What are the differences between a psychologist, a psychiatrist, a social worker, and a marriage and family therapist?
The primary differences are in the training and focus each type of professional. A psychologist receives six or more years of training beyond a bachelor’s degree. This training focuses on the psychological causes of human thoughts, feelings, and behavior, how to conduct psychotherapy, and how to help people who are dealing with psychological problems. Psychologists are licensed by the state, and they do not prescribe medications. Only people with the requisite training and licensure have the legal right to call themselves psychologists. A psychiatrist, in contrast, is a medical doctor with a specialization in the medical and physiological underpinnings of human behavior. Because of this, a psychiatrist is qualified to prescribe medications. Psychiatrists are also licensed by the state. A social worker is someone who has a masters degree in social work (MSW), which typically takes three years of training beyond a bachelor’s degree. Social workers often, but always, look at the patient’s
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