It is very common that when you introduce yourself in a social environment as a psychologist, people make a comment like: “Oh! I’m sure you’ve been psychoanalyzing me all this time.” Currently, it is customary to use the term psychologist and psychoanalyst interchangeably to mention the therapist who helps you improve your well-being when you go to therapy.
Even so, the truth is that, despite having several points in common and a clear connection between these two terms and their functions, they are not exactly the same. If you want to know more about the difference between a psychologist and a psychotherapist, keep reading! In this Psychology-Online article we will explain exactly how they differ.
What is a psychologist
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 professional training varies from one European country to another, especially in its structure and the name of its qualification, there are sufficient similarities in the content and skills, as well as in the expected results of education and training.
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.
Areas in which a psychologist can work
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.
- and judicial expertise.
- Sports psychology.
- Road safety.
- Social dynamization.
- Attention to disadvantaged groups.
- Advertising and marketing.
- Teaching and scientific research.
- Emergency psychology.
- Others.
What is a psychotherapist
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 safetysince 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 , 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.
Differences between a psychologist and a psychotherapist
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 psychoanalysisSo, 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 Psychology-Online 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.
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Bibliography
- Official College of Psychology of Madrid, 2022. Psychology and school. Recovered from: psychology-colegio (copmadrid.org)
- General Council of Official Colleges of Psychologists, 2003. A framework proposal for the education and training of psychologists in Europe. Infocop magazine, 86 (1). Recovered from: Selected Article Papers of the Psychologist (cop.es)
- García, J., 2010. Psychotherapy and clinical psychology. Psychotherapists. Recovered from: PSYCHOTHERAPY AND CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY – Psychotherapists
- Soledad, M., 2003, Center for psychotherapy and psychological counseling. COP. Recovered from: CENTER FOR PSYCHOTHERAPY AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ADVICE (cop.es)