| FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS AND DEFINITIONS
ANSWERS
What is Psychology?
Psychology is the study of the mind and behaviour. The
discipline embraces all aspects of the human experience
- from the functions of the brain to the actions of nations,
from child development to care for the aged. In every conceivable
setting from scientific research centres to mental health
care services, "the understanding of behaviour"
is the enterprise of psychologists.
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What is Psychiatry?
Psychiatry is the branch of medicine concerned
with the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental
illnesses, including substance abuse and addiction. Medication
is usually the primary treatment. Most psychiatrists have
some basic training in the different forms of psychotherapy,
but only a minority have extensive training in the field.
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What is Psychological Medicine?
Psychological Medicine is the branch of medical practice
concerned with the psychological and social aspects of human
life, especially where related to medical problems. Medical
practitioners who specialise in psychological medicine diagnose
and treat both emotional and physical problems simultaneously.
Most patients are treated with psychotherapy and counselling;
occasionally medication will be used but only when truly
necessary. Examples of conditions frequently treated by
Psychological Medicine specialists are anxiety, depression,
panic, stress-related disorders, relationship and family
concerns, and coping with medical illnesses.
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What is Psychotherapy?
Psychotherapy focuses on the thoughts and feelings we have
about other people and events, especially those regarding
our family, life situations, and those to whom we are close.
Treatment involves discussing experiences and how these
may have led to the present situation and also how these
experiences may be affecting our life now. The understanding
gained frees the person to make better choices about what
happens in the future. It is a process that offers you the
opportunity to heal psychological wounds, expand your understanding
of yourself, and gain more control over your life and freedom
from hurtful influences of your past.
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What is Counselling?
Counselling is a general term for exploring particular
problems by talking them through with a trained counsellor
or therapist. The term covers a considerable range of approaches.
In its simplest form, this can be nothing more than supportive
and sympathetic conversations in the form of a few sessions
over a small number of weeks. This sort of counselling is
suited to people with fundamentally healthy emotional and
thinking patterns who need help in addressing a current
crisis.
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What is the difference between Psychologists, Psychiatrists, and Psychological Medicine Specialists?
Psychologists, psychiatrists, and psychological medicine
specialists all work in the area of mental health, and often
work together. However, there are some significant differences
between the professions in the following areas:
Psychologists help mentally healthy people find ways of
functioning better. Clinical psychologists, because of their
additional training and experience, are also able to treat
people with more complex problems, including mental illness.
Psychologists can help people in many areas, including:
- Marital, family and relationship problems
- Stress or pain
- Fears, phobias, anxiety and panic attacks
- Depression
- Loss and grief
- Sexual difficulties
- Sleeping difficulties
- Eating and weight control problems
- Children's learning, behaviour and management problems
- Addictions
- Making good relationships better
- Becoming better parents and teachers
- Personal growth
- Career planning
- Improving workplaces
- Enhancing sports performance
- Training and developing staff
- Employment selection
- Reviewing organisational structure and practices
- Industrial relations and occupational health and safety
- Studying consumer needs
Psychiatrists are medical practitioners with a recognised
specialist qualification in psychiatry trained in the assessment,
diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental and emotional
disorders, including physical illness with psychiatric components.
Some examples of problems treated by psychiatrists are:
schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, personality disorders,
and drug abuse. Medication is usually the primary treatment.
Most psychiatrists have some basic training in the different
forms of psychotherapy, but only a minority have extensive
training in this field. Most patients are treated with medications,
although sometimes psychotherapy may also be used.
Psychological Medicine Specialists are medical practitioners
concerned with the overall psychological aspects of human
life, including those related to, or caused by, medical
problems. Medical practitioners who specialise in psychological
medicine diagnose and treat both emotional and physical
problems at the same time. Most patients are treated with
psychotherapy and/or counselling; occasionally medication
will be used, but only when truly helpful and necessary.
Conditions treated by Psychological Medicine specialists
are similar to those areas often helped by psychologists
and psychiatrists, with special emphasis on such conditions
as anxiety, depression, panic, stress-related disorders,
relationship and family concerns, and coping with medical
illnesses.
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What are Clinical Psychologists?
Clinical Psychologists are concerned with the diagnosis,
treatment and prevention of a wide range of psychological
and general health problems affecting adults, children,
adolescents, couples, and families. Many years of additional
training are required for this specialty. Some Clinical
Psychologists are employed by state health authorities and
may work in psychiatric clinics and hospitals, rehabilitation
hospitals, community health centres, specialist agencies
(for example, caring for people with physical or mental
disabilities, people with drug and alcohol addictions) and
research centres. The most experienced Clinical Psychologists
often work primarily in confidential private practices,
and will have a doctoral degree (PhD) or its equivalent.
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What are Counselling Psychologists?
Counselling Psychologists provide assessment and counselling
in educational, vocational, and recreational, or other health
and welfare services. Their clients are, in general, people
wanting guidance in coping with simple everyday stresses
and the resulting emotional and social problems.
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What are Educational and Developmental Psychologists?
Educational and Developmental Psychologists provide assessment,
intervention and counselling services relevant to the management
of developmental and educational issues across the lifespan.
Specialisations include early intervention, disability,
problems of learning and adjustment in schools, career and
family development, lifespan and aging.
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What are Health Psychologist?
Health Psychologists are engaged in the psychological aspects
of the promotion and maintenance of physical health-related
behaviours, the prevention and treatment of illnesses, the
identification of causes of illness, and the analysis and
improvement of the health care system. There are two main
specialisations: health promotion, which is concerned with
illness prevention, and clinical health psychology, which
is concerned with the psychological aspects of diagnosis,
treatment, and rehabilitation.
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