Comparing Professions: Psychology and Psychiatry

Psychologist vs. Psychiatrist Psychology and Psychiatry are two often-confused fields. The two share a similarity in the sense that they deal with human behavior. The professionals in both fields also share a coordinated approach to work. Occasionally, we see the psychologists and psychiatrists sharing a common working platform. A psychologist can refer a patient to a psychiatrist and vice versa. The referral happens when one of them has managed to deal with all that he or she can but still faces a specific challenge.

The following study identifies the significant differences that exist between the two fields. The major differences The avenues of differences between the two fields are in the areas of education and training, salary scale, practice and the reputation. For one to be a psychologist, he or she has to acquire academic training to the level of doctoral training. This starts with an undergraduate training in psychology. After this, one has to obtain a Masters training in the relevant area.

This is a lengthy process where one has to go through training, class work and much fieldwork. The studies also involve bringing on board all the issues related to human emotions to the study (James, 2011). In contrast, psychiatry is a medical field. Unlike psychology, psychiatry is a field in medicine. This means that someone who is interested in being a psychiatrist has to go to a medical school and obtaing a degree. After this, the training proceeds to the master's stage.

At the master's level, the student must learn for at least three years most of which are full of research. After the master's level, one can then practice as a psychiatrist. However, some states require that someone must attain a doctorate before being given the license to operate. Another difference arises from the mode of treatment. Psychiatrists deal with the chemical imbalance in the body that affects the way people feel and think.

People see themselves courtesy of the chemical and hormonal changes taking place in their body in this way (Scully, 2012). The body is also affected because the mental status changes as influenced by the chemical reactions within the body, especially when drugs are consumed. However, psychology focuses on the negative feelings arising from what people feel, think, or experience (James, 2011). No tangible conclusion can be made from this.

Psychologists offer their help through listening to the experiences of the patients and providing an appropriate supportive treatment that in most cases involve counseling and no use of medicine. Since the issue being tackled by psychologists is probably conceived in the mind, there cannot be a way of treating them other than talking to them to change their thoughts for the better. However, the psychiatrists prescribe medication for the purposes of eliminating the chemical imbalances responsible for the bad feelings that the patients may be experiencing.

Despite the differences, it must be noted that the two fields may share some commonalities especially when a psychologist diagnoses an ailment, and the psychiatrists may play some role in determining the drugs to be administered. Difference in treatment When it comes to treatment, psychiatrists are more.