Psychiatry vs Psychology: What Are the Differences?
Our mind is a powerful thing with the ability to impact our health, relationships, and well-being. When it is not functioning healthily, we are encouraged to get help from a professional.
Where do you start? Psychiatry vs psychology, sound the same, but are they the same?
The differences between these two branches of mental health are distinct. Knowing the difference can help you determine how to best treat and meet your needs in a wholesome way.
Psychiatry vs Psychology
Both psychiatry and psychology are rooted in mental health care and treating patients using psychotherapy. Psycho-therapy includes tools and strategies used to help patients understand their emotions, behaviors, moods, thoughts, and feelings.
Yet, there are key differences in how professionals are trained. Also, in how patients are treated. The biggest difference is the ability to prescribe medicine.
What Is Psychiatry?
Psychiatry is a branch of medicine surrounding the diagnosis of mental health disorders.
Psychiatrists are trained as medical doctors and can prescribe medication to help treat patients. They receive around 10-12 years of training.
The biological factors of a patient are considered when treating a patient. Hormonal and chemical imbalances can greatly impact a patient’s mental health.
Prescription medicine can target the imbalances and provide relief of symptoms to patients in a shorter period.
Psychology Explained
Psychology is a branch of philosophy that studies the mind and behavior. It is a branch focused on the cognitive and social impacts on a patient’s mental health and behavior.
Psychologists receive a doctorate in psychology and train for 8-10 years. They receive a license to practice. Therapy is based on the individual patient while considering many factors such as cultural and environmental impacts.
Treatment can be exercises that retrain a patient’s thought process while providing helpful ways to change harmful behavior.
Two Sides of the Same Coin
Both psychiatry and psychology work towards healing and maintaining mental health. One branch approaches the process through prescription medicine and the other through cognitive and behavioral strategies.
Knowing the difference between psychiatry and psychology allows you to understand the importance and complexity of mental health. One is not better than the other, as both are needed to heal in a wholesome way.
Simply taking medicine will not change the negative and destructive thoughts a patient may have. By the same token, only practicing breathing techniques will not improve the chemical imbalances of a patient.
Together, these branches of mental health can provide patients with long-lasting and effective treatments.
Better Balance Psychiatry can provide you with the support in feeling whole with innovative treatments. Including telepsychiatry, medication management, and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation.
Balanced and Empowered
Your mental health is as important as your physical well-being. Learning the difference between psychiatry vs psychology can help you find a balanced treatment plan.
Start your journey and feel empowered as you gain control of your mental health. Feel free to keep browsing for our latest.
