What Kind of Training do Psychotherapists Have?
Psychotherapist is a generic term describing anyone who practices psychotherapy. There are several different academic degrees that allow people to become psychotherapists. Psychiatrists are MDs whose medical specialty is psychiatry, the branch of medicine concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of mental, behavioral, and emotional disorders. They receive the same medical training as other doctors, and then complete a four-year residency in psychiatry, where they receive some training in psychotherapy. Because they are MDs, the primary focus of their training and practice is intervening medically by evaluating patients and prescribing medication. Psychiatrists are qualified to perform psychotherapy, but some choose not to do it. A clinical psychologist has a doctorate (PhD or PsyD) in the field of clinical psychology, which is the scientific study of all forms of human behavior. Psychologists’ training includes an average of five to seven years of graduate training (including a one-y
