Psychiatry and Counseling Altamonte Springs, FL

What Is a Psychiatrist

Since psychiatry is the branch of medicine specializing in diagnosing, treating, and preventing mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders, psychiatrists are medical doctors (M.D.'s or D.O.'s) who specialize in mental health. This also encompasses substance use disorders, as psychiatrists can assess the physical and mental aspects of various psychological problems.

As physicians, psychiatrists can order and perform all the necessary tests to diagnose a patient. They may also utilize discussions with patients in their diagnoses. With their education and clinical training, psychiatrists are uniquely qualified to understand the intricacies between mental health issues and other medical illnesses, along with the relationship between genetics and family history. They can use this understanding to make a complete and accurate diagnosis and develop a treatment plan.

Education Required to Become a Psychiatrist

Becoming a psychiatrist requires a person to complete medical school, pass a written examination for a state license to practice medicine, and finally, complete four years of psychiatry residency. During the first year of residency training, psychiatrists are typically in a hospital working with patients with a wide range of mental health conditions. They must then spend at least three more years learning how to diagnose and treat mental health.

This may include various forms of psychotreatment, along with the use of psychiatric medications and other treatments. Training must take place in inpatient, outpatient, and emergency room settings. Once residency training is complete, many psychiatrists voluntarily take a written and oral examination given by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology to become a "board-certified" psychiatrist and must be recertified every ten years.

In addition to completing four years of general psychiatry training, some psychiatrists may also choose to complete specialized training. Fields they may decide to become certified in include:

• Addiction psychiatry
• Child and adolescent psychiatry
• Forensic (legal) psychiatry
• Geriatric psychiatry
• Pain medicine
• Psychosomatic (mind and body) medicine
• Sleep medicine

Issues Treated by a Psychiatrist

There are several reasons one may need to see a psychiatrist. These problems may have a sudden onset or could be long-term. The former could include experiencing frightening hallucinations, while the latter could include persistent feelings of sadness that distort everyday life. In short, psychiatrists can help anyone in need of a diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of a mental health condition.

What Is a Therapist

According to VeryWell Mind, a therapist is any professional trained to "provide treatment and rehabilitation." Though the term tends to be most frequently applied to psychologists, it can also include counselors, life coaches, social workers, and more.

While the term therapist is not a protected occupational title, there are several types of therapists who must be licensed in order to practice. This includes marriage and family therapists and occupational therapists. Therapists may also be referred to as psychotherapists or counselors, and they are often part of a broader treatment team to help patients overcome their mental health issues.

Education Required to Become a Therapist

Since the term therapist applies to several different professions, it can be difficult to define the education required to become a therapist. To become a psychologist, however, one must have both an undergraduate degree and a doctorate degree — a total amounting to eight to 12 years in higher education.

Practicing psychologists will also need certification to work, and many states require licensure. They must be licensed to practice where they work in all states and in the District of Columbia. However, licensing laws depend on the state and type of position. Psychologists must also complete an internship and at least one to two years of supervised professional experience. Additionally, they must pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology.

Issues Treated by a Therapist

There are several reasons one may want to speak with a therapist. Most people who decide to seek a therapist do so because they are experiencing symptoms related to a mental health condition such as anxiety, behavior issues, depression, and more. In any case, treatment is not only for significant conditions or situations. A therapist can help anyone undergoing stress or wanting to overcome any issue that might be holding them back from living normal lives.

Other Types of Therapy

As mentioned earlier, there are several types of therapists aside from psychologists. These include social workers, applied behavioral analysts, occupational therapists, and counselors. Each type of therapist has a distinct set of skills and qualifications that make them uniquely prepared to handle various types of mental health conditions.

Social Workers

Social workers are therapists whose primary focus is to enhance overall client well-being. They also aim to help meet the basic and complex needs of larger communities. As such, social workers work with several different populations and types of people, especially those who are vulnerable, oppressed, or in poverty.

Social workers may also be required to participate in certain legislative processes to form social policies, though this depends on their specialty, job title, and place of employment. They are well-educated and trained to address any barriers, including social injustices, affecting a client's well-being.

Education Required to Become a Social Worker

To become a social worker, individuals must have a minimum of a bachelor's degree and courses in case management, social services, and social work practice. Though it is not necessary to major in social work to pursue social work opportunities, courses, internships, and volunteer opportunities all help prepare future social workers. Additionally, graduate programs in social work may require a bachelor's degree for admission.

Furthermore, social workers must complete an internship to practice. This internship or practicum, at the undergraduate level, may include placements in schools, government agencies, or social service organizations. At the master's level, students may complete a more extensive internship within their specialty area.

Issues Treated by a Social Worker

Many social workers choose to specialize their training by focusing on a specific area. This may include children and families, healthcare, school social work, or mental health. Selecting a specialty allows students to build specialized knowledge while also standing out on the job market. Social work specialties include, but are not limited to:

• Administration and management
• Advocacy and community organization
• Aging
• Child welfare
• Developmental disabilities
• Healthcare

Applied Behavioral Analysts (ABA)

Applied behavioral analysis, or ABA, is a type of treatment focused on improving specific behaviors. These behaviors may include communication, social skills, reading, and academics. They may also include adaptive learning skills, such as hygiene, grooming, fine motor dexterity, domestic capabilities, job competence, and punctuality.

As their name suggests, applied behavioral analysts are those therapists who use applied behavioral analysis in their practice. They work with both children and adults with psychological disorders in various settings. These may include workplaces, homes, schools, and clinics. ABA is most commonly used as a therapeutic intervention for clients with autism.

Education Required to Become an Applied Behavioral Analyst

To become an applied behavioral analyst, one must hold a master's degree in ABA or another master's degree with a concentration in ABA. Those who only hold a bachelor's degree can become a board-certified assistant behavior analyst (BCaBA). They can only work under the supervision of a BCBA practitioner. They may also supervise the work of registered behavior technicians (RBTs).

While a bachelor's degree in applied behavior analysis would well prepare a student for a master's degree, they may choose to major in related fields, such as psychology or social work. Work experience is also important in getting accepted into graduate school. To be eligible for the BCBA certification exam, students must also undergo supervised fieldwork. Students have the option of completing 1,500 hours of supervised independent fieldwork or 750 to 1,000 hours of practicum including a higher percentage of supervised hours. Board-certified behavior analysts must complete continuing education, adhere to the ethical requirements, and submit an application with recertification fees once every two years.

Issues Treated by an Applied Behavioral Analyst

Applied behavioral analysis can be customized to meet each client's specific needs. However, according to Healthline, children treated by ABA typically show more interest in those around them, communicate with others more effectively, learn to ask for things they want both clearly and specifically, have better focus at school, fewer or totally eliminated self-harming behaviors, and fewer tantrums or other outbursts.

Occupational Therapists

According to the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), occupational therapists are primarily concerned with what matters to the client. Their main goal is to help people of all ages do the things they want and need to do through therapeutic occupations or everyday activities. This commonly involves helping children with disabilities participate fully in school and social situations, supporting older adults through physical and cognitive changes, and more. Occupational treatment typically involves an individualized evaluation, customized intervention, and outcome evaluations.

Education Required to Become an Occupational Therapist

To become an occupational therapist, individuals must graduate from an accredited program, regardless of the degree required at the time. The AOTA can then affirm that they are qualified to practice occupational treatment. Occupational therapists may be employed in various roles, such as academics, advocate, consultant, manager, practitioner, and researcher. However, this list is not exhaustive.

All occupational therapists must complete an Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE®)-accredited educational program. Before the year 2007, such programs were available at the bachelor's, master's, or doctoral level. Since then, however, these programs have stopped being available at the bachelor's level. Nonetheless, graduates of all programs must successfully complete 24 weeks of mentored practice experience before taking the national certification exam administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT®).

Issues Treated by Occupational Therapists

Occupational treatment can benefit virtually anyone who needs help carrying out daily activities. However, while this may seem similar to physical treatment, there are distinct differences between physical treatment and occupational treatment. While physical treatment focuses on treating pain, strength, joint range of motion, endurance, and gross motor skills, occupational treatment focuses on fine motor skills, visual-perceptual skills, cognitive skills, and sensory-processing problems.

Counselors

Mental health counselors are those professionals who utilize several psychotreatment methods and techniques to assist those experiencing psychological distress. They may work with individuals, families, groups, and communities to "deal with mental health issues and improve mental well-being." They may also work in several different kinds of settings, such as hospitals, mental health clinics, schools, and more.

People often seek the help of a mental health counselor when they are experiencing symptoms of psychological illnesses, social difficulties, addictions and substance abuse, emotional problems, self-esteem issues, grief, and marital difficulties. Additionally, some mental health counselors may choose to work with specific populations. Mental health counselors may regularly assess and diagnose clients, provide psychotreatment, conduct group sessions, develop treatment plans, and more.

Education Required to Become a Mental Health Counselor

Several mental health counselors begin their careers by completing a bachelor's degree in a human services field. This may include psychology, sociology, or social work. However, even those with undergraduate degrees in other fields can enter the field of mental health counseling. In any case, individuals must typically complete a certain number of basic prerequisite programs before being accepted into an accredited counseling master's degree program.

In addition to earning a master's degree in counseling, individuals must complete at least two to three years of supervised practice under a licensed professional. This typically translates into a minimum of 2,000 to 3,000 hours of supervised practice before gaining licensure. However, this number may vary depending on the licensing state. To become a mental health counselor, one must also pass a state licensing exam. In some states, they must first also pass a test administered by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC).

Issues Treated by a Mental Health Counselor

There are several reasons one may need or want to see a mental health counselor. Such issues may involve addiction, anxiety, depression, grief, and general difficulty in coping with life's stresses and challenges. Many people who seek the help of a mental health counselor may feel life has become too intense and unmanageable. Alternatively, they may feel disconnected from the things they used to enjoy and the people around them.

These are just some of the many situations that may cause a person to seek help from a mental health counselor. However, it is important to keep in mind that a person does not have to be in crisis or experience symptoms of a psychological disorder to seek the help of a mental health counselor. Instead, these professionals can help clients gain insight into their own behaviors, become better partners or parents, or increase motivation to achieve their goals.

Types of Psychotreatment

According to the American Psychological Association, there are five main approaches to psychotreatment: (1) psychoanalysis and psychodynamic therapies, (2) behavior treatment, (3) cognitive treatment, (4) humanistic treatment, and (5) integrative or holistic treatment. Psychoanalysis and psychodynamic therapies focus on "changing problematic behaviors, feelings, and thoughts by discovering their unconscious meanings and motivations." In contrast, behavior treatment centers on the role of learning both normal and abnormal behaviors, while cognitive treatment focuses on thoughts rather than actions. Furthermore, humanistic treatment emphasizes the patient's capacity to "make rational choices and develop to their maximum potential." Integrative or holistic treatment takes elements from several approaches to customize their treatment to their client's unique needs.

Areas of Psychology

Just as there are several types of psychotreatment, there are also several areas of psychology. These include abnormal psychology, behavioral psychology, biopsychology, and clinical psychology. Each area of psychology examines questions and problems from a unique perspective, with a shared goal of studying and explaining human thought and behavior. There are two major areas of psychology: research and practice. Research increases the base of knowledge, while practice applies research to the real world.

Those who practice abnormal psychology focus on psychopathology and abnormal behavior, while those who practice behavioral psychology (or behaviorism) see all behaviors as acquired. Biopsychology focuses on the brain, neurons, and nervous system. Clinical psychology is concerned with assessing and treating mental illness. It is important to remember that this list is not exhaustive, and several other areas and subareas of psychology exist.