Therapist vs. Psychologist vs. Psychiatrist: What's the difference?

So you're starting your search for mental health care, and you're coming across too many jargony terms already, but first, it might help if you're able to figure out who might be able to best help you based on your current needs.  Three common mental health professionals—therapists (or sometimes referred to as counselors), psychologists, and psychiatrists—often cause confusion because their roles overlap in some ways but differ significantly in others. Here's a simple breakdown to help you understand the differences clearly.

First, let's look at therapists. "Therapist" is a broad term referring to professionals who help clients deal with emotional, behavioral, or relationship issues through talk therapy. Other synonyms you might come across for therapists are "psychotherapists" and "counselors."  Therapists can include licensed professional counselors (LPCs), licensed social workers (LSWs), licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs), marriage and family therapists (LMFTs), and others. Where it will get a little muddy is that psychologists and psychiatrists are also considered therapists when they perform psychotherapy services.  Therapists typically hold a master or doctoral degree and are trained in specific therapeutic approaches such as psychodynamic psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), internal family systems (IFS), and/or mindfulness practices. Therapists focus primarily on helping clients understand their emotions, behaviors, and relationships to promote healthier patterns and greater personal insight, and they offer individual therapy, couples therapy, and family therapy.

Next are psychologists.  Psychologists typically have a doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD) in psychology. Their education includes rigorous training in psychological testing, diagnosis, research methods, and extensive therapy practice. While many psychologists provide assessments that measure cognitive abilities, personality, or emotional functioning, making them crucial in diagnosing conditions like ADHD, autism, or learning disorders, most psychologist offer psychotherapy (i.e. talk therapy) services as well, so they often are also referred to as therapists.

Psychiatrists are medical doctors (MDs or DOs) who specialize in mental health treatment. They have completed medical school and additional psychiatric residency training. This medical background enables psychiatrists to prescribe medication, perform medical evaluations, and manage treatments for mental health conditions that involve both biological and psychological factors, such as depression, anxiety, schizophrenia,  bipolar disorder, ADHD, and others. While psychiatrists are qualified to offer therapy, they often focus more heavily on medication management, particularly for complex mental health conditions.  Though rare, you might come across some psychiatrists who also offer psychotherapy services, which is why they can also sometimes be referred to as therapists!

So, who should you see? If you're looking to talk through life’s challenges, address relationship problems,  develop coping skills, deepen your insight and understanding of yourself and others, or learn how to change or accept something difficult in your life, a therapist might be your best choice.  Whether that's going to be a master level therapist (such as an LCSW) or a doctoral level one (such as a psychologist), that won't matter nearly as much as the goodness of fit (and the vibes) between you and your therapist. If you need a thorough psychological assessment , a psychologist is well-equipped to help you with that. If your mental health concerns might require medication or involve significant biological factors, consulting a psychiatrist is going to be the move.

It's common for these professionals to work together as part of a treatment team. For example, you might see your therapist weekly to work on processing the grief of losing a parent and some anxiety you have about relationships, while periodically consulting a psychiatrist for medication management to manage some ADHD symptoms you have.

Ultimately, the best choice depends on your specific mental health needs and personal preferences. Knowing these differences empowers you to find the right professional support, helping you move forward toward greater mental health and well-being.  If you're looking to find a psychiatrist or a psychologist to do a psychological assessment, we have a list of referrals for you here.   If you're looking to get started with psychotherapy services or do an immigration psychological evaluation, we have excellent therapists on our staff, and you can get started by booking a free phone consultation with us.