The word psychiatry covers a wide variety of disciplines dealing with the mind and its disorders. There are two main types of psychiatric service: psychotherapy and medication. Psychotherapy is the general term used for all the methods of treatment used by psychiatrists. These include different behavioural adaptations related to emotion, cognition, behavior, mood, perception, and thoughts. See full glossary of psychiatry for complete information.
Psychotherapists are doctors who treat psychological problems. They can prescribe medications or provide counselling. Their treatment aims at resolving the issues behind the person’s behavior. Psychotherapy is a highly structured form of psychotherapy. It involves interactive communication between a psychiatrist and a patient in which the latter explains his problem and the psychiatrist attempts to find the root cause of it. Psychotherapists have many years of training and they receive specialized education to deal with mental health problems.
Before one can practice as a psychiatrist, he must first obtain an MBBS from an accredited medical school or a doctoral degree in psychology or psychiatry. Usually, one needs three to seven years of full-time study to become a qualified doctor. After finishing a full degree course, psychiatrists seek a license to practice. After getting a license, they can begin practicing independently. Usually, psychiatrists have a private practice but some work in hospitals, clinics, or private practices.
The field of psychiatry covers a number of areas. In addition to clinical work, psychiatrists also conduct research and analysis. A doctor can specialize in one or more areas of medicine. Typical areas of specialization are neuropsychology, geropsychology, neurology, psychodynamic or social psychiatry, endocrinology, nutrition, psychology, social and behavioral science, sociology, counseling, sociology and statistics. Almost all of these areas of specialization are also covered by a subfield of psychology.
Clinical training is a key part of becoming a psychiatrist. Most clinical training focuses on one specific area such as geropsychology, which deals with preventing and treating schizophrenia. Some of the other areas of specialization are neuropsychology, psychodynamic, behavior therapy, counselling, social and behavioral science, nutrition, psychology, sociology, counseling, statistics. Each of these areas of specialization require different levels of training, licensing, and educational requirements.
Most psychologists who want to specialize in psychiatric work will undergo training at a university. However, for some who are uninterested in taking specialized classes, there are a number of institutions that offer basic psychotherapy training to interested individuals. For psychiatrists who are interested in clinical training but do not wish to attend a university, they can also join a private consulting firm. Private consulting firms focus on providing comprehensive therapy and other related services to their clients.
Many psychiatrists become consultants through self-help programs. These programs are especially popular with individuals who have a variety of personal problems. For instance, if a person has a long term relationship disorder, they may find that cognitive behavioral psychotherapy can help them deal with their depression and anxiety. The program will educate the individual about their condition, the disorders of their loved ones, how depression can affect other areas of their life and how to manage it. Once this is learned, a psychologist would then be able to design a specialized treatment plan specifically designed for the client.
Many psychiatrists work in private practice. They do not work in hospitals or clinics. In order to become a psychiatrist, a person must attend a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in psychology and at least three years of medical school. Some states require a doctorate degree before a psychiatrist can apply for licensure. All countries have different requirements for psychologists and psychiatrists so please consult your local authorities for further details.