Should You See a Therapist, a Psychologist, or a Psychiatrist? 

Just like with your physical health, there are many different types of specialists who treat mental health. Often you’ll hear words like therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist used interchangeably, but they can mean different things for care.

Below we’ve outlined how therapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists differ, and how to know which one — or ones — you might need for your own mental well-being.

Therapists and Psychologists

Therapists are a blanket term encompassing all experts focusing on helping clients change problematic behaviors, feelings, and thoughts by discovering their unconscious meanings and motivations (also known as psychotherapy). Therapists can include those who have master’s degrees in counseling or social work, as well as psychologists, who have doctorate degrees in psychology such as PsyD or PhD.

Most therapists are licensed to perform therapy through a state licensing board. They typically can’t prescribe medication, but work closely with those who can, such as psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, and primary care doctors.

They focus on delivering evidence-based behavioral and emotional interventions, typically through talk therapy like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). They conduct thorough intakes, understand client histories and presenting issues, and then design interventions tailored to the client's needs.

Clients typically see therapists on a regular basis, often weekly, to process emotions, address behavioral patterns, develop coping skills, and actively implement changes in their lives. 

Psychiatrists 

Psychiatrists are experts in the neurobiology and biochemistry of the brain and attend medical school. Their approach is typically focused on treating mental illness through prescription medication. While some psychiatrists do practice psychotherapy, a therapist relies more heavily on their evidenced based therapeutic interventions as their primary means of treatment.

Psychiatrists typically conduct comprehensive initial assessments to understand the client's background, family history, and the underlying factors influencing their mental health, offering supportive listening during these assessments. However, ongoing sessions with psychiatrists might occur less frequently than with a therapist, with appointments usually occurring every 4 to 6 weeks while a medication protocol is being established, and then less frequently after that

Therapists

Psychiatrists
Education Master's or doctoral degrees in counseling/therapy (MSW, MA, PsyD, PhD) Medical degree (MD/DO)
Training Focus on psychotherapy, counseling techniques Medical school and training, psychiatric residency
Medication Prescribing Generally cannot prescribe medication Licensed to prescribe medication
Conducting Therapy Trained to deliver evidence-based therapy techniques Generally do not conduct therapy, but engage in supportive listening
Frequency of Sessions Typically weekly Variable; often initial assessment, then check-ins every 6-8 weeks, or as needed

When should you see a therapist? 

  • If you want to change patterns of behavior. Life doesn’t come with any rulebook, nevermind an emotional or behavioral rulebook. Therapists can help you when you have unhealthy coping mechanisms, you're not in control of your emotions, or you’re unable to create and nurture healthy relationships.
  • If you have a big life change. A new relationship, quitting a toxic job, moving to a new city, the list goes on. Life transitions are a common reason to seek therapy.
  • If you feel overwhelmed and don’t know where to start. Therapy offers a safe place to begin exploring what’s bothering you, and has the added benefit of giving you a thinking partner as you navigate different mental health treatment options.
  • If medication doesn’t suit you. A therapist can help you explore alternate treatment options, like evidence-based therapies, behavioral coping mechanisms, and more. A therapist can also help you process your past experience with medication and examine whether it might be beneficial to consider trying it again.
  • While you wait to see a psychiatrist. Unfortunately, access to psychiatric care can be difficult. If there are limited practitioners in your area, you might experience long wait times to get an initial consultation with a psychiatrist. If immediate access to a psychiatrist is challenging, beginning with a therapist can offer valuable support while navigating the mental health care system and waiting for psychiatric care.

When should you see a psychiatrist?

  • If you want to be evaluated for psychiatric medications. A psychiatrist will be the best person to understand the complexity and nuance of effective treatment with medication.
  • If you have significant mental health challenges. Those with significant mental health challenges — like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or eating disorders — can benefit from working with a psychiatrist first. For these kinds of conditions, treatment with medication is usually necessary to stabilize mood and manage symptoms effectively before any kind of effective therapeutic intervention can take place.
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What are the benefits of seeing both a therapist and a psychiatrist?

The combined expertise of a therapist and psychiatrist can offer more comprehensive and effective interventions to improve your mental health:

  • Alleviate symptoms: Medication prescribed by your psychiatrist can alleviate some of the symptoms that impede progress in therapy. By addressing these chemical imbalances through medication, you may find that therapy is easier and more effective.
  • Mores sources of support: Mental health can be incredibly challenging, and many mental illnesses can make you feel isolated and alone. By working with both a therapist and psychiatrist, you will have more people who are invested in your well-being, which can reduce that sense of isolation.
  • Holistic and optimized treatment: Therapists are experts in the emotional and behavioral side of well-being, while psychiatrists are experts in the biochemical side. This combined expertise provides a more holistic form of treatment, acknowledging the many different facets that impact mental health.

When a client works with both a therapist and a psychiatrist, the two can collaborate on the client’s treatment plan. With permission from the client, the therapist and psychiatrist will work together to determine the necessity and frequency of communication based on the client’s preferences and needs. 

Interested in starting care with a therapist? Octave has over 1,000 therapists that can meet your unique needs.