{"id":176289,"date":"2025-11-23T22:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-11-23T19:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bukvaved.top\/v-chjom-raznica-mezhdu-psihologom-i-psihoterapevtom\/"},"modified":"2026-10-28T16:31:18","modified_gmt":"2026-10-28T13:31:18","slug":"what-is-the-difference-between-a-psychologist-and-a-psychotherapist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bukvaved.top\/en\/v-chjom-raznica-mezhdu-psihologom-i-psihoterapevtom\/","title":{"rendered":"What is the difference between a psychologist and a psychotherapist?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>A psychologist is a person with a master&#039;s degree in psychology who, among other things, diagnoses, conducts consultations, and provides psychological support. A psychotherapist is a specialist who, after several years of postgraduate training in psychotherapy, conducts regularly scheduled treatment in a specific area.<\/strong> A psychologist isn&#039;t always a psychotherapist, and a psychotherapist doesn&#039;t necessarily need to have a psychology degree. Neither prescribes medication\u2014that&#039;s the job of a psychiatrist.<\/p>\n<p> To sum it up<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li> <strong>Education:<\/strong> Psychologist \u2013 training in the specialty of \u00abpsychology\u00bb; psychotherapist \u2013 training (for example, in the specialty of \u00abpsychology\u00bb, \u00abmedicine\u00bb, \u00abpedagogy\u00bb) plus several years of training in the field of psychotherapy.<\/li>\n<li> <strong>Field of activity:<\/strong> A psychologist conducts diagnostics, consults, and provides support in crisis situations; a psychotherapist leads the treatment process, which usually involves multiple meetings.<\/li>\n<li> <strong>Requirements:<\/strong> A psychotherapist works under supervision and usually undergoes his or her own therapy during training.<\/li>\n<li> <strong>Medicines:<\/strong> They are not prescribed by a psychologist or a psychotherapist \u2013 this is done by a psychiatrist.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2> Who is a psychologist?<\/h2>\n<p> A psychologist is a graduate of a psychology program. According to the new Law on the Profession of Psychologist and the Professional Self-Governance of Psychologists (Journal of Laws 2026, Item 187), the right to practice the profession will require inclusion in the Register of Psychologists, and the title &quot;psychologist&quot; will be protected. The main provisions of the law are scheduled to come into force in 2028, although some have already entered into force earlier.<\/p>\n<p> In practice, a psychologist deals with, among other things, the following issues:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li> <strong>psychological diagnostics<\/strong> \u2013 for example, tests, assessment of cognitive and emotional functions, expert opinions.<\/li>\n<li> <strong>Consultations<\/strong> help to formulate the problem and determine what form of assistance would be appropriate.<\/li>\n<li> <strong>Psychological support and crisis intervention<\/strong> \u2013 in difficult life situations, for example, after the loss of a loved one, a breakup, or during periods of stress.<\/li>\n<li> <strong>Psychoeducation<\/strong> \u2013 explains the mechanisms by which problems arise and teaches how to cope with them.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p> Psychologists work in schools, psychological and educational counseling centers, hospitals, mental health clinics, crisis intervention centers, companies and private clinics, and many other places.<\/p>\n<h2> Who is a psychotherapist?<\/h2>\n<p> The psychotherapist conducts <strong>psychotherapy<\/strong> \u2014 a method of treating mental disorders and emotional difficulties based on the therapeutic relationship and regular sessions. It operates within a specific approach, such as cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic, systemic, or humanistic therapy.<\/p>\n<p> The profession of psychotherapist in Poland is not regulated by a separate law, but standards are established by scientific societies and the requirements of the National Health Fund (NHF). To provide psychotherapeutic care within the framework of the NHF, a specialist must have a higher education (e.g., a medical degree or a master&#039;s degree in psychology, pedagogy, nursing, or social rehabilitation)., <strong>at least four years of postgraduate training in psychotherapy<\/strong> , comprising at least 1,200 hours, and a psychotherapist certificate, for example, from the Polish Psychiatric Association or the Polish Psychological Association. Part of the training usually includes full-time psychotherapy training, and work with patients is carried out <strong>under observation<\/strong> .<\/p>\n<p> Important: Since psychotherapy is not regulated by a separate law, the term &quot;psychotherapist&quot; can be used even by individuals without the necessary training. Therefore, it&#039;s important to inquire about the practitioner&#039;s training, certification, and supervision.<\/p>\n<h2> Psychologist and psychotherapist - the main differences.<\/h2>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th> Characteristic<\/th>\n<th> Psychologist<\/th>\n<th> Psychotherapist<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<\/tbody>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td> <strong>Education<\/strong><\/td>\n<td> Psychological research<\/td>\n<td> Education (not only in the field of psychology) + training in the field of psychotherapy.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td> <strong>Legal basis<\/strong><\/td>\n<td> Law on the Profession of Psychologist<\/td>\n<td> A separate law has not been adopted; requirements of the National Health Fund and insurance companies.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td> <strong>Main tasks<\/strong><\/td>\n<td> Diagnostics, consultations, support, crisis intervention<\/td>\n<td> Treatment with psychotherapy<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td> <strong>Time for cooperation<\/strong><\/td>\n<td> Often several meetings<\/td>\n<td> Usually many months, sometimes longer.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td> <strong>Workflow<\/strong><\/td>\n<td> Not required<\/td>\n<td> Specific therapeutic direction<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td> <strong>Supervision and self-therapy<\/strong><\/td>\n<td> Recommended, but not always required.<\/td>\n<td> Standard of training and practice<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td> <strong>Prescribing medications<\/strong><\/td>\n<td> NO<\/td>\n<td> No (unless he is a doctor himself).<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p> The line is blurred: many psychologists also undergo training in psychotherapy and combine both roles. A psychotherapist, on the other hand, after appropriate training, can also become a psychiatrist or teacher.<\/p>\n<h2> What does a visit to a psychologist and a psychotherapy session look like?<\/h2>\n<p> <strong>Psychological consultation<\/strong> Typically involves one or more sessions. The psychologist will ask about your problems, how long they&#039;ve been present, and how they impact your daily life. They may also suggest tests or questionnaires. This may lead to support for your current situation, self-help recommendations, or recommendations for further assistance, such as psychotherapy or a psychiatrist.<\/p>\n<p> <strong>Psychotherapy<\/strong> It begins with a few consultation sessions, during which the therapist and patient determine the goals, frequency, and terms of their collaboration (known as a contract). Subsequently, sessions are held regularly, usually weekly, and have a set duration. Changes occur gradually, addressing not only symptoms but also their sources and recurring behavior patterns.<\/p>\n<h2> Who should I contact: a psychologist, psychotherapist or psychiatrist?<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li> <strong>Psychologist<\/strong> \u2013 this is help when you don\u2019t know where to start, are going through a crisis, need a conversation, a diagnosis (for example, for a child) or guidance on further actions.<\/li>\n<li> <strong>Psychotherapist<\/strong> \u2013 when the problem persists for a long time or is recurring: chronic anxiety, symptoms of depression, relationship difficulties, consequences of trauma, eating disorders.<\/li>\n<li> <strong>Psychiatrist<\/strong> \u2013 For severe symptoms that interfere with daily life, medication or sick leave may be required. Referral to a psychiatrist is not required under the National Health Service.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p> Often, these types of care complement each other\u2014for example, psychotherapy administered concurrently with psychiatric treatment. If you&#039;re thinking about self-harm or feel you can&#039;t cope, don&#039;t wait to see someone: call 112 or go to a hospital emergency department.<\/p>\n<h2> Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)<\/h2>\n<p> <strong>Can any psychologist conduct psychotherapy?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p> A psychology degree alone is not sufficient to work as a psychotherapist. Additional, multi-year training in psychotherapy is required; the National Health Fund (NFZ) requires this training and a psychotherapist certification.<\/p>\n<p> <strong>Does a psychotherapist have to be a psychologist?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p> No. For example, a doctor, teacher, or nurse can become a psychotherapist if they have completed the appropriate training in psychotherapy.<\/p>\n<p> <strong>Can a psychologist issue sick leave or prescribe medications?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p> No. Medications and sick leave certificates are issued by a doctor, including a psychiatrist. Psychologists and psychotherapists may recommend a consultation with a psychiatrist.<\/p>\n<p> <strong>How to check the qualifications of a psychotherapist?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p> Inquire about the therapist&#039;s training (where, how long, and in what specialty), certification, and supervision. Certification societies maintain lists of certified psychotherapists.<\/p>\n<p> <strong>How long does psychotherapy last?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p> The duration of therapy depends on the problem and the treatment focus \u2013 from a few dozen sessions in a short period to many months or years. The timeframe and goals are agreed upon with the therapist at the beginning of the collaboration.<\/p>\n<h2> See also<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li> What is the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist?<\/li>\n<li> What is the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist?<\/li>\n<li> What is the difference between study and studies?<\/li>\n<li> What is the difference between heroin and cocaine?<\/li>\n<li> What is the difference between dementia and Alzheimer&#039;s disease?<\/li>\n<\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A psychologist is a person with a master&#039;s degree in psychology who, among other things, diagnoses, conducts consultations, and provides psychological<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":176290,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[67,20],"tags":[70],"class_list":["post-176289","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-vopros-otvet","category-fakty","tag-chem-otlichaetsya"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bukvaved.top\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/176289","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bukvaved.top\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bukvaved.top\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bukvaved.top\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bukvaved.top\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=176289"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/bukvaved.top\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/176289\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":176291,"href":"https:\/\/bukvaved.top\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/176289\/revisions\/176291"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bukvaved.top\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/176290"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bukvaved.top\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=176289"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bukvaved.top\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=176289"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bukvaved.top\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=176289"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}