Which Psychology and Why

Which Psychology and Why

Psychology, the science of behavior and mental processes, has many different areas of specialty. I am interested in the branch of Clinical Psychology because of the opportunities to treat patients through the use of prescriptive medication as well as through the use of therapy. Clinical Psychology studies the causes, treatment, and prevention of different types of psychological disorders, such as anxiety or depression, eating disorders, and chronic substance abuse problems.

Clinical Psychology has three different specialty areas beneath it, a Clinical Psychologist, a Psychiatrist, and a Psychoanalyst. A Clinical Psychologist requires a Doctorate in Psychology as well as extensive training in the treatment of those with psychological disorders. A Psychiatrist, who is the only one who can prescribe prescriptive medicines, must have a medical degree along with years of specialized training in the treatment of psychological disorders. A psychoanalyst, however, is a clinical psychologist, psychiatrist, or other mental health professional that has extensive training in Freud’s psychoanalytic method of psychotherapy. This training involves the study of Freud’s theory of personality based on uncovering causes of behavior that become evident while the person is unconscious. Freud believed that the unconscious conflicts were the underlying reasons for the person’s behavior or personality.

Out of the three specific areas of Clinical Psychology, I am interested in Psychiatry. I believe that holding a degree in Psychology is the most effective way to treat a patient with a certain mental disorder because of the opportunity to prescribe medicine, such as anti-psychotics, anti-depressants, and anti- anxiety pills, as well as therapy to effectively treat a certain psychological disorder. I am also interested in the prevention and the causes of the disorders as well.

Clinical psychology, the most common type of specialty practiced among mental health professionals, remains to be the broadest of the subjects as well. While I truly plan to become a board certified psychiatrist, I hope to learn much more about the psychiatry field.