National Counseling Awareness Month: When to See a Psychologist vs. a Psychiatrist for Specialized Care

April is National Counseling Awareness Month. It’s a time to raise awareness about the importance of caring for your mental health—and to shine a spotlight on the professionals who are dedicated to helping others overcome obstacles to their mental well-being. Counselors and therapists can support you in many ways, especially when you find the right type of professional to suit your needs.

For example, licensed professional counselors (LPCs), licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs), and licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFTs) are all highly trained individuals who can evaluate your mental health and help you work through specific concerns. Psychologists and psychiatrists have additional qualifications, and some can offer specialized care, such as mental health medication treatment to support your journey. Here’s how to know when seeing a psychologist, a psychiatrist or both might be right for you.

Celebrating National Counseling Awareness Month

The Mental Health America website reports that nearly one in five adults in the U.S. will have a diagnosable mental health condition in any given year, and almost half will experience one during their lifetime. These challenges can have a dramatic impact on your overall well-being. However, it’s good to know that many people can understand what you are going through and are here to help, and treatment is effective.

During National Counseling Awareness Month, the healthcare community works to reduce stigmas surrounding mental health treatment and encourage more people to talk to a professional for support when needed. Counseling and therapy can help you manage your mental health symptoms, develop coping skills, and improve your relationships. The MHA website explains:

“Talking with a therapist or counselor can help you deal with thoughts, behaviors, symptoms, stresses, goals, past experiences and other areas that can promote your recovery. Of course, talking with a therapist about personal issues can be tough, but it can help you come to grips with problems in your life. It can also offer an emotional release and a sense of really being heard, understood and supported.”

Therapy can help you to:

• feel stronger in the face of challenges
• change behaviors that hold you back
• look at ways of thinking that affect how you feel
• heal pains from the past
• build relationship skills
• figure out your goals
• strengthen your self-confidence
• cope with symptoms
• handle strong emotions like fear, grief or anger
• enhance your problem solving skills”

There are different kinds of therapies that may help depending on what you are experiencing. Common types of therapies include the following:

“Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) has two main aspects. The cognitive part works to develop helpful beliefs about your life. The behavioral side helps you learn to take healthier actions. CBT often works well for depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder, but it can also be used for other various conditions.

Interpersonal therapy focuses largely on improving relationships and helping a person express emotions in healthy ways. This approach often works well for depression. A variation of it called “interpersonal and social rhythm therapy” often works well for bipolar disorder because it also helps develop a daily schedule that supports recovery.

Family therapy helps family members communicate, handle conflicts and solve problems better. Forms of family therapy often are used for treating eating disorders and bipolar disorder.

Psychodynamic therapy helps people develop a better understanding about their unconscious emotions and motivations that can affect their thoughts and actions.

Art therapy can include using music, dance, drawing and other art forms to help express emotions and promote healing.

Psychoeducation helps people understand mental health conditions and ways to promote recovery.”

Understanding the Roles: Psychologist vs. Psychiatrist

Psychologists and psychiatrists offer specialized forms of mental health care. They may take different approaches to therapy.

Psychologist (Ph.D. or Psy.D.)

Psychologists have doctorate-level training in psychology. They are experts in understanding human behavior, thoughts and emotions. They look at the many influences that can affect your mental health, such as psychological, social and environmental factors. They focus on testing and assessment, diagnosis, and psychotherapy (talk therapy). They generally cannot prescribe medication, except in a few states and with additional training.

Psychiatrist (M.D. or D.O)

Psychiatrists are medical doctors. They often approach mental health from a biological perspective, focusing on chemical imbalances in the brain. They are able to prescribe medication. They focus on diagnosis and medication management for mental health conditions. They sometimes offer talk therapy, but do so less commonly.

When to See a Psychologist

Many people choose to see a psychologist to help them overcome a challenge they are facing in their lives, such as difficulty managing stress, new situations or relationships. The PsychCentral website explains it this way:

“Psychotherapy has benefits for everyone, but typically, people seek out talk therapy to solve a problem. Both adults and children can attend therapy and work through emotional, psychological, and mental challenges. These can include difficulty concentrating on tasks or feeling sad or confused about life. Unlike many myths about psychotherapy, this type of space isn’t for ‘severe’ cases only.  Anyone can begin talk therapy at any time to improve or work through common concerns.

For example, you might be wondering how to improve your relationship with your parents. Therapy can help you with that. Or, you may want to become more determined when aiming to meet your goals. A therapist can also support that process.

Psychotherapy can help you change specific behaviors or thought patterns, and it can also help you overcome challenges like negative self-talk, negative thinking, low self-esteem, or being socially shy. Sometimes, therapy might help you become aware of who you are or why you do some things.”

Psychologists often treat conditions such as anxiety disorders (generalized anxiety, social anxiety or phobias), mild to moderate depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They can help people who are seeking self-awareness, improved coping skills or enhanced well-being. As for when you should start, PsychCentral says this:

“Why you begin psychotherapy is entirely up to you, and most psychotherapists will work with you even when you’re unclear on what you want to get out of it. Some of the most common reasons to seek therapy include:

• anxiety episodes
• symptoms of depression
• trouble sleeping or other sleep disturbances
• eating disorders
• traumatic stress
• addictive behaviors
• conflict resolution
• processing grief in general or after losing a loved one
• marriage-related challenges
• developing specific personal skills”

Your experience with a psychologist may start with an assessment to understand the nature of your problem or determine a diagnosis. It may also include other testing when needed. For example, a psychologist may do neuropsychological testing, such as memory or attention testing, after a brain injury or if they suspect dementia. They may test for a learning disability or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in a child or adult who struggles academically.

When to See a Psychiatrist

Compared to psychologists, psychiatrists often treat people with more complex mental health conditions, or when other factors need to be considered, such as medication.

For example, psychiatrists may treat people with severe mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder, severe major depression or schizophrenia. They often help people with conditions that respond well to medications, such as ADHD or anxiety disorders, when medication is indicated.

Psychiatrists can treat people who haven’t found relief through talk therapy alone and those who have mental health concerns along with other medical conditions. They also care for people at risk of harming themselves or others, who need hospitalization or inpatient care. Symptoms that may warrant seeing a psychiatrist may include:

“Determining when to see a psychiatrist often requires a candid self-assessment of your symptoms and day-to-day experiences. While you shouldn’t try to self-diagnose any specific mental health conditions, you can become aware of and note behaviors, emotions and thought patterns that are unhealthy and disruptive to your everyday life,” shares the Cleveland Clinic website.

“While it can be overwhelming to acknowledge and seek help for a mental health condition, it’s essential you do. A psychiatrist can provide an accurate diagnosis and suggest treatment plans. They’re experts in their field and have up-to-date knowledge on research, medications and other treatment therapies that can help you. Your psychiatrist will work with you to determine a treatment plan that’s best for you.”

Collaborative Care: Working Together

An ideal treatment scenario may include a psychologist and a psychiatrist working together to help you. These professionals often work alongside each other in a collaborative care model. In this situation, the psychologist offers talk therapy while the psychiatrist manages medication treatment.

Research shows that, for certain/some conditions, combined treatment with talk therapy and medication is often more effective than trying either approach on its own. It’s important in this type of treatment to ensure everyone involved coordinates and communicates openly, including both you and your doctors.

Finding the Right Provider

You can find a good psychologist or psychiatrist from many different places. Your primary care physician, family members or friends might be able to recommend someone to you. You can check with your insurance company to find a provider who is in your network.

You may also look in online directories, such as Zocdoc or Find a Therapist from Psychology Today. The American Psychological Association and the American Psychiatric Association are professional organizations that maintain lists of providers. Make sure to check the credentials of professionals you find in these directories to ensure they are valid and the right fit for your needs.

Moving Forward

If you’ve been facing mental health challenges recently, remember that you aren’t alone. Many people experience these conditions—and many well-qualified professionals are standing by to help. Psychologists are experts in talk therapy and can support you in overcoming challenges and obstacles you face in your daily life. Psychiatrists can provide medication treatment to help you make progress forward.

This National Counseling Awareness Month, prioritize your well-being. It’s not always easy to reach out to a professional, but if you’re struggling, it’s important that you do. Starting an open and honest conversation about what you’re experiencing can make all the difference in starting to feel better.