Psychiatrist

Duties and Responsibilities:

Psychiatrists are physicians who specialize in the problems of mental illness. As physicians, they are licensed to use a wide variety of treatment and may write prescriptions. Psychiatrists may work for the government, have their own private practice, or work in hospitals, clinics, or universities. Their duties include:

·         Designing treatment programs.

·         Conducting psychotherapy sessions.

·         Prescribing potent mental illness drugs.

·         Supervising electrotherapy treatments.

·         Conducting research.

·         Leading a team of mental health care providers.

Average Salary: $90,000 - $200,000

Educational Requirements: Bachelors, Masters, Ph.D. degrees

In addition to completing the requirements for a degree in allopathic or osteopathic medicine, psychiatrists must complete an intensive three year residency in psychiatry.

Reflection:

I think that psychiatry is an incredibly useful career to pursue, I’ve always liked being able to work with others that feel unhappy or hurt about something that was done to them in the past, that caused them to change in demeanor or character. However, despite how interesting it may be, I’m not entirely sure psychiatry is my calling, or ever will be. There are so many other things I would like to do: gynecology, and (primarily) become an author. Do I like the idea of psychiatry? Yes. Would I want to become one? Not really.