He is a professional trained in University or at the School of Practitioner Psychologists, holder of a Master 2 (or DESS) in Psychology. The title of psychologist has been protected in France since 1985. Thus, in France, anyone cannot declare themselves Psychologist. A Psychologist must be able to justify his title, registered with the ARS of his region of practice (Regional Health Agency), by the ADELI number that it issues to him. He is the only professional seriously trained in psychological tests, and authorized to administer them. The Clinical Psychologist therefore offers a personal approach to obtain a reduction or disappearance of the patient's psychological suffering. His training and his professional experiences have taught him to help the person in pain, to express his difficulties and to accompany him to find solutions. Psychologists and psychiatrists often follow additional training and can also practice as Psychotherapists or Psychoanalysts. Title of Psychologist: Law 85-772 July 25, 1985 (www.psychologues.org)
The Psychotherapist: The term "psychotherapy" refers to all techniques aimed at treating the "psyche". The Psychotherapist treats the psychic problems of the patients, by various techniques. The diplomas of Psychologist and Psychiatrist automatically give the possibility of being a Psychotherapist, because they are recognized as having sufficient theoretical and practical knowledge to exercise this profession. They can be trained in one or more therapeutic methods. However, the profession is not regulated, that is to say that today everyone can claim to be a psychotherapist without being a Psychologist or Psychiatrist or even having followed any training in psychotherapy, without fear of legal action. In conclusion, Psychologists are Psychotherapists but not all Psychotherapists are Psychologists... Title of psychotherapist: Decree No. 2010-534 of May 20, 2010 relating to the use of the title of psychotherapist. (www.legifrance.gouv.fr)
He is a medical specialist, in the same way as a cardiologist or a surgeon. Due to his training, he specializes in the treatment of serious mental disorders that may require the prescription of medication or hospitalization. Because he is a doctor, the Psychiatrist can prescribe medication. Finally, his consultation is reimbursed for his prescriptions but not for his psychotherapies.
It is generally a Psychologist or a Psychiatrist who has followed a psychotherapeutic specialization in psychoanalysis which consists mainly of an analysis work on himself. Others are neither Psychiatrists nor Psychologists but are affiliated with schools of psychoanalysis where they debate, upgrade, are supervised in their work (SPP, SFP, ELP, Cause Freudienne, API, etc.)
