Difference Between A Psychologist And A Psychotherapist

Psychology is a central science , since it touches each and every aspect of human reality. Professional psychologists work in a wide variety of settings, including clinical, educational, organizational and legal, in order to respond to the issues of everyday life and increase people’s well-being as individuals, in groups and in social systems.

Although the education and training of professional psychologists varies from one European country to another, especially in its structure and the name of its qualification, there are sufficient similarities in the contents and competencies, as well as in the expected results of the education and the formation.

There is an agreement that a period of six years is required for adequate preparation for independent professional practice as a psychologist and that, of these, five years must be of academic training that provides the basic foundations of theoretical Psychology and a substantial foundation. for research and application of Psychology. Another year must be a supervised internship or internship period.

According to the definition of the International Labor Organization (ILO), a psychologist studies the mental processes and behavior of human beings , individually or as members of groups or societies. This knowledge is then applied to promote people’s development, both individual and social, educational, individual or professional.

The fundamental role of the professional psychologist has been defined as being able to develop and apply psychological principles, knowledge, models and methods in an ethical and scientific manner in order to promote the development, well-being and effectiveness of individuals , groups, organizations and society. You can do this in two different areas that we will show you below.

Sanitary

On the one hand, psychologists can work on the following health institutions :

• Health centers for child and youth mental health.
• Mental health centers for adults.
• Acute hospital units.
• Neuropsychology.
• Palliative cures.
• Socio-health centers for chronic diseases.
• Public health agencies.
• Social services of public administrations.
• Day centers.
• Drug addiction treatment centers.
• Social and health services for disabled people.
• Centers for older people.
• Other toilets.

Not Sanitary

On the other hand, a psychologist can also work in non-health areas such as the following:

• Human resources and work psychology.
• Counseling and psychological evaluation in the educational field.
• Psychological assistance in prisons or social reintegration centers.
• Forensic psychology and judicial expertise.
• Sports psychology.
• Road safety.
• Social dynamization.
• Attention to disadvantaged groups.
• Advertising and marketing.
• Teaching and scientific research.
• Emergency psychology.
• Others.

A psychotherapist is a person qualified to do psychotherapy, that is, he or she performs the treatment aimed at changing thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. The practice of psychoanalysis is carried out by a professional with the training and skills necessary to facilitate psychological change and treats patients who require help to alleviate the symptoms that cause suffering.

In itself, psychotherapy is a space for reflection with a professional in which day-to-day problems are faced. The patient goes to the therapist to reflect together and find out what is happening, what is often unconscious, that is, outside our consciousness.

Functions of a psychotherapist

Psychotherapy promotes changes consistent with the objectives that the patient wishes to achieve. Specifically, the main functions of a psychotherapist are:

• Provide order to chaos, facilitating the understanding of ideas and actions that had been confusing.
• Train the person to face fears and tensions that disturb it.
• Offers tools for learn different ways of thinking, feeling and acting.
• Promotes personal safety since it causes the feeling of discomfort to progressively give way to that of mastery and personal control.

Psychotherapists claim that finding out what we have forgotten, or what we are not aware of, will solve the problem. The main promoter of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud, stated that it was necessary to relive the trauma in sessions in order to resolve it. From a cognitive behavioral perspective, it is known that to solve a problem certain behaviors must be modified, and that if this is not done, the problem is not solved.

As we have seen previously, a psychologist has different areas of action. We are going to need to know the differences between a psychoanalyst and a psychologist when we are in the field of clinical or health psychology.

1. Therapeutic approach

The main difference between a psychologist and a psychoanalyst is the approach to the treatments they offer. On the one hand, a psychologist may use different approaches and treatments depending on the case, or the approach or theories with which you most identify: first generation, second generation, cognitive, behavioral, cognitive-behavioral, integrative, etc.

However, when a health or clinical psychologist uses a dynamic approach or the basis of their actions and treatment is psychoanalysis So, that’s when we talk about psychoanalyst.

2. Objectives of therapy

The goal of the psychologist is increase people’s well-being as individuals, in groups and in social systems. Instead, the goal of psychoanalytic therapy is to change those thoughts and behaviors that cause the patient suffering and to enable him or her to confront her fears and concerns.

3. Scope of therapy

In general, the term psychotherapy and psychotherapist has been applied more in area of ​​dynamic orientation (psychoanalysis, humanistic therapy,…) within psychology. While clinical psychology has been applied by cognitive behavioral psychologists to their therapeutic work. However, psychotherapy has been considered a part of clinical psychology. Therefore, a psychotherapist would be a psychologist who works in the healthcare field with a dynamic orientation.

4. Therapy results

The main difference between psychology and psychotherapy is the results that the patient obtains during the therapy. On the one hand, the psychologist promotes more generic results such as the social, educational, individual or professional development of people. On the other hand, the treatment of a psychotherapist favors more specific aspects how to empower individuals to face their fears and strengthen their personal security.

This article is merely informative, at PsychologyFor we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

If you want to read more articles similar to Difference between a psychologist and a psychotherapist we recommend that you enter our Clinical Psychology category.