A psychologist is a specialist with a university degree in psychology who helps people make sense of their feelings, relationships and difficult situations in life. A psychologist is not a doctor: they do not make medical diagnoses or prescribe medication. Here we explain what kinds of psychologists there are, how they differ from psychotherapists, psychiatrists and coaches, and why PSY.one does have coaches — but only ones with a degree in psychology.
What is a psychologist?
Picture this: for the third week running you fall asleep at two in the morning, replaying a conversation with your boss. Or for the third time this year you and your partner argue about the very same thing. Or everything seems fine, yet nothing brings you joy. These are the kinds of situations people bring to a psychologist.
They know how emotions, memory, motivation, habits and relationships work, and can apply that knowledge to one particular person’s life. In a session a psychologist does not hand out ready-made advice on “how it should be done”. They help you see what is going on, understand why you react the way you do, and find your own way of acting differently.
The main thing to remember: a psychologist works with healthy people in difficult circumstances. If there are signs of illness — severe depression, panic attacks that don’t go away, thoughts of harming yourself — you need a doctor.
Psychologist, psychotherapist, psychiatrist: what’s the difference
Three similar words — three different professions.
Psychologist — a university degree in psychology. Does not diagnose or prescribe medication.
Psychotherapist — ideally a medical degree plus a specialisation in psychotherapy. Can diagnose and prescribe medication.
Psychiatrist — a medical degree plus a specialisation in psychiatry. Diagnoses and prescribes treatment when needed.
In Russia, psychotherapist and psychiatrist are medical specialities. In everyday speech, though, anyone who practises psychotherapy — psychologists included — is often called a “psychotherapist”, as in many other countries. If it matters to you whom you are seeing, ask directly: “Is your training in medicine or in psychology?” A good specialist will answer calmly.
A clinical psychologist is a case of their own. This is a psychologist with special training: they can carry out psychological assessment and work in hospitals and clinics alongside doctors. They do not prescribe medication either.
What kinds of psychologists are there
Psychology is a large science with many fields. Here are the ones people most often come across in life:
Counselling psychologist — the person you see with a personal concern: anxiety, relationships, a crisis, burnout.
Clinical psychologist — assessment and help for people with mental and neurological conditions, working as part of a medical team.
Child and adolescent psychologist — a child’s development, behaviour, difficulties at school, relationships with parents.
Family psychologist — couples and families: conflicts, crises, the birth of a child, divorce.
Neuropsychologist — how the workings of the brain relate to memory, attention and speech. Often works with children and with people after injuries and strokes.
Organisational or business psychologist — teams, managers, burnout, conflicts at work.
Sports psychologist — concentration, stress before a competition, recovering from setbacks.
Approaches: CBT, Gestalt, psychoanalysis — what are they?
Besides the fields there are also approaches — how a psychologist works. Think of the different schools in medicine or in sport: the goal is shared, the methods differ.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) works with the thoughts and habits that keep a problem going. It is practical, comes with “homework” and is well studied in research.
Psychoanalysis and psychodynamic therapy look for the roots of today’s difficulties in past experience and in what we are not aware of. This is usually long-term work.
Gestalt therapy focuses on what a person feels and does here and now.
Systemic family therapy sees a person as part of a family: one person’s problem is often connected with how everyone’s relationships are arranged.
Emotionally focused therapy helps couples and individuals understand their emotions and needs.
Existential and humanistic therapy is about meaning, choice and freedom.
Which approach is “the best”? Research shows again and again that what matters most is not the school but the quality of the relationship between the person and the specialist — trust, the feeling of being heard. So it is worth choosing both by the method and by whether you feel comfortable with this particular person.
How psychology differs from coaching
Coaching has become very popular, and the line between it and a psychologist’s work is not always easy to see. Let’s take an example.
Someone says: “I want to change jobs, but I just can’t bring myself to do it.”
A coach will ask: what is the goal? what are the options? what first step will you take this week? Coaching looks ahead and helps you move towards a goal.
A psychologist will help with the goal too, but if they see that behind “I can’t bring myself to” lie a strong fear of failure, exhaustion or an old script of “it never works out for me”, they will work with that as well.
The key difference is training. In Russia you cannot become a psychologist without a university degree, while anyone can call themselves a coach after a short course. A good coach recognises when a request goes beyond their remit and refers the person to a psychologist or a doctor. But recognising it takes knowledge.
Why PSY.one only has coaches with a degree in psychology
Coaches work at PSY.one too — especially for business and career questions it is a good format. But we have a rule: every expert of the journal has a university degree in psychology, and coaching is a method for them, not a substitute for the profession.
Here is why:
A request is rarely just “about a goal”. Behind “I can’t make up my mind” there is often anxiety, burnout or depression. A specialist trained in psychology will notice this and will not try to “motivate” someone who needs a different kind of help right now.
Safety. People come to a specialist when they are vulnerable. We vouch for everyone: we check their degree, their practice and regular supervision — reviewing their work with an experienced colleague.
Responsibility for what is said. A short course teaches the technique of asking questions, but not how to understand the mind. Advice given without that understanding can do harm.
That is why in the PSY.one catalogue you will find psychologists who work in different approaches, coaching included — but every one of them has university psychology and verified practice behind them.
How to choose a psychologist: a short checklist
Education. A university degree in psychology: bachelor’s, specialist or master’s. Courses and certificates are a good addition, but not a substitute.
Approach. The specialist can explain simply how they work and what to expect from sessions.
Supervision. They regularly review their work with a more experienced colleague.
Warning signs: promises results “in three sessions” or “for good”; makes diagnoses by message; advises you to stop treatment; offers “energy practices” or constellations.
How you feel. After the first session, ask yourself: did I feel safe? was I heard? If not, it is perfectly fine to try another specialist.
Frequently asked questions
Does a psychologist make diagnoses?
No. A medical diagnosis is made by a doctor — a psychiatrist or a psychotherapist. A psychologist can carry out a psychological assessment, for example of how anxious you are, but that is not a medical diagnosis.
Will everything I tell a psychologist stay between us?
Yes, confidentiality is the foundation of professional ethics. Exceptions are rare: for example, a direct threat to life.
How many sessions will I need?
It depends on your request. Sometimes a few sessions are enough to make sense of a specific situation; deep change takes months. A good specialist will discuss this with you at the first session.
Does an online session work as well as one in person?
For most requests — yes. What matters is a quiet place where no one can overhear you, and a stable connection.
How do I know whether I need a psychologist or a doctor?
If things are hard but on the whole you are coping with life, start with a psychologist. If for weeks you cannot sleep, eat or work, or thoughts of harming yourself appear, see a doctor. In an emergency in Russia, call 112 or the 24-hour psychological helpline of the Russian Emergencies Ministry: +7 495 989-50-50. Outside Russia, call your local emergency number.
Works mentioned in this article
- International Coaching Federation (ICF). Definition of coaching and professional standards. coachingfederation.org.
- American Psychological Association (APA). Understanding psychotherapy and how it works. apa.org.
- Wampold B. E., Imel Z. E. The Great Psychotherapy Debate: The Evidence for What Makes Psychotherapy Work. 2nd ed. Routledge, 2015.
- Grant A. M., Cavanagh M. J. Evidence-based coaching: Flourishing or languishing? // Australian Psychologist. 2007. Vol. 42, No. 4.
- Order of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation No. 700n of 7 October 2015 “On the nomenclature of specialities for specialists with higher medical and pharmaceutical education”.
