Whether you are dealing with anxiety or addiction or any of dozens of other mental illnesses, there are many professionals out there to help you.

The first thing many may wonder is the difference between a therapist, a psychologist, and a psychiatrist, and what exactly does each of them do?

Therapists: “A generic term that can refer to a licensed counselor or clinical psychologist authorized to treat mental illnesses without the use of drugs” (Psychology.org)

Psychologists and psychiatrists can be considered therapists, but both are more specialized and require the completion of a doctorate or medical degree:

Psychologists: Therapists who “mainly rely on providing talk and/or behavioral therapy.” Psychologists spend about 8-10 years in school, needing to earn a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, and doctoral degree.  (Psychology.org)

Psychiatrists: Medical doctors who can prescribe psychotropic medications. Some psychiatrists only manage medication, while others offer other services, including talk therapy. (Healthline)

It is important to do your due diligence and consider things like education, insurance, board certifications, and reviews on BBB.org or other websites. With psychiatrists, in particular, it’s also important to find someone you can open up to and trust.

This may mean specifically looking for a female or a male psychiatrist, a younger psychiatrist, or an older psychiatrist. Some psychiatrists focus on adults, and some on teens or children. Make a list of the characteristics that are important to you in a psychiatrist or other therapist and use that to help you narrow down your choices.