[stieg]

I don't know if this is the right forum for this thread but i have a question. I have a problem related to depression, anxiety and difficulty at socializing. Who should i attend; a psychiatrist or a psychologist? I know both have huge differences but i need orientation about which specialist to attend.

[lizardlady]

Stieg, a psychologist has a doctorate (PhD or PsyD) in psychology. They can provide therapy and psychological testing. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who specialized in mental health disorders. In the US most psychiatrists no longer provide therapy. They primarily provide meds and med management.

Does that help?

[DragonSong]

Stieg...I agree with lizardlady...what she says is true...one who has some problems relating to mental health start with a psychologist first to be evaluated to see what kinds of therapy you need...then if they determine you might benefit from medication also along with therapy..they would set you up with a psychiatrist to find a medication for your needs...when you look for a therapist make sure to let them know what your needs may be and to who is most qualified to give you the help you need...I hope this helps you as well...good luck to you

[Lacelly]

^What they said. I have one of each. There are also other kinds of therapists like LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor?) and LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker.) Usually those are the ones you get in hospitals because they are to cheap to hire the ones with the more advanced degrees.

How to Choose a Therapist
Distinctions Between Therapists' Degrees
http://psychcentral.com/psychotherapy/

[blueoctober]

Originally Posted by stieg

I don't know if this is the right forum for this thread but i have a question. I have a problem related to depression, anxiety and difficulty at socializing. Who should i attend; a psychiatrist or a psychologist? I know both have huge differences but i need orientation about which specialist to attend.

I see both, but I saw a Psychiatrist first.......this was because the first time I received mental health support I was committed. I still see my Psychiatrist (about every 3 months), but I see her for medication. I see a Psychologist about once every 2 months, but when I was struggling I saw her biweekly.

They both have their role, but as far as a diagnosis/medication I see a Psychiatrist. Without medication no matter how much work I did in therapy I wouldn't improve and would get progressively worse.

[ECHOES]

Generally, but not always, a psychiatrist's treatment is limited to prescribing medication.
A psychologist or other mental health professional (MSW, LMHC, etc) can provide psychotherapy, talk therapy.

Here is a site I found helpful: www.guidetopsychology.com

[(JD)]

Psychiatrists also cost about twice as much as a psychologist. A psychologist is really the best way to go for ongoing therapy and consideration. Most psychiatrists just want to write scripts and manage in-patients, imo. A psychologist, in general, will be more open to emergency contact...whereas I have never known of a psychiatrist really wanting to offer that...not in 40 years of being savvy I haven't known a single one.

[Perna]

I would find any local-to-you mental health professional who has worked extensively with depressed people or go to my own primary care physician and talk with them. Depression is very individual and complicated and I would want to learn as much as I could about my own before I picked a primary mode of starting to address it.

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by stieg

I don't know if this is the right forum for this thread but i have a question. I have a problem related to depression, anxiety and difficulty at socializing. Who should i attend; a psychiatrist or a psychologist? I know both have huge differences but i need orientation about which specialist to attend.

each USA state, different countries, locations and what have you have their own rules that constitutes what a psychiatrist and psychologist is and what they need to complete their respective degrees, and also have their own things each can do with their clients.

around here a there is very little difference between a psychiatrist and a psychologist. Both Psychologists and Psychiatrists here are able to see see clients for therapy, meds management, referral and can administer psychological/psychiatric evaluations.

The only difference between the two here is that the psychologists in the area had to go through internship, this is where psychologists do hands on work with clients under the supervision,

Psychiatrists here are not required to go through internship under a supervisor. they are able to directly from their graduating college degrees to practicing without any supervision.

some very in their therapeutic approach. one psychiatrist I know uses hypnosis with their clients another does not, psychiatrist that I know uses Cognative Behavioral therapy with his clients and other psychiatrists do not, and it works the same way with psychologists, some use CBT, some dont some use DBT some dont, some use hypnosis and some dont.

my suggestion call psychiatrists, psychologists and mental health agencies in your area, tell them what you need and ask if they have people that work with your problems. Then go in and meet some of them, then choose the one you are most comfortable with.

[sugahorse1]

I'd see a psychiatrist first to get a diagnosis and probably meds to help with that. A psychologist, referred to on here as a therapis (T) as well, will help you deal with your emotions and feeling by helping you understand.
But I prefer to get the chemical imbalances out the way first, and get a dx, so I know what I'm dealing with.

[venusss]

Often, though, it's not the chemical imbalance (no offense, but this theory has been overblown out of proportion)... so I think it's worth trying to explore what can you do. Meds are not gonna help your cognitive patterns. If that doesn't help, you can see a psychiatrist, or your psychologist can refer you to one.

(where I live psychiatrist hardly ever go beyond "here's your script, NEXT!". If you can find somebody better with wholesome approach that's great, though).

[Fresia]

I know the initial question was the difference between them and it has been explained early on in this thread.

My concern is the later discussion recommending which to start out with:

Therapy with a Psychologist should be explored first, no matter the kind, BEFORE going to any medication therapy with a Psychiatrist, and then medication therapy should be added.

Without knowing the issues and getting a true diagnosis, unobscured by meds, none of the therapies will be effective. It's easy to take a pill, and can be readily prescribed if needed, but that has to be determined. It is not so easy to undo its effects if was quick to judgement and the wrong choice. A pill also cannot fix everything, there are issues that still usually need to be worked on in therapy even if medication therapy is needed. Is also why it is best to start out with a psychologist, then go to a psychiatrist if medications are needed as well.

[sugahorse1]

My psychiatrist makes time to listen to any triggers I may have gone thro, any symptoms that worry me, and then discusses how she would like to change my meds, how I feel about that and what I expect.
It's not a long appointment after the initial one (Which is +- 1 hour) - I see her only about 15mins

[(JD)]

I'd like to weigh in further, if I may?

The term "chemical imbalance" might be overused, or maybe just a tired term. I think it's even more valid today that in the past though, because of the mapping of the brain and increased knowledge about it. Even if something begins as psychological, we humans are so intertwined, interconnected, that there is a chemical reaction in the body when that occurs. If untreated, if the psychological response is unchecked and is revisited over and over, then the chemical reaction can also become entrenched. It happens that the chemical response can and does change (semi permanently, and sometimes "permanently") the physical body reaction. It can take many more times of "corrective psychological input" to reverse the negative chemical responses.

Seeing a psychologist helps to identify the problems and begin work on the correct solution. A psychiatrist can add the medication that can counter some of the negative symptomology which may make it easier to work on the problem psychologically. (Clear as mud now? )

But as others have said too, sometimes the medication masks part of the disorder's traits, and misdiagnosis can ensue. Sometimes, like with a dissociative disorder, the medication can remove all response of certain aspects, and thus the person never resolves some issues until off the medication.