Mental Health Careers

The Comforter

As rivers rage

And pride enslaves,

To cage the

Soul in tears.

Surrender, fear,

Be still, be clear

And I will

Whisper . . . hope.

Psychiatrists

• Medical doctors who specialize in treatment of mental disorders– 4 years of college– 4 years of medical school– Internship & residency

• Licensed to prescribe medications

PsychologistsTraining:

– Master’s or Ph.D. in psychology

– cannot prescribe medications

Subfields of Psychology

Art Art TherapistTherapist

Master’s degree with Master’s degree with internshipinternship

• Encourage patients to Encourage patients to express feelings (that express feelings (that are too difficult to talk are too difficult to talk about) through artabout) through art

• Interpret patients’ art-Interpret patients’ art-work to assist in work to assist in assessmentassessment

Clinical PsychologistClinical Psychologist

Master’s or Doctorate with internshipMaster’s or Doctorate with internship– Assess & treat mental, emotional, & Assess & treat mental, emotional, &

behavioral disordersbehavioral disorders– Treatment ranges from short-term crises Treatment ranges from short-term crises

(adolescent rebellion) to chronic conditions (adolescent rebellion) to chronic conditions (i.e. schizophrenia)(i.e. schizophrenia)

Criminal PsychologistCriminal PsychologistMaster’s or DoctorateMaster’s or Doctorate

– Provide therapy for criminalsProvide therapy for criminals– Study criminal mind in order Study criminal mind in order

to predict criminal behaviorto predict criminal behavior

Counseling PsychologistCounseling Psychologist

Master’s or Doctorate with internshipMaster’s or Doctorate with internship

Help people acclimate to change or to make Help people acclimate to change or to make change in lifestylechange in lifestyle

Examples:Examples:

– help students adjust to new school or help students adjust to new school or collegecollege

– help people with eating disordershelp people with eating disorders

Developmental PsychologistDevelopmental Psychologist

Master’s or DoctorateMaster’s or Doctorate

– Research oriented professionResearch oriented profession

– Study psychological development of Study psychological development of humans that takes place through life spanhumans that takes place through life span

Educational PsychologistEducational Psychologist

Master’s or DoctorateMaster’s or Doctorate– study how & why learning takes placestudy how & why learning takes place– look at variety of factors that contribute look at variety of factors that contribute

to learning:to learning:– ability ability – motivation motivation – ethnicity ethnicity – environment, etc.environment, etc.

Engineering PsychologistEngineering Psychologist

Master’s or Doctorate

– Research oriented profession

– Conduct research on how people work best with machines

– Often known as human factory specialists

Forensic PsychologistMaster’s or Doctorate

– Apply psychological principles to legal issues

– Often act as “expert witnesses” in court of law

– May work for the government

Health PsychologistHealth Psychologist

Master’s or DoctorateMaster’s or Doctorate– interested in how biological, psychological, & interested in how biological, psychological, &

social factors affect health & illnesssocial factors affect health & illness– identify kinds of medical treatment people seek identify kinds of medical treatment people seek

& get& get– identify how different patients handle illnessidentify how different patients handle illness– study most effective ways to control painstudy most effective ways to control pain– develop strategies that foster emotional & develop strategies that foster emotional &

physical well-beingphysical well-being

Industrial/Organizational Industrial/Organizational PsychologistPsychologist

Master’s or DoctorateMaster’s or Doctorate

– Research orientated professionResearch orientated profession

– Apply psychological principles & Apply psychological principles & research methods to work place in research methods to work place in interest of improving productivity & interest of improving productivity & quality of work lifequality of work life

Music Therapist

Master’s or Doctorate with internship

– encourage patients to express themselves through music

– use of music to change & evoke moods

Neuropsychologist Doctorate

– Explore relationships between brain & behavior

– Concerned with storage of memories, malfunction of neurotransmitters, how brain injuries affect emotion, perception, & behavior

– Help design tasks for brain study with use of neuro-imaging technology (MRI, PET, SPECT)

Pediatric PsychologistPediatric Psychologist

Master’s or Doctorate with internship

– assess & treat mental, emotional, & behavioral disorders in children

– treatment ranges from short-term crises (separation anxiety) to chronic conditions such as conduct disorder

Recreational TherapistRecreational Therapist

Recreational

Therapist

Bachelor’s with Internship

–work with patients to encourage them to relax and have fun–use games & physical activities to help people socialize

Rehabilitation Psychologist

Master’s with Internship

-work with stroke, accident victims, &

people with disabilities

Rehab psychologists also deal with issues of personal adjustment, interpersonal relations, pain management, & functioning in the real world.

School PsychologistSchool Psychologist

Master’s or Doctorate with Internship

– Work directly with public & private schools

– Assess & counsel students

– Consult with parents & school staff on student’s behalf

– Conduct behavioral intervention

Social PsychologistSocial Psychologist

Master’s or DoctorateMaster’s or Doctorate– Research oriented professionResearch oriented profession– Study how person’s mental life & behavior is Study how person’s mental life & behavior is

shaped by interactions with other people shaped by interactions with other people – Study how society-at-large defines “normal” Study how society-at-large defines “normal”

behavior & shapes behavioral paradigmsbehavior & shapes behavioral paradigms– Interested in all aspects of interpersonal Interested in all aspects of interpersonal

relationships (individual & group influences)relationships (individual & group influences)

Sports Psychologist

Master’s– Help athletes refine

focus on competition goals

– Concerned with performance anxiety & motivation

– Teach use of imagery (visualization) techniques to help athletes perfect performance

Related Fields

Childlife Activity Specialist

Master’s– Generally work in

hospitals or rehab facilities

– Focus on emotional & developmental needs of sick or disabled children

– Use play & other activities (art, games, etc.) to help children cope

Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

Master’s

– Subfield of counseling psychology

– Often work with students to provide career & college guidance

– Help students with family & social problems

Social Worker

Master’s– Help people with social, vocational, financial,

housing, & placement problems– Conduct individual, family, & group therapy

Psychiatric Nurse

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree

– Nurses who are trained to work with patients who are mentally ill