In our country, people are somehow distrustful of psychological assistance. With accumulated problems, it is customary to seek solace in spirits or to "cry in a friend's vest". However, neither a friend nor the next glass of wine can solve complex problems. There is no way to do without the help of a qualified specialist. But this raises a burning question: the therapist and the psychologist - what is the difference between these specialists? Let's try to understand the materials of this publication.
What are the functions of a psychologist
It is customary to contact a psychologist if there are problems in family relationships between spouses or with “difficult” teenagers. Sometimes people turn to this specialist individually. The difference between a psychologist, a psychotherapist and a psychiatrist, of course, exists. The first of these does not have a medical education, therefore, the diagnosis of the disease is not its competence. Such a specialist does not have the right to prescribe a medication to the person who came to him for an appointment. According to the applicant, the psychologist makes an overall picture of the situation, evaluates it and makes recommendations. In his competence is the study of the character of a person, while the specialist often uses standard questions and tests.
Let us examine the concepts of "psychotherapist" and "psychologist." What is the difference between the two? A lot of work falls to the lot of psychologists working in children's educational institutions. According to the behavior of the child and the identification of certain skills, they have to determine the level of development of the baby, and then give appropriate recommendations to parents and teachers. We can say that a psychologist in children's educational institutions is the same teacher. He evaluates the mental state of the child, identifies these or other problems, and then works with them. An adult practitioner uses similar methods of work.
Psychologist education
The difference between a psychologist and a psychotherapist lies in basic education. In our country, psychologists undergo 5-year training at universities at the same faculty. Therefore, the main work of this specialist is based on interaction with healthy people who have any life and psychological difficulties. A young person who has not yet decided on his priorities in life, who is in search of himself, can turn to a psychologist.
Very well, such specialists help athletes tune in to the most important and responsible starts in life. Well, and as we have said, they are simply indispensable in helping to overcome marital crises, postpartum depression, as well as in interacting with children of transitional age. If a person wants to change his life, but does not know how to do it and where to start a new chapter, he can also make an appointment with a psychologist.
Work with healthy people
Well, we briefly figured out the difference between a psychologist and a psychotherapist. The first specialist works exclusively with healthy people who are in certain life difficulties. It helps people find a way out of this situation. Not everyone pays attention to the importance of professional assistance, trying to overcome difficulties alone. But in vain. Timely skilled work of a specialist will help to avoid complications, and will not lead to serious neglected clinical cases.
Psychotherapist
If a person has lost sleep and appetite, thoughts of suicide settled in his head, who will help in this case: psychologist, psychotherapist, psychoanalyst? The difference between these professionals is not obvious to everyone. In the absence of interest in life, the help of a psychologist will be of little use. This is a severe form of depression, which a person can not get rid of through the usual advice. In this case, you need a full examination by a psychotherapist who, in accordance with the diagnostic results, will prescribe treatment and select an antidepressant.
The importance of treatment
In no case should you self-medicate. Any strong antidepressant in our country is sold only by prescription from a psychotherapist. Due to the fact that these drugs, as a rule, have a long list of side effects, they should be taken only under the supervision of a doctor. With individual intolerance or weak exposure to the prescribed medication, the psychotherapist makes adjustments to the treatment. This specialist must have a basic medical education, as well as a certificate or license from a psychotherapist. In other words, in addition to basic medical education, he must take an additional specialized course.
When should I contact a therapist?
Now we know who the psychotherapist and psychologist are. What is the difference between them, also figured out. Now is the time to talk about embarrassing people to acknowledge mental problems that have arisen. Many depressed people find it shameful to turn to professionals for help. And God forbid, if any of the relatives hinted at a cure, the grievances would be endless. In the Western world, treating a depressive disorder is not shameful. People often turn to psychotherapists for help, treat the disease and get better.
In our case, in most cases, an alternative to a qualified psychotherapist is a bottle. Maybe that's why the percentage of the drinking population in our country is much higher than in America. Some people believe that good treatment is impossible without financial investments, and complain about the lack of money. However, if you add up the money spent on a drink, you can go through more than one course of treatment in a paid clinic. Therefore, you do not need to be afraid of words such as a psychologist, psychotherapist, psychiatrist. The difference in potential appeal to this or that professional is observed only in the general psychoemotional state and in symptoms.
Characteristic Symptoms of Depression
Next, we list some manifestations and symptoms, observing which, you need to consult a psychotherapist:
- Continuous panic attacks.
- The presence of apathy and loss of interest in your favorite hobbies.
- Uncontrolled bouts of crying or laughing.
- The appetite is completely lost or there is a craving for overeating.
- Sensation of increased unmotivated anxiety.
- Often repeated outbursts of anger.
- Obsessive thoughts prevail over a person or he mechanically performs ritual actions.
- New phobias appear.
- Physical pain psychogenic properties.
- A person is endlessly tormented by insomnia.
- Continued state of acute grief and lack of interest in life.
The task of the therapist
In today's article, we meet with specialists such as a psychotherapist and psychologist. What is the difference between the two? A psychologist cannot assume the functions of a psychotherapist, however rotation in the reverse order is possible. So, if necessary, a psychotherapist can supplement the treatment prescribed to the patient with psychological techniques and methods. Ultimately, the patient must regain the joy of life and return to its previous course, feeling free from oppressive thoughts. The doctor also helps the patient quickly adapt to new conditions.
Psychiatrist: functions
We talked about the differences that comprise the concepts of "psychologist" and "psychotherapist." What is the difference between these specialists and a psychiatrist? Learn about it right now. As you already understood, a psychiatrist is a doctor. However, to become one, basic medical education is not enough. As a student, this specialist studies at the Faculty of Psychiatry. Indeed, this doctor should know everything about the organic and biochemical properties of the psyche, about the beginnings and development of various mental disorders, as well as select medical treatment in especially severe cases.
Severe cases should include mental disorders such as schizophrenia, psychosis, epilepsy, dementia, and other serious mental disorders. Also, severe forms of disorders include delirium, vision of non-existent objects, communication with voices that no one hears, inability to cope with severe depression with antidepressants. From this we can conclude that the psychiatrist deals only with severe cases, the treatment of which is carried out in a clinical setting.
Psychoanalyst
Now our readers are well-versed in the question of who are a psychiatrist, psychologist, psychotherapist. What is the difference between these specialists and a psychoanalyst? If you often watch foreign thrillers or dramas, you absolutely definitely remember the name of the professional, which is fashionable for ordinary people who have certain life difficulties to go to. In the western version, such a specialist must have a medical education and knows the techniques of psychoanalysis. In our country, things are somewhat different, and psychoanalysis is studied not only in medical universities. This method may be subject to graduates of psychological faculties.
Long-term education and continuous development
However, in order to become a psychoanalyst in our country, it is not enough to have a basic humanitarian education. According to the chosen method of psychoanalysis, additional education is required. A university graduate can choose for himself the opportunity to study in European programs. But that is not all. Such a specialist should constantly develop, choose a supervisor-mentor from among the current psychoanalysts. And after a few years, having gone all this thorny path, an ordinary psychologist can become a psychoanalyst.
A psychotherapist can also become one. Only for this he will also need to receive additional education and for a long time to actively interact with a practicing psychoanalyst-supervisor. To summarize the above, this specialist should be fluent in the chosen method of psychological analysis.
Conclusion
In this article, you have become acquainted with professions such as psychologist, psychiatrist, psychotherapist, and psychoanalyst. The difference between them is significant. If some difficulties arise in your life or in the life of your family members, now you know which of them needs to be addressed.