Psychiatry and psychology are overlapping professions. Practitioners in both are mental health professionals. Their area of expertise is the mind and the way it affects behavior and well-being. They often work together to prevent, diagnose, and treat mental illness. 

 

Metamorphosis Psyche is psychiatry, a private psychiatric practice that focuses on evaluation and management of medications for mental health. 

 

Psychiatrist: A psychiatrist is a medical doctor (M.D. or D.O.) who specializes in preventing, diagnosing, and treating mental illness. A psychiatrist is trained to differentiate mental health problems from other underlying medical conditions that could present with psychiatric symptoms. As a doctor, a psychiatrist is licensed to write prescriptions. If you are working with a psychiatrist, a lot of the treatment may be focused on medication management. Sometimes medication alone is enough to treat the mental illness. Sometimes a combination of medication and psychotherapy or counseling is needed. If that is the case, the psychiatrist may provide the psychotherapy, or in most cases refer you to a counselor or other type of mental health professional.

 

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP): A psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner has advance specialized training in preventing, diagnosing, and treating mental illness, to providing mental health services. There are both Master and Doctorate level of training and certification. A PMHNP is licensed to prescribe medication/psychotropics for mental health disorders. In most states they work independently, in others, they work under the supervision of a psychiatrist or medical doctor. Some are certified and provide treatment in the form of psychotherapy. Sometimes medication alone is enough to treat the mental illness. Sometimes a combination of medication and psychotherapy or counseling is needed.

Most work collaboratively with therapists (Psychologist, LMHC, LMFT, LCSW) to provide mental health services.

 

 

Psychologist: A psychologist has a doctoral degree (PhD, PsyD, or EdD) in psychology, which is the study of the mind and behaviors. Licensed psychologists are qualified to do counseling and psychotherapy, perform psychological testing, and provide treatment for mental disorders. They are not medical doctors/practitioners. That means that, with the exception of a few states, psychologists cannot write prescriptions for psychotropics. Often a psychologist will work in association with a psychiatrist, psychiatric nurse practitioner, or other medical doctors who provide the medical treatment for mental illness while the psychologist provides the psychotherapy.

 

Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC): A psychological counselor is a mental health professional who has a master's degree in psychology, counseling, or a related field. They are able to obtain certification in various modalities of mental health counseling. A mental health counselor is qualified to evaluate and treat mental problems by providing counseling or psychotherapy.

 

Licensed Marriage and Family Thrapist (LMFT):  A mental health professional with a master's or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy.   They are trained in psychotherapy and family systems, and licensed to diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders within the context of marriage, couples and family systems.  LMFTs broaden the traditional emphasis on the individual to attend to the nature and role of individuals in primary relationship networks such as marriage and the family. 

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Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW): A clinical social worker with at least a master's degree in social work and training to be able to evaluate and treat mental illness through counseling or psychotherapy. They are able to obtain certification in various modalities of mental health counseling. In addition to psychotherapy, social workers can provide case management services, as well as work as an advocate for patients and their family.