What is the difference between a psychiatrist and a psychologist?

Psychiatrists are doctors of medicine who specialize in disorders of the brain/mind. They can prescribe medication, and many of them do not do traditional talk therapy. A majority of psychiatrists see patients to prescribe and monitor medication though some provide talk therapy.

Clinical psychologists are doctors of psychology who are trained in talk therapy, including behavioral forms of therapy. They have a Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy), a Psy.D. (Doctor of Psychology), or an Ed.D. (Doctor of Education). Psychologists generally do diagnostic testing and assessment, as well as treatment.

If a clinical psychologist feels that a client might benefit from medication, a referral is made to a psychiatrist or other prescribing professional such as a family doctor, pediatrician or internist. The psychologist will continue to do the regular treatment while the psychiatrist prescribes and monitors the medication.

Can I expect to feel better right away if I come in for therapy?

Some people begin to feel better as soon as they make the appointment to meet with a psychologist or at the time of their first session. There is a sense of relief when you make the commitment to address an issue that has been problematic. More often, however, people do not feel better immediately. Therapy is sometimes very emotionally painful, because it involves active effort to look at yourself and your situations in a very deep way, and to make some difficult changes.

As you can imagine, if the problems that bring you to therapy were easy to solve, you would have solved them without the guidance of a psychologist. Most people can expect uncomfortable feelings in therapy and between sessions: sadness, anger, anxiety, to name a few. In addition, as you make personal changes, you can expect an impact on some of your relationships. Through the short-term distress of addressing problems and making changes, keep in mind the potential long-term gains to help you through the hardest parts of therapy. When therapy is successful, the positive gains in self-esteem, relationships and coping skills can far outweigh the distress of making changes.

I understand there are different styles of therapy. How will I know which one will be right for me?

One factor in deciding on a specific style of therapy is effectiveness. You will want your therapist to recommend a style of therapy that has been shown to be effective for your specific problem. In the evaluation session, ask your therapist why he/she is recommending a specific model of therapy.

If interested, ask if there is research or readings that the therapist can recommend to help you understand the specific therapy process. A second factor in deciding on a specific type of therapy involves what seems to fit for your personality and personal needs. Some therapies are more directive, in which you would get specific assignments and strategies to use, sort of like homework, from the therapist.

Other therapies are more open-ended and focused on you yourself directing the focus of therapy. Consider whether the therapy style and the personality of the therapist is a good fit for your personal style and discuss that at any time with your therapist.

Do you have evening hours and/or Saturday hours?

Most of our psychologists have evening hours on weekdays, and a few have Saturday hours. Be sure to state any scheduling requirements you may have up front so that we can direct you to a therapist who can meet your needs.

What can I expect from my first appointment with a clinician?

For persons who have not been in therapy before, thinking about meeting for the first time with a psychologist can be unsettling. You may wonder what the psychologist will ask, and if you should tell personal things about yourself. Most people are nervous when they first come in. Your psychologist will primarily want to hear the reasons you made the appointment, what you have already tried to do to solve the problems, and what you hope to gain from therapy.

To best understand your situation, your psychologist will likely want to know how things are going in the important parts of your life (relationships, work, school, etc.) and about your family background. In doing an assessment of your needs, the psychologist can then tell you his/her professional opinion of what may help. During this time, ask any questions that you think may help you make your decision about therapy.

You and your psychologist will decide whether continuing therapy work together would be the best recommendation, or if other services would better fit your needs. Choosing a psychologist who has a personality style and therapy philosophy that fits for you is very important. If you decide to continue to work together, you will together develop goals and schedule the next session. If you do not feel comfortable with the psychologist for any reason, please say so as your psychologist will be happy to provide you with a referral to another therapist.