Clinical Practice SWES Exam 2026 – Complete Prep Resource

The key distinguishing factor between clinical social work and psychiatry is the ability to prescribe medications. Psychiatry is a medical field, and psychiatrists are trained physicians who can evaluate, diagnose, and treat mental health conditions, including the authority to prescribe medications as part of their treatment approach. This training includes medical education and residency programs that focus on pharmacology and various treatment modalities.

On the other hand, clinical social workers, while equipped to provide therapy and support to individuals struggling with mental health issues, do not have the training or legal authority to prescribe medications. Their training emphasizes psychotherapy, social support, resource coordination, and advocacy rather than medical interventions.

Verbal techniques and nonverbal techniques are tools that both social workers and psychiatrists may use in their practice, emphasizing communication and understanding in therapeutic settings. The focus on intrapsychic issues, which refers to internal psychological processes, can also be a common area of attention in both fields. However, the ability to prescribe medications remains a fundamental difference that sets psychiatry apart from clinical social work.