Who is a psychologist?
A psychologist is a skilled mental health expert who assists people in healthily dealing with mental health issues. They may aid people with specific disorders, such as depression or anxiety, or those going through a difficult life patch. Years of education and training are required before psychologists can provide these mental health services. Besides the above, psychologists also study and assist in treating a patient's cognitive, emotional, and social processes and behaviors. It includes assessing their patients' thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
They do this by:
- Recognizing behavioral and emotional tendencies
- Diagnosing disorders early
- Making recommendations
- Developing proper treatment plans
Psychologists may work with clients in private practices or other settings, including schools, hospitals, community health centers, jails, rehabilitation centers, and nursing homes. Psychologists address mental health disorders through counseling and psychotherapy, commonly known as talk therapy. Some, on the other hand, concentrate solely on research or education and do not work with patients. Psychologists, unlike psychiatrists, are not medical doctors.
Education and training of a psychologist
The educational journey of a psychologist begins with a 4-year bachelor's degree in psychology or a related field. Following the undergraduate program, individuals interested in becoming psychologists proceed to four to six years of graduate school, culminating in a doctoral degree, either a Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) or PsyD (Doctor of Psychology).
During their graduate studies, aspiring psychologists undertake a one-year supervised clinical internship. To practice as licensed psychologists, individuals must qualify for national and state-specific exams. Many U.S. states mandate an additional year of supervised practice before obtaining licensure.
After that, psychologists may pursue post-doctoral fellowships to specialize in their chosen fields, like clinical neuropsychology, couple and family psychology, police and public safety psychology, and addiction psychology, among others.
While psychologists, in general, cannot prescribe medications, certain U.S. states allow those with advanced training, like having a master’s degree in psychopharmacology, to prescribe a limited list of drugs.
Types of psychologists
There are various types of psychologists, but they usually come under one of the three following different categories:
- Applied psychologists: Comprises experts who strategically use psychological principles and research methodologies to address real-world challenges. Examples include engineering psychologists, aviation psychologists, industrial-organizational psychologists, and human factors psychologists.
- Research psychologists: They conduct experiments and studies involving human or animal participants. Commonly associated with universities, private businesses, or government entities, research psychologists explore diverse specialty areas within psychology, encompassing cognition, neuroscience, personality, development, and social behavior.
- Mental health psychologists: Psychologists in this sector work with individuals grappling with mental disorders or psychological distress. Professionals in this field operate across various settings, spanning hospitals, mental health clinics, educational institutions, government offices, and private practices. Specific roles within this domain include clinical psychologists, counseling psychologists, and school psychologists.
Notably, there is a difference between a psychologist and a therapist. While a psychologist holds a master's and/or a doctoral degree in psychology, a therapist may mean any healthcare professional, like mental health counselors or licensed clinical social workers.
Subspecialties of psychology
After obtaining a psychology degree, many experts go on to study further and get a specialty degree. Some subspecialties of psychology include:
- Counseling psychology
- Child psychology
- Clinical psychology
- Developmental psychology
- Sports and performance psychology
- Brain science and cognitive psychology
- Experimental psychology
- Health psychology
- Forensic and public service psychology
- Rehabilitation psychology
What are some common mental health issues?
Mental health was a taboo topic that many people did not discuss openly. One used to envision a mental asylum while talking about mental health not very long ago. But things have changed a lot today. We have evolved to become an educated society where we are aware of mental well-being. We are a generation that values mental health and is not ready to forsake our psychological well-being for anything.
The term mental health indicates the emotional and psychological well-being of a person. Mental well-being does not mean a person should constantly be happy, oblivious to despair or sadness. Instead, it is where a person is well-equipped to deal with emotions that arise from various life situations and not get caught in a perpetual state of despair or distress. As per the National Alliance of Mental Health, one out of five American adults experiences a mental illness in their lifetime. These factors indicate that mental issues have become so common, making them a serious concern. As awareness of mental problems and the ways to treat them are on
the rise, people are more likely to step forward to seek help.
Some mental issues that are common among people in the United States are -
Anxiety disorders: Psychologists define anxiety as an emotion that gets triggered while dealing with stressful situations. Work issues, deadlines, family problems, or relationship issues are everyday situations that lead to stress. A person in their lifetime would have gone through at least one of the situations mentioned above. It is natural to feel anxious in these circumstances. However, it is considered a disorder when anxiety becomes chronic, excessive, or irrational. People suffering from this condition tend to experience extreme anxiety even when dealing with everyday affairs. Phobias and obsessive-compulsive behavior are also forms of anxiety disorder that can manifest.
Major depressive disorder: As per statistics, major depressive disorder, most commonly known as depression, is the main cause of disability for Americans aged 15 to 44. The disease is characterized by pervasive low self-esteem, low mood, and loss of pleasure. This condition is found to be more common among women.
Bipolar disorder: Bipolar disorder results in extreme mood swings, including emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression). The National Institute of Mental Health Trusted Source says that in the United States, 2.8 percent of adults are diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Bipolar I, Bipolar II, and Cyclothymia are the three main types of bipolar disorder.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD:
PTSD may develop following an extremely life-threatening or horrific event or accident. It has symptoms such as re-experiencing the traumatic event as intrusive memories, nightmares, or flashbacks. It is also characterized by the avoidance of thoughts and memories of the event or the release of activities or people reminiscent of the event. Patients also experience persistent perceptions of the heightened current threat. These symptoms persist for several weeks and cause significant impairment in functioning.
Difference between psychiatrists and psychologists
A psychiatrist and a psychologist come from very different educational backgrounds and training. A psychiatrist is a medically qualified professional who looks into the biological factors to help treat a patient with a medicine-first approach.
A psychologist weighs in on the social, environmental, and cultural factors that contribute to a particular condition or issue in a patient. They uphold a more therapeutic approach to the treatment. Psychologists complete graduation and then obtain a doctoral degree depending on the specialty area they want to pursue. Psychologists can specialize in clinical psychology, geropsychology, neuropsychology, psychoanalysis, forensic psychology, or child and adolescent psychology.
How to choose the best psychologist near you in Dallas, Texas?
It is essential to preserve your time, money, and energy while exploring treatment options to address mental health concerns. Choosing the right expert for yourself among the large pool of qualified people can be distressing. Further, evaluating mental health issues can be complex and tricky, unlike other diseases that affect your body. It requires you to be patient and honest with your psychologist. Hence, finding the right expert is essential.
With the help of the Zocdoc, finding the right psychologist for you has become much more manageable. You can view the profiles of psychologists around your location and review their information before making your choice. Zocdoc provides only verified profiles; you need not worry about falling prey to quacks. These profiles detail the provider's qualifications and background along with the reviews of their previous patients, enabling you to make a well-informed decision. Zocdoc also aids you in narrowing down experts who accept your insurance scheme. By choosing in-network medical providers, you can cut down on clinical procedures or appointment costs.
Zocdoc has various psychologists listed on its platform based on your vicinity. Also, you can make your search based on gender, spoken languages, and whether the provider treats children. Once you choose the best psychologist near you, plan an online or in-person appointment with your psychologist in Dallas, Texas. The best part about booking through our platform is that all bookings are simple, safe, and 100% free.
How does mental health fare in Dallas?
Being one of the cultural and commercial hubs in the United States, Dallas is like a microcosm of the entire nation. It remains true when it comes to mental disorders and substance abuse. As per reports in 2015, about 88,000 adults in the Dallas area had a severe mental illness, which accounted for around 4.9 percent of the total population.
According to the latest figures on usnews.com, about 13.3 percent of adults in the state of Texas have experienced frequent mental distress, while the place has witnessed numerous deaths of despair. All these numbers point to the decline in mental health and the growing need to address it.
Most states in the United States have enough facilities and qualified professionals to cater to the needs of a rising number of mental health patients. However, there is no clarity on the likelihood that someone suffering from mental distress would reach out in time. Awareness is the key. People should be aware that mental health issues, however small, should be nipped in the bud by proper diagnosis and care. They should be encouraged to visit psychologists regularly, especially during a mental breakdown or burnout.
Sources
Healthline
Texas Health
Cleveland Clinic
Access Community Health Network
WebMD
verywellmind
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