A person with schizophrenia would visit a psychiatrist because they would need medication to correct the chemical imbalance in their brain. The Psychoanalyst Psychoanalysts follow Freud's theories that painful childhood memories contained in the subconscious are the cause of mental illness. Psychoanalysts are like psychologists in that they usually deal with emotional issues and do not prescribe medication. However, their approach is different from that of conventional psychologists. Psychoanalysis is a method of searching through a person's subconscious memories for the source of their current difficulties, rather than focusing on conscious memories.
Psychoanalysts also tend to meet much more often with their clients.
How to Choose Some people may use a combination of the above approaches at the same time. For instance, a patient may go to a psychiatrist for medication, but meet with a psychologist regularly to talk about their issues. Often this combination is pushed by HMOs for financial reasons. You can also look for a social worker or therapist specializing in whatever issues you wish to talk about. Local clergy can be people to consult and talk to.