What Is The Difference Between A Psychiatrist And A Psychotherapist?

In essence these are two very different professions, but are often confused by members of the general public.
A psychiatrist is always a trained doctor. So s/he will have started off within the medical profession and then gone on to specialise in psychiatry. Psychiatrists are often attached to hospitals, (usually psychiatric hospitals) and they see patients on a semi regular basis (depending upon how severe the symptoms are). A psychiatrist always treats with drugs and will work with the patient to ensure that they are receiving the correst medical treatment through medication.
A psychotherapist is also a professional who has undergone a long training in psychotherapy but s/he does not have to be medically qualified, since a psychotherapist does not use medication to treat patients, but encourages them to talk about their problems, experiences etc in order to ensure that they can be encouraged to heal themselves. Psychotherapists usually see clients at least once per week.

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