The terms “psychotherapist,” “psychologist,” and “psychiatrist” refer to professionals in the mental health field, but they differ in their training, qualifications, and scope of practice. A psychotherapist is a broad term that encompasses professionals who provide therapy or counseling to individuals, couples, or groups. They can have different educational backgrounds and credentials, such as licensed social workers, licensed professional counselors, licensed marriage and family therapists, or psychologists. At a minimum, psychotherapists have Masters degrees. A psychologist can be considered a specific type of psychotherapist who has completed a degree in psychology (typically a Ph.D. or Psy.D., but some have only a Masters in psychology.). They are qualified to provide psychotherapy and may also conduct psychological testing, research, and other specialized areas within the field of psychology. However, it’s worth noting that not all psychotherapists are psychologists, as individuals with different educational backgrounds, such as social workers or counselors, can also provide psychotherapy services. Psychiatrists are medical doctors (M.D. or D.O.) who specialize in mental health. One of the primary distinctions between psychiatrists and other mental health professionals is that psychiatrists are licensed to prescribe medications. They have gone to medical school and have had extensive training in psychopharmacology, which is the study of how medications can be used to treat mental health conditions. Alongside prescribing medications, psychiatrists may also provide psychotherapy, although many focus primarily on medication management.