HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS

Is it really important to find a registered and qualified professional. Your GP can refer you to the right person or team but if you would like to go privately and find your own please make sure they are registered with the right professional bodies below.

What is the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist?

Psychiatry is more concerned with a diagnosis which they use to prescribe the best medicines to treat the illness. Psychology is less concerned with labels and and instead uses an individuals history and symptoms to make a formulation of what is causing someone’s distress, they then design a treatment plan using an evidence based psychological approach.

A psychiatrist is classed as a medical doctor, they include a physical examination of symptoms in their assessment and are able to prescribe medicine: a psychologist is also a doctor by virtue of their PHD level qualification, but is not medically trained and cannot prescribe. This is not to say psychology is less effective; all psychological therapies are evidence based.

https://selectpsychology.co.uk/blog/our-news/whats-the-difference-between-a-psychologist-and-a-psychiatrist/#:~:text=A%20psychiatrist%20is%20classed%20as,medically%20trained%20and%20cannot%20prescribe.

What is an occupational therapist?

An occupational therapist helps people of all ages overcome challenges completing everyday tasks or activities – what we call ‘occupations’.

Occupational therapists see beyond diagnoses and limitations to hopes and aspirations. They look at relationships between the activities you do every day – your occupations – alongside the challenges you face and your environment.

Then, they create a plan of goals and adjustments targeted at achieving a specific set of activities. The plan is practical, realistic and personal to you as an individual, to help you achieve the breakthroughs you need to elevate your everyday life.

https://www.rcot.co.uk/about-occupational-therapy/what-is-occupational-therapy

What is a paediatrician?

A paediatrician is a doctor who specialises in managing infants, children, and young adults. With such a variable patient group as well as many different types of paediatric specialists, your work can be as general or specialised as you wish.

https://www.bmj.com/careers/article/the-complete-guide-to-becoming-a-paediatrician#:~:text=What%20Is%20A%20Paediatric%20Doctor,or%20specialised%20as%20you%20wish.

Check the registration of:

Psychiatrists: https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/members/public-members-list/

Doctors and paediatricians https://www.gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing/the-medical-register

Occupational therapists and psychologists: https://www.hcpc-uk.org/check-the-register/

Specialist teacher check: https://www.sasc.org.uk/find-an-assessor/#

CBT therapists: https://babcp.com/CBTRegister/Search#/