“What’s the difference?”

Psychologists and Psychiatrists share a common goal: helping people feel better. Both disciplines are essential in the research and development of addressing and improving mental and emotional health.

One key difference between the disciplines is that psychiatrists are medical doctors and will generally approach your issues from a pharmacological perspective, while clinical psychologists focus on psychotherapy. Psychotherapy or talk therapy allows a psychologist to work with you in identifying and addressing the underlying causes of your emotional and mental suffering through behavioural and thought modification. Psychologists are also responsible for conducting psychological and psychometric testing, which are critical in assessing a person’s mental state and determining the most effective management plan.

Simply put: psychologists and psychiatrists work as a team to make you feel better.

Because of the division of responsibilities between psychiatrists and psychologists, the frequency of your visits are also different – a follow-up visit to a psychiatrists typically takes place at intervals scheduled around medication while psychotherapy is beneficial only if you participate with regularity i.e. once a week or fortnight.

Fun fact: Psychiatrists are also trained to perform electro-convulsive therapy or ECT.