Choosing to go into the field of mental health requires someone that is committed, dedicated and most of all has an open mind. When thinking of psychiatry jobs many confuse the field of psychology with a psychiatrist. Though both specialize in the human mind there are differences in the two fields.
They both treat mental health issues that range from substance abuse with mental health issues to forensic and mental health related fields. A psychologist earning a PhD or a PsyD D is also considered a doctor; however, a psychiatrist has a medical degree. A psychiatrist may lean more towards viewing the problem as a medical issue where a psychologist may view the problem as a social one. They both can have the same view on a situation; it all depends on the practitioner. Both have the option of specializing in one of many fields.
A child psychiatry specialization is when their clients are children. The families are often included in the treatment, rather it be as a result of a child being subjected to a traumatic occurrence or a mental health behavior problem. When the specialization is children it is important to realize that there will be unpleasant situations with family members, it is not always only the child who is being seen.
To have a specialization in sports psychology means the clients are somehow involved in sports, they could be players or coaches. Many of the clients seen in this field are seeking assistance with many different areas relating to their involvement with a sport. For example, it could a client that is having difficulties controlling a temper while playing or they could be having difficulties handling peer pressure. There are many different situations for the client to seek professional help.
The forensic field is not always silence of lambs type clients. It does normally involve working with someone in a criminal situation. The individual could be claiming an insanity plea and your job would be to determine if they were insane at the time of the crime or you could be called as a professional witness specializing in a particular field of crime. It will always be of a different nature. Criminal psychology is more often trying to determine the behavior aspect and reason for the criminal behavior.
To become psychiatrists there is a tremendous amount of ongoing education. After completing their bachelors degree in science and another four years of medical school, they must then complete an internship and a residency program. They must also take board examinations and pass to become licensed. Throughout their career they will take numerous required credit classes or renewal type course, they are required to have so many per year.
As medical doctors they do have the authority to prescribe medications. A doctor of psychology cannot prescribe medications. Many people think a psychiatrist simply writes a prescription without having concerns about treating the patient. This is far from the truth. They do prescribe medications; however, they are concerned with treatment. Not all patients have the same symptoms, if a patient is diagnosed with bipolar disorder, this does not mean their symptoms are exactly like another patients. A psychiatrist will differentiate the symptoms and treat each.
To get psychiatry jobs is not a simple process. It takes many years of dedication from these men and women. They have gone through medical school along side of a family physician; they simply chose to specialize in the minds, brains and mental health of their patients as opposed to specializing in bones, surgery or family practice.
Healthcare staffing center offering medical jobs across the country from hospitalist Jobs to rn jobs.
