What’s the difference between Psychologists and Other Professionals?
What is the difference between Psychologists and Psychiatrists?
Psychiatrists completed a medical degree and thus, are physicians and have MD’s at the end of their names. They prescribe medication and derive their training in the medical field. Psychiatry is a medical specialization, just like pediatrics and surgery. Some psychiatrists in the Philippines conduct psychotherapy. Others refer to us so their patients can receive psychotherapy.
Psychologists, on the other hand, are trained in the university. In order to practice, we usually have master’s degrees (MA’s or MS’s) or doctoral degrees (PhD’s). As psychologists, we conduct psychotherapy. Aside from teaching, psychologists can also construct, administer, and interpret psychological tests. We do not prescribe medication. If we think our clients need to consult a psychiatrist or would need medication, we refer them to a psychiatrist.
The Psychological Association of the Philippines (PAP) (www.pap.org.ph) is the current governing body that grants certification of psychologists in the various areas (clinical, counseling, assessment, educational, industrial/ organizational psychology). Most of our consultant psychologists are certified by the PAP.
Do you have psychiatrists at PsychConsult, Inc.?
No, we don’t. When needed, we refer our clients to psychiatrists. The Philippine Psychiatric Association (PPA) (www.pap.org.ph) has a list of accredited psychiatrists.
What is the difference between Psychologists and Developmental Pediatricians/ Neurodevelopmentalists?
Developmental Pediatricians/ Neurodevelopmentalists are medical doctors and have medical training in pediatrics. They see children with developmental delays and special needs. These doctors assess the development of children based on an established average. They conduct an initial assessment to the children and when certain delays are observed, they refer children to appropriate professionals (e.g., reading specialists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, psychologists).
