Mind Medicine: The Field of Psychiatry
January 26, 2010
Psychiatrists play a critical role in the mental rehabilitation of patients who have suffered loss, battled abuse, or simply need someone to talk to.
A Different Kind of Doctor?
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor (MD) who treats different types of mental challenges or illnesses. They have earned a bachelor's degree and attended medical school, earning a psychiatry degree. With an understanding of the causes of emotional and mental patterns, they administer treatment through the forms of conversation, mental exercises, medication, and more.
The Working Life of a Psychiatrist
After earning your psychiatry degree from medical school, a variety of psychiatry jobs will be available to you. Some psychiatry jobs are offered at a hospital site, where you join the hospital faculty and see patients at a hospital office. Another common psychiatry job exists in private practice, where psychiatrists see patients at a private office or residence.
Psychiatry jobs involve typical working hours of a physician or surgeon. Two years ago, the average psychiatry job paid an average salary of $173,922, although this varies depending on location, experience, and patient population.
The road to a career in psychiatry starts with one thing: education. Research your psychiatry degree and start on your way to a rewarding career healing the minds of patients. Begin by taking coruses at campus or online schools to gauge your level of interest in the subject matter.
Sources
- What is a Psychiatrist? From the America Psychiatric Association
- Physicians and Surgeons, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
