Guide to Health Careers

Psychiatrist

from: http://www.communityhealthcareers.com/careers_psychiatrist.htm

Psychiatrists are medical doctors that treat mental and emotional disorders. These physicians spend most of their time interviewing and counselling their patients. By having regular discussions with clients, they are able to help them explore past experiences, change behavioral patterns and find solutions to their problems. Psychiatrists may prescribe medications, and occasionally recommend hospitalization or electro-shock therapy.

The Cool Things They Do:

A Psychiatrist may be responsible for some or all of the following duties:

Conducting long and often regular interviews with patients
Diagnosing mental illness, and emotional or behavioral disorders
Assisting patients and their families in dealing with the illness
Treating disorders through medication and psychotherapy
Conducting medical research

Working Conditions:

Psychiatrists work in clinical settings. They typically work long hours with most of their time spent in interviews and counseling sessions with patients. Although psychiatry is one of the healing professions, it can also be emotionally taxing. Some patients can be quite difficult to deal with, and occasionally even violent.

Most Psychiatrist work in:

Hospitals, including psychiatric hospitals
Clinics
Private practices

Personal Characteristics/Skills:

A genuine interest in helping people overcome their mental and emotional problems
Emotional strength and maturity
Excellent communications skills
Good analytical skills
Highly perceptive
Empathetic and compassionate

Education and Training Required:

Bachelor of Science and Doctorate of Medicine followed by a Psychiatric residency program

Length of Study/Training : 10-12 years post-secondary

Certification (s):

National: Licensing by the Canadian Mental Health Association

Ontario : Certification by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario

Helpful High School Courses: