Do therapists diagnose disorders?

My pdoc and psyd have both diagnosed me with something different. My psyd says schizoaffective bipolar type while my pdoc says bipolar with psychotic features. When I brought it up with my pdoc he wouldn't even discuss it. He just said no. I felt kinda dumb.
I'm not sure which I have but sZa fits better. They do agree with the PTSD.

I don’t know what part of the world you are from but here in Ireland therapists do not diagnose and we could get in serious trouble for doing so.
I see what you are saying in that therapists generally know their clients more than psychiatrists and psychologists but they have extensive training related to diagnosing and prescribing medication, therapists don’t.
I have often suspected some of my clients may have ptsd, be somewhere on the autism spectrum or even have personality disorders but it is not my place to diagnose and I believe we all possess some of these traits. Sometimes they are creative adjustments to this crazy world we live in. I really dislike diagnosing and I feel there is too much emphasis on it now. Most clients are diagnosed with depression and anxiety but when you really explore their lives it’s only natural they are depressed and anxious- I would be worried if they weren’t. Also too many people are being diagnosed as mentally ill and people who were once categorised as murderers, rapists, terrorists are being labelled as mentally ill- so someone who is depressed is put in the same boat as the above. It’s nuts.
Sorry for ranting but I feel very strongly about this.

My T had to diagnose for insurance, maybe because I started with an esp first. But I pretty much knew that diagnosis without having heard it before, and I dont have a problem with it.

All the answers are very interesting and made me think of a diagnosis from a different angle. I don't need a diagnosis for insurance/benefits purpose I was simply thinking in a very black or white way. I have only had one consultation with a psychiatrist who then recommened by current t. That was 3 years ago and I've been in therapy since. Never got diagnosed with anything but then never been assessed by a doctor other than than one initical time. Since I feel my emotions have been spiriling out of control lately I did askthe t. is she thinkgs there is a 'name' for it. She was reluctant to answer my question and thought its best to see a psychiatrist for that. As explained before I don't see how someone who sees me once can give me a definate answer.
Its almost as if getting diagnosed with a disorder would be an excuse and a relief for feeling the way I do but at the same time its so subjective. Am I 'normal' but not equipped to deal with emotions or is there a factor or an imbalance, actual lack of control in my behaviour.

A diagnosis can only be legit if it's the result of differential diagnosis. If a clinician merely selects a label from the DSM, like GAD for a patient with anxiety, without understanding the various bodily, nutritional, environmental, microbial, biochemical, AND psychosocial factors that could be contributing to the anxiety... then nothing has been accomplished except to satisfy the needs of the business itself. I have never been to a MH clinician who had even a fraction of the knowledge necessary to trace symptoms to their root in a comprehensive and valid way. Therapists don't have the training or inclination, and psychiatrists seem only interested in matching a DSM listing with a drug.

I went to 4 different rheumatologists and got 4 different diagnoses. I've had similar experiences with other specialties. That shows how useless they can be.
DSM is 10 times worse than medical. Go to 4 different psychiatrists, and get a dozen different diagnoses.

Diagnostics makes such little use of technology, it is really sad. Things like a pill with a tracking device was invented and implemented, https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsr.../ucm584933.htm, but how come doctors are still clueless about diagnosing? And since they are, they could at least use Google.

If you apply for SSDI, the SSA wants a diagnosis from an MD. I am, personally, not in favor of MSWs diagnosing. I think their job is to address "problems of living."

Some say that a condition can't be treated, until you know what it is. That's absolutely not true in psychiatry. I've noticed that pdocs throw nearly all the various psych meds at just about all the various disorders. I think psych consumers are way too eager to get themselves in posession of some diagnosis and, preferably, a collection of diagnoses. We've got "diagnoses inflation."

I could care less how they want to label me. I know I have problems, and I need to figure out what to do about them, and if medication might improve my quality of life.

Knowing how to read the DSM of Mental Disorders does not qualify a person to be a diagnostician.