Besides being long words that sound similar and only have a few letters differentiating them, most people do not fully understand what they are (and are not). When you add Neurology into the mix, it gets complicated really quickly. While they’re all professionals specially trained to treat disorders of the brain, there are important differences.
Public education on mental health has grown in the past years, leading to more people seeking care. Deciding where to get medical care can be difficult. This can be more challenging when it comes to mental health. It’s helpful to understand the differences if you or a loved one are considering a mental health evaluation.
Neurology, Psychology, and Psychiatry are all fields that manage disorders of the brain.
Neurology is the field of medicine that treats the physical brain and nervous system (think stroke, Parkinson’s, and paralysis). Neurologists typically work in hospitals or outpatient settings.
Psychology is the field of study focusing on thought processes, emotional regulation, and relationships (think trauma healing, testing and assessment, counseling, therapy, substance use treatment, and coping skills).
Psychiatry is the field of medicine that treats brain chemistry and its influence on how we interact with our internal self and environment (think antidepressants, lab tests, and genetics).
These disciplines work closely together to provide the best level of care. They complement each other and can be used at the same time to treat many conditions. For this article, I will focus primarily on the similarities and differences between Psychology and Psychiatry.
People with training in Psychology are often referred to as Psychologists (PhD or PsyD). Closely related fields of psychology are counselors, therapists, licensed clinical social workers (LCSW), or licensed professional counselors (LPC), and other mental health care providers with master’s or doctoral degrees in these fields. If they have a Doctoral or PhD degree in Psychology and are licensed at the PhD in psychology level, they are referred to as a Psychologist. All of these provide therapeutic treatment options based on patient needs. They help you gain insight, understanding, and tools to regulate emotions. They often focus on healing through relationships. Treatment with clinical counselors, social workers, therapists, and psychologists can last weeks, sometimes months.
People with training in Psychiatry have a medical basis and are referred to as doctors (MD, DO), Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners (PMHNP), Physician Assistants certified in psychiatry (PA), and providers. They often diagnose conditions and provide treatment options, sometimes including medication. If they have a doctoral medical degree, they are called a Psychiatrist (MD, DO). If they have a Master of Science in Nursing or a Nursing Doctoral Degree specializing in Psychiatry, they are called a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP). Physician Assistants can also get certified in psychiatry with additional training (PA). They routinely diagnose, order tests, and prescribe medications.
While there are differences between psychology and psychiatry, they contain a lot of overlap. Both can provide evaluation, treatment options, and education regarding mental health.
Both Psychology and Psychiatry
- Promote mental health
- Evaluate and treat mental health conditions
- Offer screenings for specific mental health conditions
- Connect people to additional resources
- Offer referrals to other clinics
- Coordinate care during a mental health crisis
- Provide necessary documentation for school and work accommodations (emotional support animal)
Psychology
Psychology focuses on coping skills, thought processes, and healing through relationships.
Psychology Field (Psychologist, Therapist, Counselor, LPC, LCSW)
- Uses highly specialized therapeutic options (EMDR, CBT, DBT)
- Offer individual, family, and group sessions
- Typically have longer therapy sessions than in psychiatry
- Create measurable goals with the patient and monitor for progress
- Often includes research
- In-depth cognitive development screening (neuropsychological evaluation)
Psychiatry
Psychiatry Field (MD, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Physician Assistant)
- Provide Psychiatric Evaluations
- Order tests (EKG, lab tests, urine drug screens)
- Work closely with your medical doctor to manage mental health
- provide mental health screenings
- Prescribe medications to treat mental health conditions
- Can provide counseling (often shorter sessions)
The optimal treatment options for most mental health conditions involve both psychology and psychiatry. They each offer specialized evaluation and therapeutic techniques. Here are some tips that might help you decide where to start:
I might want to schedule with Psychology if……
- You do not want medication
- You want to develop coping skills
I might want to schedule with Psychiatry if……
- You wish to include medications as part of your treatment plan
- You have a complicated case that needs in-depth diagnostics
The good news is, that it doesn’t usually matter where you start. Both Psychology and Psychiatry providers can evaluate conditions to determine if treatment would be helpful. Both are trained to educate you to make informed decisions regarding your care. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, they will help you get the appropriate level of care.
