Have you wondered what differentiates a school guidance counselor from a psychiatrist beside the degree and workplace? Although both hail from the field of psychology, what they study and what they do for society are poles apart!

What Counsellors Do
Counsellors have learned the art of psychotherapy to help people deal with “problems of normal living.” That means they are trained to help you walk through problems concerning career, relationships, family problems, and related things. They earn their degree by undergoing the necessary training to receive the proper certification. 

Nowadays, you may approach a counselor about issues regarding your mental health. However, counselors aren’t trained to deal with matters concerning mental health and illnesses. Nonetheless, they can help you with issues that stem from your mental illness like coping mechanisms or habits.

Counsellors are always obliged to refer you to a psychiatrist if you have severe mental health conditions.  

What Counsellors Cannot Do
It is important always to remember that counselors are not doctors; therefore, they cannot prescribe medication. About that, they are not allowed to give you a diagnosis or perform certain medical procedures. 

Counsellors are also not specifically trained to deal with serious mental illnesses like Major depressive disorder or Generalized Anxiety Disorder. If you wish to talk to a counselor about these things, they may ask you to visit a psychiatrist first. After they verify that you consulted a psychiatrist, they may formulate a step-by-step recovery plan to supplement your treatment.

What Psychiatrists Do
Psychiatrists are doctors who studied in medical school and took up residency in psychiatry. They are trained to evaluate and assess mental illnesses despite their overlapping, psychiatric symptoms. With this reason, they are the only ones capable of diagnosing you with a medical condition. They are also allowed to do other medical procedures.

As a doctor, psychiatrists can prescribe you some medicines to treat your mental illness. They also monitor the effects of both the mental illness and the prescribed medicine on your body. Psychiatrists typically prescribe medicines for your condition and never psychotherapy. However, some psychiatrists administer both the medicine and psychotherapy in treatment.

What Psychiatrists Cannot Do
Most psychiatrists do not administer psychotherapy or counseling. Often, these psychiatrists will recommend you visit a counselor for psychotherapy sessions. However, not all psychiatrist is like this. Some may know administer both the medicine and psychotherapy during treatment.

Psychiatrists commonly do not do research. The research realm is left with clinical psychologists who earned a Master’s degree in that field. They are also not responsible for case management and hospital discharging services. These services belong to the hands of clinical social workers and mental health nurses. 

Counsellors and psychiatrists are rooted in the same field, but they play vastly different parts on the on-going treatment of your mental illness. Know the roles and responsibilities, not only of counselors and psychiatrists but also other mental health workers; so, you know where to go for mental health matters.

References:

https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/guide-to-psychiatry-and-counseling#2
http://www.coloradocounseling.com/question3.htm

Contributed by: Allison Julianne Macasaet
She is a freelance writer on the side, a student of international relations on the other. Interests include fantasy books, international relations, and lifestyle.