What is the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist?
Psychologists focus on therapy and psychological assessment. Psychiatrists are medical doctors who can prescribe medication.
Detailed Answer
by AMHS clinical team
A simple way to understand the difference:
Psychologist (clinical/counselling):
• provides psychotherapy (talk therapy)
• helps with coping skills, emotional regulation, patterns, relationships
• can do psychological assessments (depending on training/credentials and tools used)
Psychiatrist:
• is a medical doctor (MBBS + specialization)
• can prescribe medication
• focuses on medical management of mental health conditions (e.g., major depression, bipolar disorder, psychosis, severe anxiety, sleep disorders)
Many people benefit from both—therapy + medication—especially when symptoms are intense, long-standing, or affecting daily functioning.
If you're confused about which one you need, you can start with therapy. If your therapist feels medication evaluation could help, they can recommend a psychiatric consult while continuing therapy.