Differences between psychologist, psychiatrist, psychotherapist and psychoanalyst

There are differences between psychologist, psychiatrist, psychotherapist and psychoanalyst. It is easy to identify what professional field they operate in, but not what distinguishes them. However, there are important differences between each figure.

Mental health professionals have to differentiate themselves. Students interested in training need to know all the information to choose. Users, patients or clients have the right to know what treatment they are going to receive.. Whether that intervention is appropriate and whether it will be delivered by someone who has all the necessary training.

Therefore, It is a question of knowledge that affects us all: academics, professionals, students and users. Let’s see what these differences are between psychologist, psychiatrist, psychotherapist and psychoanalyst.

Psychology, psychiatry, psychotherapy and psychoanalysis

Next, we will review the characteristics of each of these areas of knowledge in order to have a clearer idea of ​​their differences.

Psychologist

He is a professional who has received training in psychology. Psychologists do not necessarily work in a clinical setting. They typically require degrees and licenses.

It is important to note that requirements may vary from country to country. For example, to work in Spain in the field of clinical psychology in the public service, you need the PIR qualification, an acronym that represents the figure of Resident Internal Psychologist. Some characteristics of psychologists in general are the following:

They analyze mental processes and human behavior.They don’t just focus on mental problems.They have a degree in psychologyThey can perform in different contexts: clinical, organizational, sports, educational, social and others.They do not have the power to prescribe medicationsThey use standardized and projective tests to evaluate personality and other dimensions of the human being. They research in different fields of knowledge: cognition, perception, human development, etc. They work in multidisciplinary teams.

Psychotherapist

A psychotherapist is a psychologist or psychiatrist who has specialized in psychotherapy.. The professionals who practice it are focused on the well-being and improving the quality of life of their clients. Its features include:

They evaluate, diagnose and treat emotional and behavioral problemsThey can be psychologists or psychiatrists. They have different work approaches: humanistic, Gestalt, cognitive-behavioral, psychoanalysis, systemic and others. They work in individual, group, couple or family sessions. It all depends on the specialty. They offer weekly or biweekly intervention sessions. They respect patient confidentiality.

Psychoanalyst

This is usually a psychologist with very particular complementary training.. In Spain it is not the most common type of intervention, while in other countries it is. Perhaps its most representative territory is Argentina.

Professionals who practice within this current usually carry out their own personal analysis before practicing. Among its main features we find:

They are focused on analyzing unconscious processesThey use techniques such as free association and dream interpretation. They make their intervention long-term. They analyze the stages of development and how these influence the adult life of the consultant.They understand that unconscious conflicts influence behaviors and relationshipsThey address transference and countertransference. They study the various structures of the mind: the ego, the superego and the id.

Psychoanalysts believe that below the level of consciousness there is a good amount of content that conditions emotions, thoughts and behaviors without us realizing it.

Psychiatrist

The psychiatrist is a doctor who has specialized in psychiatry. Because psychiatrists know about medicine, they can prescribe a pharmacological intervention. Its general approach is medical, prioritizing the organic aspects of mental disorders. Some characteristics of psychiatrists are the following:

They have a medical degree.They evaluate, diagnose and treat mental disorders.They have the power to prescribe psychotropic drugsGenerally, they work in hospitals or clinics. They collaborate with other health professionals. They intervene at a pharmacological level. However, some also offer psychotherapy.

Often, the psychologist is in charge of the psychotherapeutic treatment and the psychiatrist controls the medication if necessary. It is common for both professionals to work hand in hand in some cases, such as major depression, bipolar disorder, and borderline personality disorder.

What is the difference between them?

After understanding the characteristics of each profession, it is likely that you will better perceive their distinctions. Next, we will outline the differences between psychologist, psychiatrist, psychotherapist and psychoanalyst to further clarify the picture.

1. Objective

Psychologist: studies the behavior and mental processes of human beings in different contexts.Psychotherapist: It treats people’s emotional problems through dialogue and behavioral, cognitive, emotional and existential strategies.Psychoanalyst: analyzes the unconscious and its influence on people’s lives.Psychiatrist: evaluates, diagnoses and treats mental disorders.

2. Training

Psychologist: He has a degree in psychology.Psychotherapist: You may have a degree in psychology or psychiatry.Psychoanalyst: They are usually psychologists or psychiatrists. However, there are training centers for people without university degrees.Psychiatrist: He has basic medical training.

3. Intervention

Psychologist: Depending on the context, you can carry out different interventions: social, educational, community, clinical.Psychotherapist: His intervention tends to be structured in sessions and he works together with the consultant. Depending on the school he adheres to, he can be more or less directive.Psychoanalyst: Its intervention takes time and is based, among other things, on free association, the therapeutic relationship and the unconscious.Psychiatrist: The treatment it provides is pharmacological, that is, medical. However, some can do psychotherapy.

4. Field of action

Psychologist: works in schools, companies, clinics, legal offices, sports institutions, social foundations, research groups, among others.Psychotherapist: He carries out his work in clinics, private offices, and support groups.Psychoanalyst: works in private offices, training institutes for psychoanalysts, mental health centers.Psychiatrist: Works in clinics, hospitals, private practice, mental health centers.

These distinctions are very general. Actually, In practice, the boundaries can be very blurred, especially because they have points in common.

How to request help

After seeing a primary care doctor, he or she may refer you to a psychiatrist—the most common procedure—or a psychologist.

Sometimes, one can request the intervention of the related specialty to complement the treatment. In this sense, the psychologist and psychiatrist can work together to treat the patient’s symptoms from a behavioral and clinical point of view.

The fields of psychology and psychiatry are essential for researching and developing treatments to improve mental and emotional health. Differences aside, psychologists, psychotherapists, psychoanalysts and psychiatrists share a common goal: helping people achieve general psychological well-being.

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