A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who can prescribe; a psychologist holds a psychology doctorate and specializes in therapy and testing.
The common division of labor: a psychiatrist or primary care doctor manages medication, while a psychologist or another licensed therapist - social workers and counselors also deliver therapy, per NIMH - does the weekly therapy work. Main need is medication: start with a prescriber. Main need is patterns, trauma, or skills: start with a therapist. Unsure: either can triage you.
What to do
Common questions
What is the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist?
The short version: a psychiatrist is a medical doctor, a psychologist is a therapy and testing specialist. Psychiatrists went to medical school, completed a psychiatry residency, and can prescribe medication - NIMH lists them among the professionals who provide psychotherapy too, but in modern practice their core role is diagnosis and medication management. Psychologists hold a doctoral degree in psychology (PhD or PsyD) and specialize in assessment, psychological testing, and talk therapy - the deep, structured kind like CBT - and in most states they do not prescribe. The practical division of labor for many people: a psychiatrist (or a primary care doctor, who prescribes the common antidepressants every day) manages the medication, and a psychologist or another licensed therapist - social workers, counselors, and psychiatric nurses also deliver therapy, per NIMH - does the weekly therapy work. If your main need is medication, start with a prescriber; if it is patterns, trauma, or skills, start with a therapist; if you are unsure, either can triage you to the right mix. In crisis: 988 in the US, or your local crisis line. Pymander, a free AI doctor available 24/7 by text, can help you decide which door to start at.