DR NAMITA BHUTANI

Who is a psychologist?

A psychologist is someone who studies abnormal and normal mental states, emotional, cognitive, and social processes, and behavior by observing, interpreting, and recording how people relate to one another and to their surroundings. While talk therapy often comes to the mind when people hear the word psychologist, this profession actually incorporates a wide range of specialty areas which include things such as animal research and organizational behavior.

What does a psychologist do?

Clinical psychologists diagnose and treat people who experience psychological distress and mental illness. They also conduct psychotherapy and develop treatment plans and are often seen working in mental health clinics, hospitals, and private practice.

Can a psychologist prescribe a medicine?

Psychologists focus on psychotherapy and treating emotional and mental suffering with behavioral intervention. Psychologists are also qualified to conduct psychological testing but in most cases, cannot prescribe medications to their patients.

How does a psychologist treat mental illness?

Psychologist treat mental illness by using a treatment method called 'Psychotherapy' and sometimes referred to as 'talking therapy'.

It allows the patient to:

• Better understand his or her own thinking and behavior
• understand and resolve their problems
• recognize symptoms of mental illness in themselves
• reduce their own symptoms
• change their own behavior
• improve the quality of life.

It has been already proved that these treatments work well for emotional, mental and behavioral issues.

What is the difference between a psychiatrist and a psychologist?

Because a psychiatrist is a trained MD, he or she can prescribe medications and spend much of their time with patients on medication management throughout the course of treatment. But psychologists can not prescribe medications and focus extensively on psychotherapy (Talking Therapy) and treating mental and emotional suffering in their patients with behavioral intervention.