Difference between psychiatrist, psychologist and psychoanalyst

Many people have doubts about which professional to look for when they want to treat mental health. Psychologists, psychiatrists and psychoanalysts they are three professions that work with the human mind, but they are different in some points and have different approaches. However, the three professionals can work together in the treatment or follow-up of a patient.

Each of them, within its area of ​​expertise and with its method of treatment, seeks to ensure the patient's quality of life and health promotion. Therefore, it is important to know each one of them to know which professional to look for.

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Psychologist

The psychologist is a professional trained in the psychology course, in which he studies for about five years to complete his degree and, upon completion, must have his registration with the Regional Council of Psychology (CRP) in order to practice the profession.

Psychologists can work in individual or group care.

the psychology professional

not a doctor and, therefore, he is not allowed to prescribe medicine to patients. Psychologists work with psychological intervention, through guidance, dialogue and counseling. One of the main virtues of the psychologist is know hear.

Training in psychology can be branched into several lines, including psychoanalysis, and, after the professional has his CRP, he becomes able to work in the area of ​​his choice. The psychologist can provide psychodiagnostics, vocational guidance, psychotherapy, treatment of phobias and act in many other areas.

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The psychologist's field of action is vast, being able to work in schools, sports teams, companies, clinics and hospitals. Most of the time, they are sought out to assist people who are experiencing some type of behavioral disorder, such as emotional crises, grief, problems at work or relationships, depression, phobia and other cases.

The psychologist is the professional in charge of study human behavior, making analyzes through observation and interaction to try to diagnose, prevent and treat diseases related to the emotional system.

The treatment of a patient by a psychologist is usually long-lasting, as he tries to develop the ability of people to understand the causes of what happens to them and the impact of this on their behaviors.

When the psychologist notices that the patient needs to use medication, such as antidepressants, he makes the referral to a psychiatrist.

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Psychiatrist

Of the three professionals mentioned in this article, the psychiatrist is the only one who is a doctor. The psychiatrist is trained in medicine and later specializes in psychiatry. It takes about nine to ten years for this professional to complete their training.

Professionals can work together in the process of treating a patient.

The psychiatrist, during his specialization, goes through the sectors of neurology, emergencies, clinical medicine and others so that he can learn, in practice, how to study and treat a patient.

The psychiatrist's work is a little more comprehensive, as he has knowledge about neurology and psychopharmacology and, therefore, has the ability to understand the biological issue of the problem presented by the patient.

Among the professionals who work in the work of the human mind, the the only one who can prescribe medication for the patient it is the psychiatrist. Anyone undergoing treatment with this professional, in addition to neurological assistance, can also receive medication assistance.

Psychoanalyst

Psychoanalysis is a therapeutic method that was proposed by the neurologist Sigmund Freud, in the twentieth century, with the objective of understanding how the human mind worked, especially those who had mental suffering. Freud asked his patients to lie down on a sofa, the so-called “couch”, so that they could feel more comfortable during consultations.

Representation of Freud and couch in a London museum [1]

As psychoanalysis is a therapeutic line of psychology, generally psychoanalysts are psychologists who specialize in this type of therapy. It is also common to have doctors who are psychiatrists and psychoanalysts, in which case they may prescribe medication.

However, to be a psychoanalyst, it is not necessary to have a background in psychology or medicine. The psychoanalyst can be graduated in areas other than those dealing with mental health. Specialization in psychoanalysis lasts, on average, two years.

The psychoanalyst uses the patient's own free associations, dreams, and unconscious materials in order to assist him in his recovery. Some psychoanalysts use the regression technique, which consists of instructing the patient to search in his mind for the exact moment in his life that may have originated the negative emotions.

Differences between professions

It is important to remember that psychologists and psychiatrists can be psychoanalysts, but not every psychoanalyst is a psychologist or psychiatrist, as they may have higher education in other areas.

See the differences between the three professionals:

Formation	Psychologist	Psychiatrist	Psychoanalyst
psychology	Medicine (With a specialization in psychiatry)	It does not require a specific degree, only specialization in the area.
Acting	Clinics, hospitals, companies, schools etc.	Clinics and hospitals	clinics
Treatment	multiple lines	Exams and medications	Psychoanalysis
Publics	Individual or group	Individual	Individual or group
Medication	Does not use.	You can prescribe.	Does not use.

Image credits:

[1] Shutterstock/Yuri Turkov

By Giullya Franco
Journalist