Which Psychology and Why

Which Psychology and Why

Psychology, the science of behavior and mental processes, has many different areas of specialty. I am interested in the branch of Clinical Psychology because of the opportunities to treat patients through the use of prescriptive medication as well as through the use of therapy. Clinical Psychology studies the causes, treatment, and prevention of different types of psychological disorders, such as anxiety or depression, eating disorders, and chronic substance abuse problems.

Clinical Psychology has three different specialty areas beneath it, a Clinical Psychologist, a Psychiatrist, and a Psychoanalyst. A Clinical Psychologist requires a Doctorate in Psychology as well as extensive training in the treatment of those with psychological disorders. A Psychiatrist, who is the only one who can prescribe prescriptive medicines, must have a medical degree along with years of specialized training in the treatment of psychological disorders. A psychoanalyst, however, is a clinical psychologist, psychiatrist, or other mental health professional that has extensive training in Freud’s psychoanalytic method of psychotherapy. This training involves the study of Freud’s theory of personality based on uncovering causes of behavior that become evident while the person