I miss Texas!
[Carl Rogers]
Why do you say you miss Texas?
[/Carl Rogers]
Well, no.
I’m currently training to be a Counselling Psychologist - Crisis Counselling, to be specific.
This involves a 4 year Undergrad degree, a 2 year Masters, and a 2 year PhD.
When I’m done, my job will be to work with people that are experiencing crisis - Natural Disaster, Assult, Rape, Family Death, etc. etc. - and help them cope with and work through the crisis.
There are also Psychologists that work with patients on a more long term basis - those with chronic disorders such as depression, OCD, Bi-Polar disorder, etc.
With these patients (In Canada, anyway), a Psychologist will typically work in tandem with a Psychiatrist. Often Psychiatrist’s are kept very busy with acute cases (particularly those that are affiliated with a hospital). They have less time to do extensive counselling, which is where the Psychologist steps in.
FWIW, a Counselling Psychologist does not typically work at an academic institution (unless they are a student counselor) doing research - they concentrate on counselling. Clinical Psychologists, OTOH quite often do academic research, as well as having a clinical practice.
This info all applies to Canada only. I can tell you that in Alberta, a person can become a registered Psychologist with a Masters degree, but I believe that all other provinces require a PhD.
Coileán
I was born and raised near Houston…
but I have been the typical prodigal son since graduation (military / college / career).
And the last four years have been spent overseas working for either the DoD, or the UN.
I miss Texas…everytime I see the name of my Great Republic, I miss it even more.
Psychologists in clinical practice meet level C qualifications for testing, which means that most of the psychological testing that requires more sophisticated scoring and interpretation is done by psychologists.
Restricted terms vary by state in the US. “Counselor” is sometimes restricted. There are no states that allow bachelor’s level interventionists to call themselves “psychologist” (www.asppb.org).
Psychologists might have a PhD, PsyD, or EdD in the US. Their flavors are Counseling (PhD, EdD) and Clinical (PhD, PsyD).
How does this make any sense, even in HMO-land? Why pay for two docs when one could do both jobs? (FTR, my psychiatrist was also my therapist, and we did both meds and counselling during the time I saw her.)
A Psychiatrist makes a lot more an hour than a Psychologist.
In Alberta, a charted psychologist (my dad is a recently retired one), can probably bill about $95/hour in private practice. (That was his going rate)
A Psychiatrist, OTOH, can bill Alberta Health $26 for each patient seen for a drug consult - about 10 minutes, or about $350 for a full hour (read - 50 minute) therapy session. It’s much cheaper and more efficient to have the psychiatrist see those patients that MUST be treated with drugs (Schizophrenics come to mind.) And then have those patients that are better treated with Cognitive/behaviour Therapy seen by a psychologist.
What about a therapist, then? Is the bird in The Sopranos a psychologist or a psychiatrist?
- Bubba.
I THINK she’s a psychologist, but I’m not super famaliar with the show.
A theraptist can be either a psychologist or psychiatrist - it’s sort of a catch-all term that’s dependent on specialization.
And, as with “counselor,” the term “therapist” or “psychotherapist” is restricted in some states and can be used only by people with certain certificates or licenses.
In Australia, to call yourself a psychologist, you need to be registered with your relevant state licencing body.
After a 4yr undergrad degree you can either go on to do a Masters or a PhD in the field you are interested in (organisational, clinic, educational etc) or you can go into what is called supervised practice, where an experienced psychologist supervises you for 2 years in practice.
All of these pursuits allow you to call yourself a psychologist, although you are only registered as an ‘associate’ of the relevant state body. After your post grad degree or at the end of of your supervision you gain full registration and are eligble for full membership of the Australian Psychological Association. This is a minimum of 6yrs training.
Psychologists here do testing, diagnosing, counselling using different therapies (CBT etc). They work in hospitals, schools, with community mental health teams, in business as organisational psychs, and in private practice.
As in the US, at the moment anyone can call themselves a Counsellor, there is no official registration body.
The psychiatrist is limited to infrequent short visits at a (relatively) low cost for medication management, while the patient can then see a counselor more frequently for longer sessions (at far less the rate than a psychiatrist charges for the same amount of time).