Types of Help and Psychiatrists

Rachel GarlandPer.1

What is this section about?

This section is about types of help and psychiatrists. It explains the different kinds of psychiatrists, psychologists, and counselors. The section informs the reader of the different types of people trained to recognize mental disorders. It also explains that depending on what a person has, where they should go to get help.

What is the main idea of this section?

Psychologists, psychiatrists, therapists, and counselors can treat and recognize their patients’ mental disorders.

Terms you should know• Psychiatrist- doctor of medicine with advanced training in

the treatment of mental illnesses.• Neurologist- a physician who specializes in detecting and

treating organic disorders of the brain and nervous system.

• Clinical psychologist- a mental health professional who specializes in recognizing and treating abnormal behavior

• Social worker- a mental health professional who counsels patients and provides a link between the patient and the treatment center

• Occupational therapist- help the mentally ill become productive members of society by teaching them practical skills

• Pastoral counselors- members of the religious community who have had practical training in counseling people with mental and social problems.

Examples of the terms

• Psychiatrists may sometimes recommend testing by a neurologist if they think the patient’s problem has an organic cause.

• Clinical psychologists can’t prescribe medication like psychiatrists can.

• Schools have social workers, where as a pastor at church would be a pastoral counselor.

Example

Samantha is afraid she has a disorder and her mother recommended that she get some help. First she sees a social worker at her school and he recommends that she go see a pastoral counselor. She sees the pastor at her church and he helps her some but suggests that she goes to see his friend who is a clinical psychologist. The clinical psychologist recognizes the problem and then sends her the psychiatrist that she works with. The psychiatrist gives her medication with the help of a neurologist. To help her become a productive member of society with her disorder she sees an occupational therapist.

I want the class to remember:

• 1. Psychiatrists can prescribe medication and psychologists can’t.

• 2. There are many mental-health specialists that can help people with mental disorders.

SummaryPsychiatrists and other mental-health specialists can help people who are mentally ill. There are different specialists that are trained to treat certain disorders. If someone has a problem there are professional mental-health specialists that can help them overcome their problems.