Is there a difference between psychological counseling and a psychiatrist?

The answer is yes. Not only do the two have clear differences in qualification background and service boundaries, but the people they are suitable for are also completely different. However, many people who come into contact with psychological services for the first time can easily confuse the two.

A while ago, I received a visit from a man who had just lost his love. He first directly called the psychiatrist of the hospital to see a psychiatrist. As soon as he entered the consulting room, he said, "Doctor, please help me with some counseling. I'm really uncomfortable." The doctor gave him a questionnaire and a face-to-face assessment, ruled out pathological symptoms of depression and anxiety, and directly referred him to me for consultation. He was still wondering at the time, since they were all in psychology, why couldn't the doctor directly provide him with counseling?

In fact, the "psychiatrist" we often refer to generally refers to a practicing psychiatrist. Most of them have a background in clinical medicine. They have passed the medical qualification certificate and have the right to prescribe. Their core work is to diagnose, drug treatment and medical intervention for mental illness. If you have been diagnosed with depression If you have mental illness such as mental illness, moderate or above anxiety, bipolar disorder, or even extreme thoughts of self-harm or suicide, you must first seek intervention from them. This is an area that psychological counselors cannot touch - after all, they do not have the right to prescribe, and they cannot make any suggestions involving drugs.

Formal psychological counselors, whether they have a professional background or have entered the industry later, have to go through hundreds or thousands of hours of systematic training, case accumulation and supervision. Their core business is to deal with the developmental problems of ordinary people, such as workplace infighting, marriage conflicts, parent-child conflicts, or mild emotional problems, and the reconstruction of social functions during the recovery period of mental illness. To put it bluntly, they help you smooth out stuck ideas, adjust awkward cognitions, and slowly establish a healthier coping model.

Of course, there are many overlaps in the industry now. Many psychiatrists themselves have received systematic training in psychological counseling and will also take on cases in addition to making house calls. This has led many people to think that "psychiatrists who can prescribe medication must be more professional than psychological counselors." This statement is actually biased. Just like if you have skin allergies, you need to see a dermatologist to prescribe medicine, but if you just want to choose a skin care plan that suits you, it is more suitable to find a professional skin care consultant. The two have different divisions of labor, and there is no distinction between superior and inferior.

One of my previous visits was diagnosed with moderate depression. I first went to a psychiatrist to prescribe antidepressant medication. After taking it for about three weeks, most of the heavy feeling of being out of breath disappeared, but I still dared not talk to my colleagues. I was so nervous that I broke out in a cold sweat when I thought about the weekly meeting. The doctor recommended that he cooperate with weekly psychological counseling. The medication helped him lower his emotional "water level" below the safe line, and the counseling helped him slowly adjust his habits of coping with social pressure. After more than three months of cooperation, he can already participate in team discussions normally.

At this point, someone may ask, what should I choose if I encounter a problem? In fact, it’s very simple: If you have experienced insomnia and early awakening for more than one or two weeks in a row, inexplicable sudden rise and fall in weight, uncontrollable suicidal thoughts, or feel that your emotions are completely out of control, go to the hospital to see a psychiatrist for diagnosis and investigation first. ； If you have a clear troubling incident and can still progress normally in your daily work and life, but you are just so confused that you can't find an outlet, you can just seek formal psychological consultation.

Finally, I would like to mention that there are indeed many irregularities in the psychology industry. Whether you are looking for a psychiatrist or a counselor, you must first confirm the qualifications of the other person - a psychiatrist needs to see a medical practitioner qualification certificate. For a formal counselor, it is best to choose a registered psychologist/supervisor in the registration system of the Chinese Psychological Society. Don't believe those who just get a third-rate certificate and call themselves "senior psychologists". On the contrary, it is easy to make the problem more serious.