by crushedbutterfly on October 26th, 2007

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What's the diff. between a psychologist, psychiatrist, therapist, and counselor? If I just want to clear my head of issues...who do I go to?

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by Grandma Roses - my avatar is my real dog on October 26th, 2007
A psychologist usually has a doctorate in Psychology.

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who has taken further education in psychiatry - this is why a psychiatrist can prescribe medication.

'Counsellor' and 'therapist' have different meanings from the other two and may or may not be licensed by state/provincial licensing boards, but they generally have education below the doctorate level.

If you have a few issues to sort out, check your local yellow pages under 'Marriage, Family and Individual Counsellors.' Or ask your family doctor for a referral.
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- thank you!
  
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  by crushedbutterfly on October 26th, 2007
- Counsellors and therapists will often have had training in 'Social Work', and may have Master's degrees as well as certification. I didn't mean to imply in my answer that any are inferior to others, just that their focus might be more on diagnosis, or dynamics, or coaching, etc.
  
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  by Grandma Roses - my avatar is my real dog on October 26th, 2007
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by mommaskye on October 26th, 2007
a psychologist can figure out what is wrong with you ..diagnose ADHD , BIPOLAR so on...cannot writre a prescription...

a psychiatrist can do all the above and writre prescriptions..

a counselor /therapist ( LCSW and LMFT ) can see you talk to you give you encouragement even some coaching but cannot diagnose or give you meds..
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- This is all spot on except for the fact that a counselor/therapist can diagnose you as long as they are certified with the state as a mental health counselor.
  
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  by Rain13 on February 26th, 2009
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What's the diff. between a psychologist, psychiatrist, therapist, and counselor? If I just want to clear my head of issues...who do I go to?

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What's the diff. between a psychologist, psychiatrist, therapist, and counselor? If I just want to clear my head of issues...who do I go to?

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