I am 15 and have been dabbling in psychology for years now. My dream is to be a Psychiatrist. However, I am a much stronger believer in therapy than medicine. If I were a psychiatrist that just does therapy what would be the point of getting my medical degree, I should just be a psychologist. I do believe in medicine, and want to have the ability to prescribe it, it does good. However, I believe in most cases therapy can have an even better effect on those treated. I have always known I wanted to be psychiatrist, but now, because of this, I doubt myself and my goal. If I do become a psychiatrist, then I would probably only see people once and slap them down with a pill or decide they do not need medicine. What should I do?
2006-09-20 02:47:59 · 3 answers · asked by davy 2 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
Well, you are further along than most 15 year olds, or most adults for that matter in understanding the difference in the two.
There is no doubt that cognitive/behavior therapy and medications are necessary for improvement in the most seriously mentally ill. Psychiatrists can and do use both. Psychologists are limited to one option, but frequently will work hand-in-hand or in cooperation to treat a *client*. If a psychologist becomes aware that the prospects for insight and meaningful improvement would be better with some psychotropic drugs as an adjunct, then they are forced to get a psychiatrist involved in the case.
The education for both is long and grueling, as it should be. There need to be psychiatrists who have your mindset about the overuse of psych drugs, I would encourage you to take that route, but only you can answer the question thoroughly.
2006-09-20 02:57:04 · answer #1 · answered by finaldx 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You state that you want to have the ability to prescribe. If that is true, then you MUST become a psychiatrist. I believe that your propensity to favor talk therapy will make you cautious about prescribing and that is probably a good thing. Also, at 15 you cannot know all the possible ways and means that psychopharmacology could benefit a patient no matter how much you have "dabbled" in it "for years." I suspect that medical school will cure that issue for you. Good luck!
2006-09-20 03:03:32 · answer #2 · answered by jurydoc 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Perhaps you should pursue an undergraduate degree in psychology. Then you can either go to medical school with the goal of specializing in psychiatry or pursue a graduate degree in psychology.
Good luck! I wish all 15 year old people had your insight.
2006-09-20 03:02:28 · answer #3 · answered by Jabberwock 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋