Dear Aspirant,

Excellent question and I would love to answer this.

Psychiatry and Psychology, both are related to mental health. But these as a profession are separate and distinct.

Psychiatry is a medical science and Psychology is a study of human behaviour. A Psychiatrist is a medical qualification holder and Psychologist may be PhD holder after doing his Masters in Psychology.
Psychiatrists give medicines and Psychologists give advice and counselling, through emotional ways. Psychiatrist also help you emotionally, however the general observation is that people who are 'mad' go to Psychiatrists to get well and normal. People who have emotional problems, career problems, attitude problems, go to Psychologists.

Psychiatrists look at the biological factors while Psychologists look at the emotional factors.

Both careers are fantastic.

Best wishes

Hi There,

As the Counselor above Dr. Anand has given a very good difference between Psychiatrists and Psychologists. I just wish to mention that both the professions deals with Mind related issues.

Please note that people are still skeptical and are not very open to ask for help when it comes to mental issues. At the same time people generally believe that Fast relief is required, and so wish to pop a pill and hence would prefer a one time visit to a Psychiatrists than a Psychologists or a counselor.
So incase if you wish to become a counselor, please keep a lot of patience and try to reach the masses. At the sametime, working with a Psychiatrists would be a good option at the beginning of the career.

Hope this helps.
Wish you good luck...