Psychology is the only profession, which does not have a definitive definition as every mind is different, every human is different and their behavior is different. This means that as a profession it is so vast that one can never stop studying, everyday one might discover new things about human nature.
What is Psychology?
Psychology is an important part of human science, and it aims at creating knowledge and practice that touches the entire spectrum of human life. Here, we aim on shedding some light on what is therapy and how a therapist is different than a psychologist.
What is therapy?
Therapy or psychotherapy is the process of working with a licensed therapist to cope up with mental health issues and develop a positive outlook of life.
So a therapist actually can be a psychologist, a psychiatrist, a marriage counselor and/or a social worker. They can have a number of degrees in a variety of disciplines, like PhD, or certificate degrees in fields such as substance abuse, social working, clinical psychology or psychiatry.
Who is a psychologist?
A psychologist is a person who has an advanced degree in psychology. They have a specific training based on human behavior. They usually require a minimum of masters in the field of psychology. They might or might not do therapy. They diagnose problems or disorders that their patients/clients might have. They also often work in coordination with a psychiatrist. As, psychiatrists are actual medical doctors and they can prescribe medication to the patients, which a psychologist or a therapist cannot. Although psychologists might hold a PhD (Doctorate) and can use ‘Dr.’
Psychologists & Therapists all strive to achieve the same things, they improve people’s lives, but what is the difference?
A therapist is a broader term for trained professionals to provide a variety of services to people. It can include treatment and rehabilitation. A psychologist is a person specifically trained for studying human behavior. All of them are to help people, provide guidance and support. They all help the patient achieve his/her goals on their own and make them realize their worth.