What the difference between a therapist, a psychiatrist, a phycologist, and a counselor?!
Question: What the difference between a therapist, a psychiatrist, a phycologist, and a counselor.?
And who can prescribe you anti-depressants.?Health Question & Answer
Answers:
A therapist, psychologist, and a counselor are all essentially the same thing. These are people who typically deal with the talk therapy aspect of things & can not perscribe medication.
A psychiatrist is someone who has recieved their M.D. and can perscribe you medication.Health Question & Answer
A psychiatrist is someone who has recieved their M.D. and can perscribe you medication.Health Question & Answer
PsychiAtrist: is a medical doctor (pre-med, + 4 yrs. after the ), who has additionally specialized in mental health (I think it's another 4-6 yrs.), like a surgeon, or opthamalogist, gerontologist etc. - specialized in any field
PsycholOgist: is someone who has a Bachelors (4 yrs. usually psych or social related), + a masters (another 2 yrs.) and then a doctorate (a thesis, research etc. up to 2 yrs.)
Counselor: some of the professionals in this field who've been practicing for a longer period may have been "grandfathered" into the licensure (depending on the state regulations), meaning that they may not have any formal college level education, but specialized and still very extensive training, or they may have "just" a Bachelor's degree (4 yrs. e.g. in Nursing ) + a master's or direct licensure.
Generally in the U.S.; Medication can be prescribed by
a) physician (M.D.) only, (however, some of the people in this field (psychologist or counselor) may be also nurse practitioners or physician's assistants working independently, but under the direction of an M.D., who also can prescribe)
b) active duty military personal in the medical field has a lot more 'liberty' as well (especially in treating other active duties, not civilians)Health Question & Answer
PsycholOgist: is someone who has a Bachelors (4 yrs. usually psych or social related), + a masters (another 2 yrs.) and then a doctorate (a thesis, research etc. up to 2 yrs.)
Counselor: some of the professionals in this field who've been practicing for a longer period may have been "grandfathered" into the licensure (depending on the state regulations), meaning that they may not have any formal college level education, but specialized and still very extensive training, or they may have "just" a Bachelor's degree (4 yrs. e.g. in Nursing ) + a master's or direct licensure.
Generally in the U.S.; Medication can be prescribed by
a) physician (M.D.) only, (however, some of the people in this field (psychologist or counselor) may be also nurse practitioners or physician's assistants working independently, but under the direction of an M.D., who also can prescribe)
b) active duty military personal in the medical field has a lot more 'liberty' as well (especially in treating other active duties, not civilians)Health Question & Answer
a counselor and therapist are either going to be a bachelors or masters (but usually a masters) a psychologist is a phd and a psychiatrist is an mdHealth Question & Answer
Phycologist probably could be the only one that can prescribe you for anti-depressants...the rest can only reccomend and help you get through the process of your depression.Health Question & Answer