Frequently Asked Questions?
Individual therapy is a joint process between a therapist and a person in therapy. Common goals of therapy can be to inspire change or improve quality of life. People may seek therapy for help with issues that are hard to face alone. Individual therapy is also called therapy, psychotherapy, psychosocial therapy, talk therapy, and counseling.
Therapy can help people overcome obstacles to their well-being. It can increase positive feelings, such as compassion and self-esteem. People in therapy can learn skills for handling difficult situations, making healthy decisions, and reaching goals. Many find they enjoy the therapeutic journey of becoming more self-aware. Some people even go to ongoing therapy for self-growth.
What is psychiatry?
Psychiatry is the branch of medicine that focuses on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of various mental, emotional and behavioral disorders. Doctors and medical staff who specialize in psychiatry must be familiar with both the social and biological sciences that impact the mind.
What is the difference between a psychiatrist and a psychologist?
While both psychologists and psychiatrists help patients deal with mental health issues and improve their mental health, they both approach the subject very differently. Psychology is the scientific study of the human mind and behavior and psychologists study how human beings think, behave, and feel in different social settings. Psychiatry is a branch of medicine that deals with the treatment of mental illness, emotional disturbances, and abnormal behavior. Psychiatrists look at the various biological, neurological, and biochemical factors that can cause mental illnesses and prescribe medications to treat them. Psychiatrists treat mental issues through medications whereas psychologists are not authorized to prescribe medications and instead treat patients through therapies. A psychologist can have a Ph.D. in philosophy or a degree in counseling psychology. They typically do 1 to 2 years of internship before commencing their practice. Psychiatrists, on the other hand, are medical doctors graduating from medical school and have completed years of medical internship in the assessment and treatment of mental health diseases.
What does a psychiatrist do?
Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in diagnosing and treating those with mental health illnesses. Psychiatrists have the qualifications to assess both mental and physical aspects of various psychological problems. As part of their work, a psychiatrist can:
- Help you understand and manage long-term mental health issues
- Prescribe medications if needed
- Admit you to a healthcare facility or hospital if needed
- Work with you individually or with your partner, family, or guardian
- Psychiatrists can perform or refer you to other resources that carry out a full range of medical laboratory and psychological tests to understand the patient’s physical and mental state.
- They might also look into the patient’s genetics and family history to make a diagnosis and develop appropriate treatment plans.
When to see a psychiatrist?
Patients who exhibit symptoms of mental health disorders that are affecting their quality of life and relationships should pay a visit to a Psychiatrist or a Psychiatric counselor. Psychiatrists are equipped to diagnose and treat a range of mental health conditions such as:
- Schizophrenia
- Bipolar disorder
- Mood or anxiety disorders
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Autism
- Borderline personality disorder
- Depression
- Dissociative disorders
- Eating disorders
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Post-traumatic stress disorder or
- PTSD
Post-diagnosis, the psychiatrist lets the patient and their family know the causes of the disease with proper insights. Usually, when patients need psychiatric help for depression or other mental health conditions the underlying causes can be:
1. Biological: Hormonal disturbances, nutritional and lifestyle choices, inherited conditions from family members and relatives, illnesses, or chronic conditions.
2. Psychological: Excessive stress or pressure, Unresolved childhood trauma
3. Social: Personal relationship or work issues, economic or financial problems, substance abuse issues
Who treats psychological problems?
In India, psychological problems are treated by the following mental health professionals Psychiatrist, Psychologists, Psychiatry social workers, and counselors.
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who has done his MBBS training and then specialized in treating people with a mental health problems. . Psychiatrists are uniquely qualified to assess both mental and physical aspects of psychological disturbances. Their medical education has given them full working knowledge of both physical illness and psychological problems. They can treat patients with both medications and psychotherapy (talk therapy). They are able to interpret blood tests and other investigations done by medical doctors
A psychologist is a mental health professional who has done their graduation in psychology and specialization in clinical psychology ( MPhil). They are not medical doctors and usually do their graduation (BA) in psychology. They are able to provide various therapies and they are trained to do Certain testing like Rorschach, IQ, etc. They are not able to prescribe medications and treat physical illnesses.
