Wanting to take my son to a therapist (adhd, odd and possible autism). Excuse my ignorance but what is the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist? Which is going to benefit him more to help him with melt downs and build friendships at school?
3 Replies
The major difference between the two is that a psychiatrist is trained as a doctor and can prescribe medication.
A psychologist usually uses talk therapy and can help a person learn strategies to understand and help themselves, but they can also diagnose.
Probably start with your GP as both would need a referral and your local doctor can help determine the best place to start.
Alternatively try looking up a youth mental health centre (or similar) in your area and give them a call for a chat
It may be beneficial to have both, or a care team with a paed etc. The paed may be better for the diagnosing and medications and a psychologist for psycho education and therapies, you may not need a psychiatrist at this point.
I would try a psychologist and then find a good Paediatrician who can work with you and possibly recommend medication if required. If you are seeking a possible autism diagnosis, a psychologist is definitely a good start. Psychiatrists are doctors that can help with diagnosing adults but may not be necessary if your child is young.