Research indicates that 57.8 million Americans live with a mental illness. While the recent global pandemic helped highlight the value of mental health treatment, use of mental wellness services could still be improved. Only 47.2% of people living with a mental health issue seek professional help.
Of those who do seek professional help, individuals tend to turn to one of the following: a psychologist or psychotherapist. But what’s the difference between these two types of mental health professionals and how do you make the right choice?
This article weighs in on the differences between psychologists and psychotherapists and highlights the type of services they offer. It’ll also cover how to pick between the two in order to make the right choice for your needs.
What Is a Psychologist?
A psychologist is a mental health professional who studies human behavior and the mind. They’re trained to diagnose and treat complex mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), bipolar disorder, psychotic disorders, and personality disorders.
They can provide a range of interventions, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy, and humanistic therapy. Psychologists can also conduct psychological testing to provide a more accurate diagnosis and inform treatment planning.
Due to the sensitive nature of this undertaking, psychologists are licensed and regulated by state licensing boards. The strict oversight ensures mental health practitioners meet specific education and training requirements and follow ethical guidelines.
Psychologists are among the most highly trained mental health professionals. They typically hold doctoral degrees in psychology, which usually takes a further six years after undergraduate study. The extensive training allows them to formally diagnose and treat a broad spectrum of mental health disorders.
When working with a psychologist, they will provide a personalized treatment plan tailored to your unique needs. They’ll consider your personal history, family, and cultural background and other factors that may influence your mental health.
Psychologists use evidence-based practices, proven effective through research and clinical trials, to create the best treatment plans. They’ll also work with other healthcare professionals, such as medical doctors, to deliver the best results.
Training and Licensure
Due to the complex and delicate nature of the human mind, psychology is a highly regulated field. Psychologists undergo extensive education and training to secure a state license. The licensing requirements vary by state but generally include:
- A four-year bachelor’s degree: It could be in psychology or a related field.
- A doctoral degree: It’s either a PsyD, Ph.D., or EdD from a government-charted or regionally accredited institution.
- Supervised clinical experience: Psychology students must complete a supervised internship or residency program. The accrued supervised hours vary by state and range from 1,500 to 6,000 hours.
- Acing the licensing exam: Passing the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) is the final step of becoming a licensed psychologist in the U.S.
- State licensing board approval: The licensing board certifies that a psychology student meets all requirements before issuing a license.
- Continued education: Therapists must engage in lifelong learning to maintain licensure. They must complete education courses and professional development activities to sharpen their skills and update their knowledge.
Specializations
Psychologists can specialize in various areas depending on their education, interests, and training. Typical areas of specialization in psychology include:
- Clinical psychology: Specializes in diagnosing and treating mental health disorders. Clinical psychologists work with individuals and groups to help them manage mental health issues such as anxiety, trauma, and depression.
- Counseling psychology: Focuses on helping patients deal with personal and interpersonal issues such as relationship problems, stress management, and career development.
- Developmental psychology: Specializes in studying human development over their lifespan, focusing on cognitive, physical, and social development.
- Neuropsychology: Studies and analyzes the relationship between the brain and behavior. Neuropsychologists assess and treat patients with neurological disorders such as dementia and traumatic brain disorder.
- Social psychology: Studies social behavior, including the influence of social factors on attitudes and individual behaviors.
- Educational psychology: Seeks to understand how individuals learn and develop to help improve educational outcomes.
What Is a Psychotherapist?
Psychotherapists are mental health counselors who provide therapy to individuals, couples, and families. These counselors are trained to provide talk therapy and a safe and supportive space for patients to explore their thoughts and feelings.
A psychotherapist will work with you to address emotional and psychological issues such as trauma, stress and burnout, low self-esteem, grief and loss or relationship problems. Counselors provide a safe and confidential space to share your concerns without judgment or repercussion. Your psychotherapist functions as a neutral, objective, and non-judgmental sounding board.
Dr. Jennifer Dragonette of the Newport Institute explains how psychotherapy works, “Once these challenges are brought to the surface through open conversation, a therapist can help their patient understand how these issues may be negatively affecting their everyday lives and work on developing successful strategies to decrease the effect of the symptoms.”
Collaborative treatment entails establishing a relationship grounded in trust and mutual respect. You will work jointly with your therapists to identify and change limiting thought processes and behavioral patterns that hold you back.
A psychotherapist seeks to help you identify the root cause of your distress and improve your emotional and psychological well-being. They’ll help solve your initial problem and equip you with new skills to help you cope with similar challenges in the future.
A psychotherapist may work as a behavioral therapist, psychologist, psychiatrist, or social worker, depending on their education and area of specialization.
Training and Licensure
The training and licensure requirements for becoming a psychotherapist aren’t as strict as a psychologist. The criteria to become a licensed psychotherapist varies between states, but includes:
- A four year degree: Earn an undergraduate degree in psychology, sociology, or a related field.
- A master’s degree: Complete a master’s degree in psychotherapy or related field from an accredited institution.
- Supervised experience: Complete at least 3,000 hours of supervised experience, with at least 1,500 hours of direct client contact.
- Professional exam: Psychotherapists must pass the Professional Practice in Psychology Exam (PPPE).
- Pass the jurisprudence exam: Some states require counselors to pass a jurisprudence exam.
- Licensing: Some states require psychotherapists to procure a license, while others don’t.
- Continuing education: Psychotherapists must embrace continuing education to maintain licensure and stay up-to-date with the best practices.
Specializations
Psychotherapists can come from various educational backgrounds, including psychology, social work, counseling, or psychiatry. They may hold a master’s or doctoral degree in their respective fields and often have additional training and certification in specific types of psychotherapy.
Common psychotherapy specializations include:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): Helps people identify negative thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors and aims to replace them with effective thoughts and behavior patterns.
- Family therapy: It helps families address relationship issues, communication problems, and conflicts that contribute to psychological or emotional distress.
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT): Combines cognitive-behavioral therapy with mindfulness-based approaches to help people with borderline personality disorder manage intense emotions and improve interpersonal relationships.
- Interpersonal therapy (IPT): Focuses on helping patients understand troublesome underlying interpersonal problems affecting their interpersonal and communication skills. It teaches patients healthy ways to express emotions and improves their ability to interact with others.
- Mindful-based therapy: Integrates mindfulness practices such as breathing exercises and meditation with cognitive-behavioral techniques. It helps patients improve self-awareness and acceptance when treating stress-related disorders, anxiety, and depression.
How to Choose Between a Psychologist and a Psychotherapist
Although they both provide mental health care, there are crucial differences between psychologists and psychotherapists.
A psychologist is a trained mental health professional who studies human behavior, including how people think, feel, and behave. They use their knowledge to help people with complex mental health problems such as, depression, personality disorders, OCD, ADHD, schizophrenia, and autism. A psychologist can formally diagnose mental health disorders and recommend treatment.
Conversely, psychotherapists specialize in providing therapy and counseling to individuals, couples, and families. They’re specially trained to help patients manage and overcome emotional and psychological difficulties.
They work collaboratively with you to explore your feelings, thoughts, and behaviors and how they impact your life. A psychotherapist will help you develop the coping skills you need to manage your symptoms.
Key Differences
The psychologist vs. psychotherapist choice comes down to your specific needs and preferences. Understanding the critical differences between a psychologist and a psychotherapist can help you make the right choice when battling a mental health condition.
Educational background
Psychologists typically have a doctoral degree (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) in psychology and have completed extensive training in assessment, diagnosis, and psychotherapy. Psychotherapists may have a master’s or doctoral degree in a related field, such as counseling or social work and have received specialized training in talk therapy.
Focus
Psychotherapists focus on helping patients manage emotional difficulties, relationships, and other stressful life situations. Psychologists focus on how people think, act, interact with other people, and react to internal and external conditions.
Areas of expertise
Psychologists specialize in helping patients understand, explain, and change their behaviors. Psychotherapists specialize in helping patients understand, manage, and overcome psychological and emotional problems.
Licensing
Psychologists require a state license, while psychotherapists can practice without a license in many states. The licensing requirements vary from state to state.
Services provided
Psychologists treat various mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and eating disorders. Psychotherapists help patients overcome emotional and behavioral issues, including anxiety disorders, trauma and PTSD, grief and loss, addiction, and relationship problems.
Your mental health needs
It’s important to choose a mental health professional who specializes in your area of need. Psychologists are highly trained to deal with complex mental health issues such as severe anxiety, personality disorders, bipolar disorders, OCD, ADHD, and autism.
Psychotherapists specialize in talk therapy and counseling. They’re the best choice for dealing with milder mental health issues such as stress, low self-esteem, substance abuse, trauma, PTSD, and relationship issues.
Training
Psychologists are trained to provide psychological assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and psychotherapy. Psychotherapists are trained to provide therapy and counseling to help patients address their mental health concerns and they can’t make a formal diagnosis.
Personal compatibility
For therapy to work, you should feel comfortable and safe around your therapist. Consider a therapist’s communication style, values and approach to treatment to ensure they’re a good fit.
Cost
Psychologists are typically more expensive than psychotherapists due to their extensive training and education. However, the actual cost of therapy depends on factors such as the type of treatment, location, and experience. Many therapists accept insurance or offer sliding scale fees to make their services more affordable to those in need.
Accessibility
Consider availability and location when choosing a mental health professional. Look for a counselor who’s conveniently located and has availability that works with your schedule. You may consider teletherapy or online therapy for greater accessibility.
Takeaways
A psychologist is ideal if you’re dealing with complex and severe mental health issues or need a diagnosis. Conversely, a psychotherapist is ideal if you’re dealing with a milder mental health issue that may benefit from an informal and conversational approach to therapy. A psychologist may also provide psychotherapy, but a psychotherapist may not provide a psychologist’s services.
Connecting with the right therapist is the first step to improving your mental health. Grow Therapy simplifies the search process to help you connect with a therapist who suits your unique needs. Find a therapist who meets your needs, including their gender, specialty, location, and availability.
