Would anyone consider a talk-show counselor a psychiatrist? The only thing I recall is a psychologist is talk-therapy; psychiatrist prescribes drugs & has done med school I think

I don't remember if Crane was practicing medicine in Frasier, "The creators did not want Frasier in private practice, which would make the show resemble The Bob Newhart Show. From an unused idea they had for a Cheers episode, they conceived the concept of the psychiatrist working in a radio station surrounded by "wacky, yet loveable" characters. After realizing that such a setting was reminiscent of WKRP in Cincinnati, the creators decided to emphasize Frasier's home life, which Cheers had rarely explored. Lee considered his own experience with "the relationship between an aging father and the grown-up son he never understood" and thought it would be a good theme for Frasier..."

I guess Niles is a practicing Psychiatrist in the show