John Wilkes Booth was the son of prominent, wealthy actors. He, too, became an actor and was so popular, he was one of the first to have his clothes ripped off by fans. Hulton Archive/Getty hide caption
Psychology is the systematic investigation of the human mind, including behavior and cognition. It thus encompasses both normal and abnormal behavior. On the other hand, psychiatry is a branch of medicine dealing with mental illness.
Yet if you want to provide mental health services, it can be difficult to know which field to choose, as most mental health fields share many similar characteristics. There are several similarities, and a number of important differences, between counselors, psychologists and psychiatrists. Counselors, psychologists and psychiatrists share one important responsibility -- providing psychotherapy and counseling to people in need.