has also received additional psychotherapeutic education). He may specialize in one method of psychotherapy or use several methods to work.

When a person is mentally healthy, a psychotherapist-psychiatrist can work in exactly the same way as a psychotherapist-psychologist. But when the disease is serious, you cannot do without medical help from a psychiatrist. Sometimes “combined therapy” is used when the psychiatrist

I am a practicing psychologist and psychotherapist. I work both in person and online (it’s just as effective). I will be glad to help you in solving your psychological problems. To register, click on the button below. If necessary, I can refer you for a consultation with a psychiatrist (as a rule, this is not required).

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