Therapist vs. Psychiatrist: What’s the Difference in Mental Health Care?

By Growth Era Counseling & Wellness

Finding the Right Mental Health Support Can Be Confusing — We’re Here to Help

If you’ve ever searched for mental health support and found yourself wondering whether you need a psychiatrist or a therapist, you’re not alone.

Both professionals play vital roles in emotional and mental health care — but they serve different purposes, use different approaches, and offer different types of support. Understanding these differences can help you make informed choices about your care, whether you're just getting started or looking to build a well-rounded support team.

At Growth Era Counseling & Wellness, we specialize in therapy, and while we don’t have a psychiatrist on staff, we collaborate with local and telehealth-based psychiatrists and can offer referrals when medication support is appropriate.

Let’s break down the differences so you can feel confident in your next step.

What Is a Therapist?

A therapist (also called a counselor, psychotherapist, or mental health clinician) is trained to provide talk therapy — the process of exploring your thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and experiences to support healing, growth, and emotional wellbeing.

Therapists can:

• Help you manage anxiety, depression, trauma, and relationship struggles

• Teach coping strategies and emotional regulation tools

• Support you through life transitions and stress

• Explore family history, patterns, and unresolved emotions

• Help you build self-awareness, confidence, and healthier habits

• Provide trauma-informed, identity-affirming care

Education and credentials:

Therapists usually have a Master’s or Doctorate degree in mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, social work, or psychology. Titles may include:

• LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor)

• LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist)

• LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker)

• PhD / PsyD (Doctoral-level psychologists)

Note: Therapists do not prescribe medication. If medication is part of your treatment plan, a psychiatrist (or other medical provider) would be the one to manage that.

What Is a Psychiatrist?

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor (MD or DO) who specializes in mental health, including the diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders — often through the use of psychiatric medications.

Psychiatrists can:

• Diagnose mental health conditions (e.g., bipolar disorder, major depression, schizophrenia)

• Prescribe and manage psychiatric medications

• Monitor how medications affect mood, energy, and functioning

• Collaborate with your therapist for coordinated care

• In some cases, offer brief talk therapy (though less common)

Education and credentials:

Psychiatrists complete:

• Medical school

• A residency in psychiatry

• Licensure as a physician

Some also pursue additional training in areas like addiction medicine, child and adolescent psychiatry, or forensic psychiatry.

Which One Do You Need?

That depends on your symptoms, goals, and preferences. You might benefit from:

A therapist if you:

• Want to talk through emotions, patterns, or trauma

• Need coping tools for anxiety, stress, or relationships

• Are navigating grief, identity, burnout, or life transitions

• Want to heal root causes — not just manage symptoms

A psychiatrist if you:

• Want to explore medication for depression, anxiety, or mood issues

• Have a mental health condition that hasn’t improved with therapy alone

• Are dealing with symptoms that significantly impact daily functioning

• Have already been prescribed medication and need management

Can I Work with Both a Therapist and a Psychiatrist?

Absolutely — and this is often the best approach.
Therapists and psychiatrists frequently work together to provide comprehensive care. For example, a client may see a therapist weekly to process trauma and emotions, while also checking in monthly with a psychiatrist to manage medications that support stability.

At Growth Era Counseling & Wellness, we regularly collaborate with psychiatric providers when our clients need medication as part of their healing journey. If we believe a referral would be helpful, we’ll talk with you about that option — always with transparency and respect for your comfort level.

Final Thought: You Deserve the Right Support — Not Just Any Support

Whether you’re considering therapy, psychiatry, or both, the most important thing is finding care that fits you. Healing is personal, and your treatment plan should reflect that.

Start with Therapy at Growth Era Counseling & Wellness

- Offering trauma-informed, person- centered therapy in Connecticut
- We provide referrals for psychiatric care when needed
- Schedule a consultation today!