Once you have had some experience working with different professionals within the field of mental health, differences between each discipline’s values, style, approach, and skillset can be easy to detect.  However, if you are reaching out to a mental health professional for help for the first time, it can be overwhelming to differentiate between the different types of professionals, who may be best equipped to help you, and what practitioner will offer the treatment you have in mind.   I’ve provided an editorialized guide to the most common professions within the field to mental health, along with some resources that provide a little less opinion. Psychiatrist Degrees: Medical Doctor (M.D.), Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.) Years of Training: 7+ Description: Psychiatrists are usually placed at the top of the mental health hierarchy because they are the only clinicians in the world of mental health that are medical doctors (although, they are not necessarily the only mental health practitioners that can prescribe medication).  All psychiatrists are trained first as doctors (usually 3 years) before applying to obtain specialized …