Psychologist, Psychiatrist, Psychotherapist: The difference in Brief

 

In emotional complaints or illnesses such as loss of drive, anxiety disorders, depression, many people look for an expert to help them. One quickly faces the problem: are they going to find a psychiatrist, a psychologist in Brisbane, or a psychotherapist? Three terms that are not so easy to tell apart. Who does what? Where's the difference?

Psychiatrists and psychologists are experts in mental health. However, their academic backgrounds and powers differ.

Psychiatrists Studied Medicine

Psychiatrists have graduated from medical school. They mainly dealt with the functioning and diseases of the human body and learned how to treat them with medication. After studying medicine, there is a multi-year specialist training in psychiatry and psychotherapy. After passing the specialist examination, they are considered psychiatrists and can also work as medical psychotherapists. In principle, psychiatrists only may not hold therapeutic discussions. They are authorized to prescribe medications such as antidepressants, physically examine patients, and arrange for the hospital admission.

Psychologists Are Not Doctors

Psychologists have a unique background. You will study psychology, the science of behavior, thinking, and feeling, for at least five years. So, you deal with the learning and behavior of people, with their feelings and thoughts.  A psychologist in Brisbane tries to describe, explain, predict or, if necessary, change this. After graduation, they are initially qualified to work in research, in the human resources departments of companies, or advice centers in the health sector.

If psychologists want to treat patients, they have to add three to five years of additional training to their studies. Only this entitles them to exercise psychotherapy as their responsibility. After graduation, they gain a license to practice medicine and are considered psychological psychotherapists. Unlike medical psychotherapists or psychiatrists, however, a psychologist in Brisbane may not prescribe medication but works with therapeutic discussions and cognitive methods or advice.

Psychiatrist Or Psychologist: Who Is The Right Contact Person?

Suppose people have the feeling that they have a psychological problem. In that case, they should initially contact their general practitioner or a specialist in psychiatry because symptoms of a mental disorder can have physical causes such as thyroid disease. If doctors rule out circumstances like these, psychotherapy could be an option. Which specialist is more suitable, whether psychiatrist or psychologist in Brisbane, depends on the individual case and the person's situation.

Sometimes, patients are cared for by two specialists, both a psychiatrist and a psychologist in Brisbane. One takes on the medicinal and the other the psychotherapeutic side of the treatment. In such cases, all parties must know each other and work together. This ensures that those affected receive excellent treatment.

What Is Psychotherapy?

Psychotherapy means “treatment of the soul” or treatment of mental problems. It is derived from the ancient Greek “psyche,” which means something like soul, breath, breath. Psychotherapy aims to treat mental disorders such as compulsions, depression, eating disorders, anxiety, or psychosomatic illnesses.