Short answer: A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who has specialised in mental health; they diagnose, can prescribe medication and manage the medical side of treatment. A clinical psychologist has postgraduate training in clinical psychology and provides psychotherapy and psychological assessment, but does not prescribe. They are not rivals: many people work with both at the same time, and the best place to start depends on what you are experiencing and how severe it is.
How do the titles work in Turkey?
If you are an English speaker living in Istanbul, the Turkish titles can be confusing because they do not map neatly onto systems elsewhere. Here is what they mean:
- Psikolog (psychologist): someone with an undergraduate degree in psychology. On its own, this degree does not qualify a person to provide psychotherapy.
- Klinik psikolog (clinical psychologist): a psychologist with a master's degree or specialist training in clinical psychology. Clinical psychologists carry out assessments and provide psychotherapy.
- Psikiyatrist (psychiatrist): a medical doctor who completed a residency in psychiatry. Psychiatrists diagnose, prescribe medication, order tests and can arrange hospital care when needed.
- Psikolojik danışman (counsellor): a graduate of guidance and counselling programmes, typically working in schools and on career or adjustment issues.
- Psikoterapist (psychotherapist): not regulated as a separate professional title in Turkey. It usually describes additional training in a particular approach, such as cognitive behavioural therapy or schema therapy, taken by a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist.
It is perfectly reasonable to ask a clinician about their qualifications and the approach they use before you start; a good professional will welcome the question.
When should a psychiatrist come first?
In some situations a medical assessment needs to be the first step. Consider seeing a psychiatrist first if any of the following apply:
- Sleep and appetite have been severely disrupted for weeks, with noticeable weight change
- You are struggling to function: unable to work, study or look after yourself
- Your sense of reality feels shaky: hearing things others do not, intense suspicion, unusual beliefs
- Periods of very high energy, days without sleep or impulsive, out-of-character behaviour
- Thoughts of harming yourself or someone else
- You already take psychiatric medication and it needs reviewing or adjusting
In an emergency: if you have thoughts of harming yourself or do not feel safe, do not wait. Call 112, the emergency number in Turkey, or go to the nearest emergency department.
When is a psychologist the right first step?
If your difficulties are affecting daily life but there is no medical urgency, starting with a clinical psychologist is the right move for most people. Psychotherapy is usually the first-line option for:
- Patterns of anxiety and panic, including constant worry and avoidance
- Relationship and couple difficulties, such as the same argument repeating
- Grief, loss, separation and major life transitions
- Behaviour you want to change: procrastination, anger outbursts, habits
- School, adjustment and behaviour concerns in children and teenagers
- Mild to moderate depressive symptoms
There is a large body of research supporting psychotherapy in these areas. A clinical psychologist keeps an eye on your symptoms throughout and will refer you to a psychiatrist if a medical assessment seems necessary.
How does it work if I see both?
For many moderate to severe conditions, clinical guidelines recommend combining medication with psychotherapy. In practice, the psychiatrist manages medication and medical follow-up, while the clinical psychologist works with you in regular sessions on thoughts, feelings and behaviour patterns. With your consent, the two can exchange brief updates so that everything runs as one plan rather than two separate ones.
At Sone Wellbeing Unit in Beylikdüzü, Istanbul, our psychotherapy unit is staffed by clinical psychologists; we do not have a psychiatrist on the team. If a medical opinion seems necessary during assessment, we refer you to a psychiatrist and, if you wish, continue psychotherapy alongside that care.
Not sure where to start?
For most people the simplest first step is an assessment session with a clinical psychologist. You talk through what you are experiencing, how long it has lasted and how it affects sleep, appetite, work and relationships; by the end you will usually know whether psychotherapy fits and whether a medical assessment is also needed. A family doctor or GP is another reasonable starting point.
If you are wondering whether it is even time to seek help, our article When is the right time to see a psychologist? may help. You can also read about our services or get in touch to arrange an in-person or online session.
Do I need a referral?
No referral is needed to see a clinical psychologist at a private centre in Turkey; you can book directly. Psychiatry outpatient clinics can usually also be accessed directly, although practice varies between institutions, so check with the hospital. For anything that requires a formal diagnosis, an official report or medication, a medical doctor is the person to see.
Key takeaways
- A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who diagnoses and can prescribe; a clinical psychologist provides psychotherapy and does not prescribe.
- Severe loss of functioning, psychotic symptoms or thoughts of self-harm call for a psychiatrist first; in an emergency call 112.
- Anxiety, relationship issues, grief, behaviour change and child or teen concerns are good reasons to start with a clinical psychologist.
- Neither replaces the other; when needed they work in parallel.
- If in doubt, start with an assessment session and you will be guided from there.
This article is general information, not medical advice; please discuss your own situation with your clinician.
