Psychiatrist or psychologist? Which should you consult?

The public often get confused between the roles of a psychiatrist and a psychologist resulting in many individuals being confused when looking for help with a range of conditions.

In simple terms, a psychiatrist is a registered medical doctor who can prescribe medication to the patients, while a psychologist is not. Psychiatry is a branch of medicine that specialises in curing mental health disorders using medication if necessary. A psychiatrist goes to a medical school and will spend at least a year working in physical medicine.

However a  psychologist conentrates on a person’s behaviour such as their emotional history and sociological background. A psychologist seeks to assist patients to help them to understand their actions and reactions so that they are able to change their behaviour  and by doing so help minimise their distress. A psychologist starts his or her training with a psychology degree and goes on to higher studies but has no medical background.

Ahed Therapies can provide both psychiatrists and psychologists providing a combined mental health provision to assist with a wide range of conditions.