Seeing a professional

[bree_davis01]

So what's the real difference in a therapist and a psychologist? Thinking of going to whomever to talk about my situations. Been involved in dressing for 23 years. Always closeted or pushing myself out. So I think professional help just might help..

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[Cassi]

 The mental health field is too new to be well-organized in any way. One of the areas of confusion is in the names of practitioners.

Therapists have had training so that they can do therapy. It can be at the masters, PhD or certificate level. There is not a therapy major, so the therapist will have a psych nursing degree, a social work degree, a psychology degree etc.

Analysts or psychoanalysts practice a certain form of psychotherapy called psychoanalytic psychotherapy. There are many forms of psychoanalytic psychotherapy. Psychoanalysts have at least a master's degree and it can be in anything. On top of that, they have training from a psychoanalytic institute.

Social workers also practice therapy. They have a masters of social work degree. They can also help care for children with inadequate homes.

Psychologists have PhDs in psychology. They can do research or therapy. If they do therapy, their coursework was focused on clinical psychology. If they do research, they focused on research psychology.

Psychiatrists have MDs and have specialized in psychiatry. They can prescribe medication and do therapy and in-patient work.

Physicians have MDs without a specialty in psychiatry. They can prescribe medication and often work with therapists.

Psych nurses work in psychiatry wards and can also do clinical work. I'm not sure how many states allow them to prescribe medication but some do.

[KathyLauren]

Therapist is the function; psychologist is one of the possible qualifications.  Most therapists seem to be psychologists, but they could be psychiatrists or social workers, too.

[Laurie]

  I'm special. I have a psychologist for therapy and a Psychiatric nurse as one of my 3 pill pushers. I get my antidepressant through her. My GP prescribes most of my pills including my HRT and my Oncologist prescribes a couple. Oh, I guess I have 4 pill pushers, my eye doctor also prescribes one. I'm either being well taken care of by the VA or I am just falling apart. I am not sure which.

  Hugs,
    Laurie
   

[Allison S]

We all have to fall a part a little to put ourselves back together! It's good to have support where you can but completely understandable to question medications. I would let them know!

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