What is the difference between a clinical psychologist and psychiatrist?
This question forms that basis of an old joke whose punch line is “About $70 an hour,” meaning, of course, that psychiatrists make more money than psychologists. Actually, it is true that psychiatrists do, on average, make more money that psychologists. However, the truly important distinction between these two types of helping professionals rests in their training, not in their earnings. In addition to the bachelor’s degree, both types of professionals hold advanced degrees. Clinical psychologist typically hold the Ph.D., which emphasizes considerable training in both therapy and research. In fact, in most clinical psychology graduate programs, a requirement for this degree involves spending a full year at an “internship” placement in which the individual learns to practice psychology, much like a medical intern would learn to practice medicine during his or her residency. Clinical psychologists work in a wide variety of public and private settings and may provide professional therapy
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