Psychologist vs. Therapist: What’s the Difference

Anyone who offers counseling services can label themselves a therapist. Because the term ‘therapist’ can also refer to other counseling experts, it may include social workers, psychiatrists, or even pastors. Most of the people often believe that psychologists are the one and only mental health specialists who use talk therapy to help people with mental conditions. In fact, this is not true. Family and marriage therapists can also treat illnesses like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and so on. The gap between a psychologist and a therapist isn’t very large but it exists. In this blog about psychologists vs. therapists, we’ll discuss:

What is a Psychologist?

Psychologists are trained in many areas, not just therapy. The American Psychological Association (APA) lists 54 specialties within the field. They can be forensic, engineering, sports, or industrial-organizational psychologists. Many work full-time in universities to conduct research or teach aspiring mental health professionals. Psychologists are also qualified to diagnose mental health disorders and offer appropriate treatment plans.

Child psychologists deal with children and teens. They collaborate with medical or academic teams and become more involved than child therapists. In the case of children, they may also offer developmental psychology, school psychology, or abnormal behavior. At some places, even in your hometown, psychologists near you can prescribe medications. And where they are restricted, they work with psychiatrists—especially when therapy alone isn’t enough to help a patient manage the condition effectively.

What Is a Therapist?

A therapist is aka a mental health counselor or psychotherapist. They provide services to individuals with behavioral or mental problems, as well as to those who have recently experienced the worst phase of their lives. A good therapist is always nonjudgmental, an active listener, plans effective strategies, addresses trauma or thoughts of suicide, and develops problem-solving skills.

Therapist careers aren’t limited to family and marriage, school, career, substance abuse, and child. The most important thing is that therapists cannot prescribe medications to their patients, so they must connect with prescribing mental health practitioners in the area in order to provide the optimal services to their clients.

Key Differences Between Psychologists and Therapists

Let’s be real for a second. When you have a mental breakdown, at that time you only think about seeking help and terminologies like psychologist, therapist, and counselor can make things confusing. So it's better to know the true difference between them beforehand to make the right choice.

1. Education and Certification

Psychologists should hold a doctoral degree. It can be a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) or PsyD (Doctor of Psychology). They have to spend many years in colleges, training, internships and supervised clinical work to become one. In addition, they have to clear the licensing exams to practice.

On the other hand , therapists also need degrees according to their specialty. Most of them have a master’s degree in counseling, social work, or marriage and family therapy. Some of the accepted licenses in the U.S. are LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor), LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker), and LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist).

2. Approach to Treatment

Psychologists are empowered to evaluate and diagnose mental disorders. They generally use psychological tests and research-backed therapies such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Their priority is to identify and treat specific mental disorders.

On the flip side, therapists near me lend emotional support and help clients cope with quotidian difficulties. They can treat anxiety, stress, and depression. Beyond that, they can improve relationships, build coping skills, and offer support through tough life situations.

3. Scope of Practice

Psychologists are employed in private/public hospitals, have their own practices, serve in schools, or work at research facilities. In some U.S. states, they are allowed to prescribe medication to their patients if they have the right training. Therapists do talk therapy in one-on-one, group, or family situations. They listen, understand, and help their clients to develop resources to manage their emotions and setbacks in life.

4. Types of Patients Treated

The patients of psychologists are those who have more complicated or advanced mental health conditions such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or major depression. However, therapists normally consult people who have more personal issues like grief, relationship problems, stress, or mild anxiety.

To Summarize

In short, both psychologists and therapists help people ameliorate their mental health, but they have different qualifications, workspaces, treatment strategies and diverse patients. There’s no shame in reaching out to them if you have stress, trauma or any other condition. Further, the most important thing is to find the right expert. If you're in Utah and searching for a mental health expert, Lifematters Counseling is the one. They offer therapy and counseling for all ages to make you feel heard and understood and support you at every turn.