One of the most common questions (and one I think many are afraid to ask) is what the difference is between the various types of mental health professionals.

Psychiatrist: A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who works with standardized diagnoses, and who can prescribe drugs to treat perceived mental illnesses. They may or may not have extensive training as therapists and may or may not have had experience as a client in a therapeutic environment.

Psychologist: A psychologist is an expert or specialist in psychology, often holding a Ph.D. They do not prescribe drugs. They most likely have extensive training as therapists, but may or may not have had experience as a client in a therapeutic environment.

Psychotherapist: A psychotherapist is specifically trained to work with others in a therapeutic environment. There are various approaches (or modalities) of psychotherapy: Freudian, Jungian, Gestalt, CBT, to name a few. A good psychotherapist not only has extensive training and supervision, but also has experience as a client. A therapist with no experience of what it’s like to be on the other side of the couch as a client is missing an important tool: relatability.