It can be pretty daunting to take those first few steps towards healthy mental health. One of the very first things you will face is a psychologist’s appointment. Maybe you already have a vague idea about what to expect from a psychologist’s visit. Maybe you have seen them in tv shows or movies. But you don't know EXACTLY what goes on inside a psychologist’s office.

This article will help answer the question, "What can I expect when I visit a psychologist?"

Who is a psychologist?

A psychologist is a mental health practitioner who holds a doctoral degree in Psychology. Their study is focused on the human mind and the external factors affecting it. A psychologist is qualified to help you evaluate your emotional and behavioral patterns. Ultimately a psychologist will help guide you through your thought processes to help navigate daily life with more ease.

Unlike a counselor, who will help achieve overall mental wellness, a psychologist will target specific problems and treat them individually. A psychologist’s approach with treating the problems is more scientific than a counselor’s.

Why do I need a psychologist?

You might be in need of a psychologist for a variety of reasons.

• If you are going through a period of emotional turmoil and need professional intervention to help ground you or help you process your thoughts and emotions, you might need a psychologist.
• If you are going through big life changes- like getting married, shifting houses, losing a loved one, etc.- and can’t put a finger on the various emotions running through your head, you might need a psychologist.
• If you have been feeling sad for some time, and you can’t pinpoint why then you might need the help of a psychologist to find a reason.

Frequently, a psychologist will work in conjunction with a doctor or psychiatrist to help deliver the best treatment plan suited to one’s needs.

What to expect from a Psychologist’s visit?

Just like the first visit to a new doctor, the first few visits to your psychologist might be used to get to know you better.

Here are a few things you should expect from a visit to your psychologist.

• Your psychologist may need to gauge your background. They may do this by asking you about your current occupation, your family background, your current concerns, and so on.
• You should take this opportunity to ask your psychologist plenty of questions. You can ask them about what approach they plan on taking with you or how many sessions they think it might take to help resolve your issues.
• You should also take the first few sessions to figure out if your current psychologist is a good fit for you or not.
• You should be comfortable with your Psychologist. Ideally, in a session with your psychologist, you should be able to share your problems, and your psychologist should use their professional experience to guide you towards a resolution.
• Your psychologist should also be judgment-free and not make you feel bad about having the thoughts you are having.

Final thoughts

Making mental health your priority should always be lauded. No matter what you are going through, a mental health professional can help you deal with it in a healthy way so that you live life to the fullest. To take the first steps towards better mental health, connect with Healthy Minds. We are a private practice in irving, tx, area who can help you with your mental distress. We specialize in diagnosing and assessing mental health issues for people of all age groups. We also work in conjunction with our referral sources to make sure to get you the most comprehensive treatment plans. Contact us to start off on your mental health journey.

When someone goes through some mental health issues, they consult a mental health professional to help them deal with their issues. Today, we will look at two types of mental health professionals. One of them is a psychologist, and the other is a psychiatrist. Now that we know the two types of professionals one could consult, let us now look at what is the difference between psychologists and psychiatrists. We will also take a look at who should one consult based on their situation.

The difference between psychologists and psychiatrists

There are a few key similarities between a psychologist and a psychiatrist. For example, both of them help with treating a wide array of mental health issues. Most of the time, a psychologist and psychiatrist will work in tangent to help a patient get the best treatment plan.

Let’s look at a few differences between a psychologist and a psychiatrist.

• A psychologist can perform counseling services for a patient. However, a psychologist cannot generally write prescriptions for their patients. A psychiatrist can write prescriptions for their patients.
• A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who has an M.D or a D.O in treating mental illnesses. A psychologist, however, has a doctoral degree like Ph.D. or PsyD in psychology.
• If you are working with a psychiatrist, your treatment might be geared toward medicinal or surgical intervention. But, with a psychologist, treatment plans might include counseling, psychotherapy, and psychological testing.

Who should I consult?

Based on your situation, you could either consult a psychiatrist or a psychologist.

Psychologist- A psychologist helps in assessing your mental health. They also help you provide counseling and aid through times of emotional distress. You might need to consult a psychologist if you are going through a period of turmoil in your life. You could be confused about your emotions when going through life-altering changes. Or you might just be going through a period of feeling sad all the time. A psychologist can help guide you through all these problems. They usually work in conjunction with psychiatrists and doctors to provide you with the best treatment plans.

Psychiatrist- A psychiatrist is a licensed doctor. Therefore, a psychiatrist can take a more heavy-handed approach to treat a mental health issue. A psychiatrist usually won’t treat emotional or mental issues that can be treated through psychological intervention. A psychiatrist usually helps a patient with debilitating mental health issues. They help diagnose and treat a variety of mental health disorders like ADD, ADHD, clinical depression, and anxiety disorders (to name a few.). A psychiatrist will usually prescribe medications along with psychological counseling for a patient’s treatment plan.

Final Thoughts

Maybe you are looking for a mental health professional to help you get started on your healing journey. Or maybe you are curious about the difference between psychologists and psychiatrists. Whatever the case may be, the most important step in your mental health journey is the first step. We recommend you check out Healthy Minds. We are doing private practice in irving, tx area, dedicated to getting you professional mental health assessment and care. Contact us today to help you get started on your mental health journey.

The two professions — psychologist and psychiatrist — can be easily confused with each other. However, though they share many commonalities, there are a couple of caveats that set them apart; for instance, a psychiatrist is a medical doctor who has specialist training in the diagnosis and treatment of mental problems, while on the contrary, a psychologist is not. Let’s look at some more points to understand what is the difference between psychologist and psychiatrist.

Psychologists and Psychiatrists- What is the difference?

It's not unusual for people to be confused between psychologists and psychiatrists. In fact, the two fields are often lumped together as "mental health professionals." The reality is that psychologists and psychiatrists have very different backgrounds, training, and methodologies.

• Psychiatrists are medical doctors (M.D. or D.O.) who have completed medical school and a psychiatric residency. They can assess both mental and physical aspects of psychological problems and are licensed to prescribe medication.
• Psychologists have doctoral degrees (Ph.D., Psy.D., or Ed.D.). Most are trained in either clinical psychology, counseling psychology, or school psychology, but some may also specialize in areas such as neuropsychology or industrial/organizational psychology. Psychologists do not prescribe medication; some states allow them to perform certain medical procedures related to psychological treatment, such as hypnosis or psychotherapy, under supervision by a physician.
• In some states, psychologists may work in collaboration with psychiatrists to prescribe certain medications for treating mental health problems. Some states require psychologists who prescribe to complete a postdoctoral master's degree program in psychopharmacology or a related area of study.

What is the Approach to Treatment?

The approach to treatment is different for psychologists and psychiatrists as well. Psychologists focus on psychotherapies such as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), which is based on the concept that our thoughts, feelings, physical sensations, and actions are interlinked, and that negative thoughts and feelings can trap us in a vicious cycle. Psychologists help people change behaviors by changing their thoughts using CBT or other types of therapy. Psychiatrists use medication to treat many mental health conditions in addition to psychotherapy and other treatments such as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).

Should you consult a psychologist or psychiatrist?

If you've got a mental health problem and are considering consulting with a professional to help you with it, you might be wondering whether to see a psychiatrist or a psychologist. When deciding whether to see a psychiatrist or psychologist, consider the following basics about the two kinds of professionals-

• Both kinds of professionals can diagnose mental illnesses and prescribe treatment. Psychiatrists are trained to use medication as well as other treatments, while psychologists generally cannot prescribe medications. If you think you might want medication to treat your condition, you'll likely want to see a psychiatrist.
• However, if you're not sure whether medication is right for you or just want to try other treatments first, seeing a psychologist can be an excellent way to get started on addressing your mental health concerns. Psychologists can offer therapy and counseling, which can be very effective for many people with different kinds of mental illnesses.

Final Words

There are some things that you can control. There is always a solution to a difficult situation, and finding it will make you feel better. If you want to know more about the type of psychologist or psychiatrist to consult, we would highly recommend you to connect with Healthy Minds. As a private practice in Irving, TX area, Healthy Minds will assist you with all your psychological assessments and needs. Contact us today to take the first step toward healthy mental health.