Questions and Answers
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor with extra training in mental health who can choose to prescribe
medications. Some use psychotherapy (‘talk therapies’) approaches like cognitive-behavioural therapy to treat mental health problems. Many psychiatrists work at hospitals, clinics, or health centres, and some have a private office. As they are specialist doctors, you will almost always need another doctor’s referral to see a psychiatrist, and fees are covered by MSP. If you have a valid BC Services or CareCard, you do not need to pay to see a psychiatrist. A registered psychologist focuses
on different talk therapy or counselling approaches to treatments, but they don’t prescribe medication. They have graduate degrees in psychology. There are two different ways to access registered psychologists: the public system and the private system. Registered psychologists in the public system work in some hospitals or schools. You may need a doctor’s referral to access the program, and costs are usually covered by MSP. However, most people need to access registered psychologists through the
private system. To do this, you can contact the psychologist yourself—you do not need a referral. Costs are not covered by MSP, but they may be covered by employee health plans. A registered psychologist’s fees charged by hour vary, and some offer lower fees to people with lower incomes. You’ve probably noticed that a lot of the differences come down to how you pay for different services and how these professionals are educated. The practical differences in how they work are not always so
clear. When it comes to your treatment and care, the most important part is finding a professional who supports your own goals. Are you really focused on fine-tuning medications? Are you looking for a particular therapy approach? Does the professional’s philosophy of care make sense to you? Do you like the professional you’re talking to and do you feel safe sharing your experiences? Ultimately, your relationship with the professional is what matters. Instead of focusing on designation, look for
a professional who meets your needs and your expectations. Talk to your family doctor and ask for their recommendations Ask local mental health organizations for help. You can find local branches through the provincial organizations behind HeretoHelp Ask a community health centre, outpatient psychiatry program, or
mental health team for suggestions For a list of psychiatrists near you, search under ‘Specialist’ in the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia’s Find a Physician Tool but remember that you will first need a referral from a doctor (like your family doctor) For a list of psychologists near you, search in the British Columbia Psychological Association’s
Find a Registered Psychologist tool and you can also learn more about finding a psychologist from the College of Psychologists of British Columbia About the authorHow can I find a psychiatrist or a registered psychologist?
Where can I learn more?
The Canadian Mental Health Association promotes the mental health of all and supports the resilience and recovery of people experiencing a mental illness through public education, community-based research, advocacy, and direct services. Visit www.cmha.bc.ca.
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A clinical psychologist is a mental health professional with highly specialized training in the diagnosis and psychological treatment of mental, behavioral and emotional illnesses.
The Clinical Psychologist's Role
Clinical psychologists do not prescribe medications to treat mental illness, except in a handful of states where they do have that authority. Rather, they use psychological techniques, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and psychoanalytic therapy.
Clinical psychologists must usually complete a doctoral degree (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) in clinical psychology before being able to see patients and use these techniques. However, in some states and provinces, a master’s degree is sufficient. In most states and provinces, the professional activities of clinical psychologists are regulated by a licensing board and/or professional college.
In addition to the delivery of psychotherapy, psychologists may perform psychological testing or research, or they may teach.
Clinical Psychologist Certification
While board certification is not required to practice clinical psychology, The American Board of Clinical Psychology (ABCP) offers board certification for clinical psychologists, which includes basic competencies for practicing, teaching, or conducting research. These competencies include:
- Being aware of ethical and legal principles and employing them effectively
- Building effective relationships with others, including clients, fellow practitioners, and the public
- Continually practicing self-evaluation and always striving to improve treatment methods
- Being fair, respectful, a clear communicator, and able to handle potentially difficult situations with understanding and diplomacy
- Keeping up with the latest research and identifying how it can improve clinical practice
- Having a professional attitude, values, and behaviors that are apparent in interactions with others
- Being sensitive to individual and cultural diversity and understanding how these factors affect who we are and how we think
- Being skilled in collaborating with others from different disciplines and organizations, employing respect, appreciation, and communication
- Understanding different scientific disciplines that relate to psychology and how they may impact treatment
Specific Skills for Clinical Psychologists
Clinical psychologists have a whole host of specific skills that they employ in their work, including:
- Performing research and collecting data to enhance the understanding of clinical psychology
- Consulting with a variety of other behavioral and health professionals and organizations about violence, suicide, and severe mental distress
- Possessing extensive knowledge of mental illness and how to diagnose and treat it
- Understanding the broad expanse of mental health issues and how they may occur at any age
Psychologist vs. Psychiatrist
The biggest difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist is that a psychiatrist is a medical doctor (MD) who can prescribe medications, while most psychologists are not medical doctors and typically cannot prescribe medication.
While psychologists may also have a doctorate, it is not a medical degree. Psychiatrists go through a year of medical internship followed by three years of residency in treating and diagnosing mental illnesses. Psychologists usually do one to two years of internship after completing their degrees.
Psychiatrist
Board certification through the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
Can diagnose psychological illness
Can prescribe medications
May provide talk therapy
Medical Doctor (MD)
Clinical Psychologist
Board certification through the American Board of Clinical Psychology
May diagnose psychological illness
Cannot prescribe medications (with some exceptions)
May conduct talk therapies
Master's degree, Ph.D., or Psy.D.
Should You See a Psychologist or a Psychiatrist?
One major difference between the two approaches is that while a psychologist will typically look at your behavior, a psychiatrist is more likely to look first at the biological factors behind your mental health problems.
Whether you pick a psychologist or a psychiatrist may depend on several factors. Some psychiatrists only prescribe medication and do not do psychotherapy, so you may choose to see both a psychiatrist and a psychologist to get both medication and therapy. Many psychiatrists do both, however.
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Additional Reading
- American Board of Professional Psychology. Clinical Psychology.
- American Psychological Association. Clinical Psychology.
By Owen Kelly, PhD
Owen Kelly, PhD, is a clinical psychologist, professor, and author in Ontario, ON, who specializes in anxiety and mood disorders.
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