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Are psychotherapists rich? What is the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist? Clinical psychologist John Grohol answers the most popular questions, and we supplement his answers, adjusted for Russian realities.
Both psychologists and psychotherapists constantly hear many questions from friends and even strangers. Clinical psychologist John Grohol identified five of the most typical of them. “It’s funny that all these questions come up regularly: hardly a plumber or an astrophysicist has to talk about the same thing over and over again,” he grins.
What are the “healers of souls” asked about, and how do they usually answer these questions?
1. “Are you analyzing me right now?”
Many tend to believe that a psychologist is always looking for hidden motives in how people act and what they say. In most cases, this is not the case.
Being a good psychotherapist is hard work, emphasizes Dr. Grohol. A professional tries not only to understand his patient, but also to understand his past, life experience and how he thinks. By bringing all these details together, you can get a holistic picture, which the therapist focuses on during therapy to help the person cope with problems.
This is not some kind of “superpower” that the therapist can simply use on a stranger, easily learning everything about him. “Although it would be great if it were so,” ironically John Grohol.
2. “Must be that psychotherapists are very rich?”
It is generally accepted that most psychologists and psychiatrists earn a lot of money. Indeed, in large US cities, psychoanalysts can receive a very good salary. For most psychotherapists, however, the picture is quite different, both in the West and in Russia.
The highest paid specialists are psychiatrists. Many psychologists and psychotherapists do not consider themselves “rich” at all, and novice therapists often experience financial difficulties at all. The ongoing training, personal therapy and supervision that every self-respecting professional must undergo also requires financial investment.
In short, the vast majority of psychotherapists do their job not at all because it pays off very well. There are many other areas that pay much better, Grohol emphasizes. Most professionals engage in psychotherapy because they want to help others.
3. “Do you take customer problems home?”
Oddly enough, according to the expert, the answer to this question is in the affirmative. Despite the fact that, while receiving education and improving their qualifications, they learn to separate work and life, in practice this does not always work out. It would be wrong to think that therapists don’t bring “work” home.
Of course, the situation may vary from client to client, but according to John Grahol, very few therapists can safely leave the “life” of clients in the office. This is one of the reasons why it is so difficult to be a good psychotherapist, and one of the main factors in professional burnout. The best professionals learn to integrate what they do into their personal lives while maintaining firm boundaries.
4. “What is the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist?”
This question is constantly heard by representatives of both professions. The answer of the American expert is simple: “A psychiatrist is a doctor who in the United States spends most of his time prescribing drugs for mental disorders, while a psychologist masters various types of psychotherapy and focuses on the study of a person and his behavior. Psychologists do not prescribe medication, although some specially trained psychologists in some states may.”
In Russian realities, a psychiatrist is a certified doctor who treats mental disorders and can prescribe medication. He has a medical school behind him, has a medical specialization “psychotherapist”, and the use of psychotherapy methods is also included in his professional competence.
A psychologist, on the other hand, is one who graduated from the Faculty of Psychology, received an appropriate diploma, is armed with theoretical knowledge and can engage in psychological counseling. A psychologist can also engage in psychotherapy, having received additional education and mastering the appropriate techniques.
5. “Do you get tired hearing about people’s problems all day long?”
Yes, says Dr. Grohol. Although therapists receive special training, this does not mean that there are no days when the work becomes exhausting and tiring. “While professionals get more out of psychotherapy than they give, even they can suffer at the end of a bad day when they just get tired of listening.”
As in other professions, good professionals learn to deal with it. They know that days like this can be a warning that they are overworked or stressed and need to take more care of themselves. Or maybe it’s just a sign that it’s time for a vacation.
“Remember, therapists are people too,” concludes John Grahol. “Although special training and professional experience prepare them for the daily tasks of psychotherapy, like all people, they cannot be perfect 100% of the time.”
About the Expert: John Grahol is a clinical psychologist and author of articles on mental health.