Health and Psychology

The general public doesn't understand the distinctions between some of the titles people in mental health use.  So I'm often asked about the differencce between a psychiatrist and a psychologist.  A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who first became a physician and then spent their internship and residency in learning about mental health.  They can prescribe medication.  A psychologist began studying mental health for all four to five years of graduate school then completed an addition 2 to 3 years of post-doctoral study.  Some psychologists have a Doctor of Philosophy degree (Ph.D.) and wrote a book about a specific area of interest.  Others have a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) degree where they wrote a book about an applied area of psychology.  Some psychologists can prescribe medication limited to mental health conditions but those people are few and far between.  Psychologists can do psychological testing.  Some psychiatrists can do limited testing-usually objective measures that are computer scored.

The differences in other areas of mental health providers are also complex.  There are Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Behavior Specialists, and Personal Coaches.  Of these, Behavior Specialists and Coaches are the only groups not licensed.  There are organizations and certification programs for both of these groups.  But anyone can call themselves a behavior specialist or a coach.  Because they are not licensed, they do not have the same obligations as licensed professionals do.  The obligation to provide safety to the community at large is not a requirement so there are no mandatory reporting rules.  Because there is no obligation to safety to the individual, there is no ability for them to have someone be hospitalized, apart from them calling in an authority like the police. 

Often times a behavior specialist or coach will work with someone that is already in therapy.  They provide services designed to help organize day to day activities, set goals and priorities, and to provide direct encouragement.  For people that are afraid of going to a therapist, a coach or behavior specialist may provide an initial entry into the field of mental health that is easier.  Few people would be embarassed to say they had a coach.  But many people feel embarassed to say they are receiving mental health treatment.

Of course licensed therapists are capable of doing coaching.  Some therapists don't want to work with someone on the day to day aspects of organizing and managing their lives.  It can be boring.  Other therapists relish in it.  In health psychology I and my colleagues are often called on to provide coaching services.  We organize routines around medication compliance, provide assistance in working with treating medical providers, and help set up resources for support systems.

Having someone that you feel is on your side can go a long way to help improve your mental and physical health.