Similarities
- Both Clinical Psychologists and Psychiatrists can
provide psychotherapy and counselling services.
- Both Clinical Psychologists and Psychiatrists are trained to diagnose
neuropsychological disorders and dysfunctions plus psychotic, neurotic
and personality disorders and dysfunctions. Both professionals are granted
the right to make such diagnoses by law while other health care providers
cannot.
- Both Clinical Psychologists and Psychiatrists help people maintain and
enhance their physical, intellectual, emotional, social and interpersonal
functioning.
Differences
- Psychologists have earned a doctoral level degree
(Ph.D., Psy.D., or D.Ed.) in Psychology, after having obtained
a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree in Psychology. This
amounts to at least nine years of university education and
training in psychology. Psychiatrists have a general medical
degree first (4 years at the undergraduate level) and then advanced
training in psychiatry (usually 4 years residency after the
M.D. degree).
- Psychologists can do psychological testing with well-researched
tests. Psychiatrists typically do not do psychological testing.
- Psychiatrists can prescribe medication, while in Ontario, Psychologists
cannot.
- Psychologists are regulated by the College of Psychologists of Ontario
while Psychiatrists are regulated by the College of Physicians and Surgeons
of Ontario.
