Know The Difference: Psychiatrists vs Psychologists in Family Law

Psychiatrists and psychologists are both mental health professionals, but they differ in their educational background, training, and the types of services they provide. Here are the key distinctions between psychiatrists and psychologists:

Psychiatrist:

1. Medical Training: Psychiatrists are medical doctors who have completed medical school. They hold an M.D. (Doctor of Medicine) or D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) degree.

2. Treatment Approach: As physicians, psychiatrists are trained to diagnose and treat mental health conditions from a medical perspective. They often use a combination of psychotherapy and medications to address mental health issues.

3. Prescription Privileges: One significant difference is that psychiatrists have the authority to prescribe medications. They can prescribe psychotropic medications to manage symptoms and help with the biochemical aspects of mental health conditions.

4. Medical Interventions: Psychiatrists are equipped to explore potential biological or neurological factors contributing to mental health disorders. They may order and interpret medical tests, such as blood work or brain imaging, to inform their diagnostic and treatment decisions.

5. Scope of Practice: Psychiatrists often work with individuals dealing with more severe mental health conditions, including severe mood disorders, psychotic disorders, and complex psychiatric conditions.

Psychologist:

1. Educational Background: Psychologists hold advanced degrees in psychology, typically a Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) or Psy.D. (Doctor of Psychology). Their training is focused on understanding human behavior, emotions, and mental processes.

2. Treatment Approach: Psychologists employ a variety of therapeutic techniques to help individuals cope with mental health issues. They often provide psychotherapy (talk therapy) and counselling to address emotional and behavioural challenges.

3. No Prescription Privileges: Unlike psychiatrists, psychologists do not have the authority to prescribe medications. Their focus is primarily on psychological interventions, counselling, and psychotherapy.

4. Assessment and Testing: Psychologists are skilled in conducting psychological assessments and tests to evaluate cognitive functioning, personality, and emotional well-being. These assessments can help inform diagnosis and treatment planning.

5. Scope of Practice: Psychologists work with a broad range of individuals dealing with various mental health issues. They may specialise in areas such as clinical psychology, counselling psychology, or school psychology.

The Importance of Knowing The Difference During Family Law Proceedings: 

In many Family Law cases experts are Court ordered to give their expert opinion on a mothers or fathers ability to safeguard their child (ren). There is a difference between a 'mental health' diagnose such as bipolar, personality disorder versus an 'addiction issue' or 'trauma based symptoms' such as depression, stress and anxiety. It is important that victims and their legal representative understand the difference as to not prejudice their own case.

This is why since 2009, practitioner psychologists are subject to statutory regulation in the UK by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). Prior to this psychologists with appropriate training and experience could apply to become Chartered by the British Psychological Society (BPS), a scheme which continues to date. This has led to a potentially confusing array of titles, only some of which are ‘protected’ and associated with specific qualifications and skills. This is why The British Psychological Society is working with Family Justice Council in ensuring psychologists who come as expert witnesses into Court are regulated and registered. You can read the Guidance from the Family Justice Council and the British Psychological Society Report below. Just click on the report to open it. 

 

 

Which do I choose in my Family Law Case to prove I am a safe mother or father? 

It is important to understand that being in full control of your own case especially when up against Local Authority seeking to take your child (ren) from their family home and into care, that you get your own private independent psychological report to ensure that their is no perceived bias between the Local Authority who are a government public body and your GP who is also paid for by the government via the NHS. This is could be perceived as financial perceived bias for financial gain in your case. A miscarriage of justice and the rule of law. 

When you are in control, it is about your choice and your consent. If you consent and choose to take on the services of your GP who then prescribe your medication for alleged mental health issues, or medication prescribed as a 'coping tool' then you are effectively consenting and accepting that you need medical intervention which then is the direct evidence the Courts use to start profiling a 'mental health' diagnosis which can turn into the profile of 'unsafe parent on medical grounds'. This is where the Courts will appoint a Psychiatrist to do a valuation on you.  

However, in contrast by using and paying for a private psychologist you are in control of the narrative for your own case ensuring that all the facts and evidence can not be manipulated as you get to see and review the report before it is submitted before the Court and you can call your trusted expert psychologist as your witness during your family proceedings.   

In conclusion, psychiatrists are medical, who prescribe medication which leads to profiling a mother or father on medical grounds to remove the child (ren) from the home without offering any support to the family and the trauma sudden separation has on a child and their mother and father.

Psychologists are more holistic and focus on healing the trauma, stress, anxiety and PTSD through talking therapy which is more supportive and encourages your child (ren) to stay with the safe mother or father, keeping the family together in the best interests of all parties. 

 

Effect of parent-child separation

The long-term effects of parent child separation include:

Trauma which can have negative consequences for the child’s psychological and physical health - children may regress, display anxiety and depressive symptoms, appear more irritable, demanding and noncompliant, and experience problems in social relationships and school performance (Hetherington & Stanley-Hagan, 1999).

 Attachment issues – the ability to form and maintain an attachment to a reliable and consistent caregiver is fundamental to a child’s cognitive and social development.  The impact of disruption in the attachment process carries into adulthood and can cause low self-esteem, emotional impairment, difficulty establishing relationships, difficulties in social situations, anxiety, depression, dissociation and problems with substance use.  

 There is a clear consensus among researchers and clinicians that the child’s best interests are served by maintaining a relationship with both parents.  It is recommended that parents set aside their own feelings/conflict and try to develop a collaborative and cooperative relationship with their ex-partners/spouses to support the emotional and physical wellbeing of the child.

References and Bibliography

Baker, A.J.L (2007) Adult children of parental alienation syndrome: breaking the ties that bind. Norton & Company

 Baker, A.J.L and Sauber, S.R. (2013) Working with Alienated Children and Families. A clinical Guidebook. Routledge.

Baker, A.J.L, Fine, P.R. (2014) Co-parenting with the toxic ex., New Harbinger

Childress, C.A. (2015) An Attachment-Based Model of Parental Alienation: Single Case ABAB, Assessment and Remedy. Oak song Press

Childress, C.A (2015) An Attachment-Based Model of Parental Alienation. Foundations.     Oaksong.

Hetherington EM, Stanley-Hagan M. The adjustment of children with divorced parents: A risk and resiliency perspective. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 1999;40: 129–40

Johnson J.G; Harris, E,S; Spitzer, R, L: Williams J,B,W; (2002) The Patient Health Questionnaire for Adolescence: Validation of an Instrument for Assessment of Mental Health Disorders Among Adolescent Primary Care Patients. Journal of Adolescence Health 30 p 196-204.

NHS IAPT manual (2019) http://www.iapt.nhs.uk (last accessed 17.7.2020

Whitcombe (2017) Parental Alienation or Justifiable Estrangements? Assessing a Child’s resistance to a parent in UK. Seen and Heard 27 (3) p 31-40

Whitcombe (2017) Powerless to Parent: Powerless to protect The Experiences of Alienated Parents in the UK. Maltrattmento e Abuso all’ Infanzia. 19 (1) p 47-66

Woodhall, K. (2019) Developing New Approaches to Therapeutic Work with Alienated Children and Families, (Parental Alienation Study Group). 

(2020) The UK Study Group of Parental Alienation 

Click below to check the HCPC Register

Click below to find a Court appointed Expert Psychologist