Once you start looking for help, it is often difficult who you should go to, and who can help you best. It is not always easy to know the difference between different healthcare providers. To help you look for a healthcare provider who suits your needs best, we will here describe what the difference is between a psychologist and a psychiatrist.
What is a psychologist?
A psychologist is someone who specializes in psychology. He/she is not allowed to prescribe medication, but will in many cases treat your through 'talking therapy'. This means that the psychologist will use certain techniques in order to help you to treat your problems, at the hand of certain communication techniques. It can also be so that you need a combination of this type of therapy and medication. While a psychologist is not allowed to prescribe such medication, they can help you by guiding you while you take this medication.
What is a psychiatrist?
A psychiatrist is a doctor, specialized in mental illnesses. A psychiatrist may prescribe medication, and this is also their main type of treatment. Most people who therefore go to a psychiatrist are best helped through medicinal treatment according to their issue. An example could be genetic mental illness, such as a bipolar depression. A psychiatrist has not gotten the same communication techniques which a psychologist has, and is therefore not specialized in 'talking therapy'.
Online self-help? Can it help?
15 Minutes 4 Me developed an online self-help program, which is based on communication techniques to help you in the treatment of your stress, depression, and/or anxiety. The program is based on cognitive behavioral therapy and solution focused systematic therapy, in order to support you in dealing with your stress, depression, and/or anxiety.
Psychologist or psychiatrist? Take the depression test!
If you want to know if you might be suffering from stress, depression, or anxiety, you can take the free depression test here in order to find out your level of depression.
