What is the difference between a psychologist and a psychoanalyst?

They both do the: same thing--explore your inner world of ideas, memories, feelings, impulses, etc. The style of psychoanalysis is traditionally more protracted and focuses on more specific dynamics (resolution of the transference neuroses, for example). These days, insurance companies, and specifically, managed care plans have little patience for the longer route. They prefer solution-focused approaches.

Difference: Differences are mostly in training. Psychologists are trained in mainstream psychotherapeutic approaches such as behavioral therapy or CBT, among others. There are masters and doctoral levels of training. Psychoanalysts complete a training analysis of 3 or more times on the couch all the way through training, ans sometimes beyond. They also undergo classroom instruction and supervision of cases.

Training/Licensure: In California, one must be licensed to be known as a psychologist. To gain licensure, one must complete a doctoral degree (Ph.D. or Psy.D.), complete a 1500 hour pre-doctoral internship and a 1500 hr postdoc training, and then pass a national exam. To be known as a psychoanalyst, one must complete years of training in psychoanalytic therapy, including personal psychoanalysis. One can be both!

Analyst/Psychologist: Psychoanalyst uses patient’s associations, dreams, memories, fantasies to uncover unconscious processes and helps the patient become aware of distorted perceptions of others and the self. Psychologist helps people learn to cope more effectively with life issues and mental health problems. They work with people who have life adjustment problems, emotional disorders or mental illness.

Good question: Some psychologists work w animals, do research, study group behavior,advertising etc. Some psychologists are therapists and have studied various treatment approaches such as cognitive behavior therapy, etc or psychoanalytic techniques which involve the unconscious, developed by Freud and others. The latter would be psychoanalysts. Psychiatrists & social workers can also be psychoanalysts.

See below: A psychologist is a person who has a doctoral degree in psychology. He or she could have a PhD or a PsyD. A psychoanalyst can be trained in any particular field and desire to pursue training in psychoanalysis. Most individuals who are trained in psychoanalysis have a health professional background. Thus, social workers, nurses, dentists and other physician specialists can become psychoanalysts.

Not much: Psychologist is not an MD and has a doctorate in Psychology. Psychoanalyst is either and MD or a psychologist with special training and experience in the psychoanalytical treatment of behavior problems. They use psycho dynamic theory to help patients with a variety of conditions .