Psychiatrist vs. Therapist: What Is The Difference Between Psychiatry And Psychotherapy?

Therapy can be an effective tool to help you improve your mental health and well-being, learn effective coping mechanisms, and better your mood. Therapy also provides valuable mental health support, helping individuals manage stress and emotional challenges. Therapy may empower you to live the life you want and meet your mental health goals with the help of a licensed mental health professional. However, many people are unsure whether to meet with a psychiatrist or therapist when seeking mental health support. Just like how there's a difference between psychologist and therapist, there's also a difference between psychiatrists vs. therapists.

Mental heath therapists typically have a minimum of a master's degree and are often trained to support clients in working through mental health challenges and conditions, while a psychiatrist is a medical doctor and may provide medication management, and in some cases therapy. Ensuring you understand the difference between a therapist and a psychiatrist can be the first step in finding a therapy or psychiatry provider.

What is the difference between a psychiatrist vs. therapist?

Many people wonder about the difference between a therapist vs psychiatrist. Often, when making an appointment to see a mental health professional, costs and time may go into the process, and exploring online psychiatry could potentially offer a more convenient way to access psychiatric support. BetterHelp now offers psychiatry services through UpLift as an additional care option alongside therapy. For this reason, understanding how a professional can support you before you commit to a therapy session can be beneficial.

*Medication is prescribed only when clinically appropriate and is not guaranteed. Pricing, availability, insurance coverage, and copays vary by plan, location, and provider availability are not guaranteed.

Psychiatrists are medical doctors who can prescribe medication

Psychiatrists are medical doctors and mental health professionals who are required to attend medical school and obtain medical degrees, learning how to evaluate, diagnose, and treat mental health conditions, including prescribing medication when clinically appropriate. Psychiatrists are trained to address a range of mental health concerns using their medical expertise. Most begin their journey as medical students before specializing in psychiatry. Many attend four years of medical school and graduate as either a doctor of medicine or doctor of osteopathic medicine, then complete residency training in psychiatry and may receive specialized training in a particular field, like geriatric psychiatry or child and adolescent psychiatry.

While psychiatrists do not always provide psychotherapy, because of their medical training, psychiatrists can prescribe medications and diagnose mental health conditions. A psychiatrist's focus on medicine is due to their credentials as medical doctors. Psychiatrists can take a medical history and determine the effects of a mental health condition and other medical treatments. This can be helpful when physical health factors may be contributing to mental health symptoms. They are also essential for treating severe mental health conditions that may benefit from medication and long-term management.

Please note that psychiatrists and psychologists are not the same. A psychologist typically cannot prescribe medication, but they are trained in clinical psychology and can still support people with mental health conditions through various therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy or other types of cognitive therapy.

Therapists are professionals who offer behavioral therapy and other types of therapy

Therapist’ is a broad term often used for licensed mental health professionals who provide psychotherapy, such as counselors, clinical social workers, psychologists, and marriage and family therapists.. These professionals usually complete graduate clinical training and licensure requirements, though the exact degree path varies by profession. A Ph.D. or MD is not required to work as a therapist. They can support people experiencing mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder through therapy. However, some therapists have a doctoral degree. In many cases, therapists are graduate-trained mental health professionals who provide psychotherapy and, depending on their license and jurisdiction, may diagnose mental health conditions. Therapists may have specialized training in specific areas to meet the needs of different individuals or to support specific mental health conditions by way of psychotherapy.

A therapist cannot prescribe medication like psychiatrists, as they are not medical prescribers. However, they may collaborate with psychiatrists to ensure the plan to treat unique mental health conditions is sufficient.

According to the American Psychiatric Association, close to one in five adults in the US live with a mental health condition, and millions of people see a therapist each year. While online articles might not tell you which path or treatment methods are right for you, they might give you the information you seek to make an informed decision regarding the mental health professional you may choose to work with in therapy.

Psychiatrist vs. therapist: How do I choose the right mental health professional?

If you are still trying to decide which mental health services or profession you should seek for therapy services, ask yourself the following questions:

• What symptoms, behaviors, or diagnoses do I want to discuss with a provider?
• What type of treatment am I looking for?
• Do I prefer the idea of medication over talk therapy?
• Do I need someone who can write prescriptions? Would I prefer a combination of medication and therapy?
• What type of provider can I afford to see?
• Is there a particular type of therapy I want to try (for example, group therapy or exposure therapy)?

Other types of mental health professionals aside from a psychiatrist & therapist

After deciding on the answers to these questions, consider reaching out to a few providers in your area to make a pros and cons chart of the pricing, value, and experience of each one before making a decision. Before starting, stopping, or changing any medication, speak to a psychiatrist, primary care physician, or other qualified medical professional.

Some other mental health professionals that you may want to consider include:

• Licensed clinical social workers
• Psychiatric nurse practitioners
• Licensed marriage and family therapistsNotable differences between psychiatrists and therapists: Medical doctors who prescribe medication vs. behavioral therapy professionals

Appointment structure

What is the process of making therapy appointments with a psychiatrist near me? YYou might have a single intake appointment when you visit one after being referred by your primary care doctor. Follow-up appointments with psychiatrists are often shorter than therapy sessions and may occur anywhere from frequently to periodically, depending on need.

Many therapists offer 30-minute to one-hour therapy sessions. You can often work out shorter psychotherapy sessions if you have a hectic schedule or are in a financial crunch. Often, these meetings may occur once a week. However, if you are feeling well and prefer to check in occasionally, you might only see your professional once or twice a month. Some people might also see a marriage and family therapist more than once a week for extra support during a difficult period.

Roles in mental health treatment

A therapist’s focus is often on psychotherapy, coping skills, behavior change, and emotional support. Although psychiatrists offer talk therapy occasionally and may offer guidance, suggestions, and education about mental health symptoms and conditions, they may not offer dedicated or extensive therapy services. A therapist primarily assists you in working through your symptoms. They might provide mental health care and treatment options to improve your well-being or help you learn to manage mental health conditions. As such, they can suggest homework like a book recommendation or habits to practice for you to continue your work between counseling sessions. This homework might speed up progress in your sessions.

Both a therapist and a psychiatrist who provide counseling can treat many mental health conditions, such as bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), eating disorders, and major depressive disorder, or help manage stress levels. Therapists, and some psychiatrists who provide psychotherapy, may work with couples, families, or groups. They may not have a medical degree, but many therapists are highly skilled in treating mental health conditions. A psychiatrist may make medication recommendations, check on the effectiveness of your medication, and talk with you about any side effects that medications may present. They might not always provide the emotional support that counseling often provides. However, some may offer both therapy and medication management. Some mental health professionals offer diagnostic assessment, while formal psychological testing is often performed by psychologists.

Cost

Cost is one of the key differences in the psychiatrist and therapist head-to-head comparison. Psychiatrists may charge more than a therapist to treat mental health conditions, often reaching over $200 per session. Depending on the factors at play, a therapist's treatment can be as costly. Forbes found that the average cost of therapy in the US is $100-$200 per session. The cost of either may be determined by your insurance coverage, where you live, and the type of professional available in your area.

When visiting a psychiatrist, you may have to factor in medication costs if your insurance plan does not cover it. Some therapists are experienced and specialized and may cost more than others with less experience. Some platforms online may also offer therapy or psychiatry services for a lower cost. BetterHelp now offers psychiatry services through UpLift, and coverage and out-of-pocket costs may vary based on your insurance and provider availability.

Referrals

Psychiatrists and psychologists or therapists may refer you to one another to treat mental health conditions if they think you could benefit. For example, suppose you visit a licensed clinical psychologist who notes your interest in medication. In that case, the psychologist may direct you to a psychiatrist to evaluate whether medication could support your symptoms since psychiatrists are medical doctors. If clinically appropriate, then the psychiatrist can prescribe medication. If you see a psychiatrist before a psychologist, they could determine that therapy is important to your treatment plan and refer you to therapy.

If you're still unsure about which provider to seek support from, consider making an appointment with either a psychologist or psychiatrist to ask about your treatment options. You can speak with your medical doctor or make an appointment with a clinical social worker, counselor, or psychologist, depending on your preference. They can let you know if another treatment avenue might serve you better.

Mental health support options

Therapy can help you learn and practice decision-making techniques, which may positively impact many areas of life. However, some psychologists can also be costly, especially in person. If you face barriers to treatment due to cost, distance, or another issue, you might consider meeting with a counselor online.

Benefits of online therapy

With internet-based therapy, you may not have to worry about commuting to an office or sitting on a waiting list. You can often begin treatment within 24 to 48 hours with an online platform. Research suggests online therapy can reduce symptoms and one particular review on online therapy effectiveness found that online treatment led to a 50% reduction in symptoms of social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, and compulsive gambling disorder. If you're ready to start, consider taking the next step with a platform like BetterHelp, which offers a growing network of licensed professional counselors and therapists. BetterHelp also now offers psychiatry services through UpLift for adults, which may include medication management when clinically appropriate. To learn more about getting started with psychiatry, visit this page.

Medication availability and coverage may vary by member location, clinical appropriateness, and individual pharmacy/insurance benefits. Prescribing decisions are made by the treating clinicians. We do not guarantee that any specific medication will be prescribed or covered by a member’s insurance plan.