It is understandable that people become confused when sent/or referred from one specialist to another, in order for a possible diagnosis or for help. To be honest, as professional myself, often I also still become confused when having to select the best options.
Whom to choose.. And why?
Occupational therapy is a specialised health area concerned with the evaluations and treatments of physical and [combined with] psychiatric conditions. Physical education i.e. anatomy and physiology is a prerequisite. These specialists often deal with people who have injury, pain, recovering from surgery and work on improving strength, flexibility and mobility in patients (i.e. stroke patients, if working at a rehabilitation clinic). Some prefer to work in a school environment. Where children have not mastered the needed developmental milestones, they focus on rehabilitation i.e. motor skills, muscle tone, and more; and then of course there is also for example sensory disorders that sorts in this “category”.
Sometimes for example, underlying ADHD or problems on the Autistic spectrum, muscle tone or other physical concerns is also indicated. Hence, an integrated approach is generally needed involving occupational therapists, psychiatrists, and psychologists. In lay terms, purely utilising medication is not going to address the problem (In this case medication can only address the academic problems – attention regulation, possible hyperactivity). For that reason, a multi-disciplinary [team] approach is mostly recommended.
Physical therapy overlaps to a certain extent with occupational therapy. However, it mainly focus on physical injuries (i.e. torn muscles, back problems) and often utilise equipment such as sonars etc, for rehabilitation.
Psychologists on the other hand, focus on the human mind and specialise in diagnosing/treating mental disorders i.e. emotional and/or behavioural. Therapy does not entail physical manipulation or exercises, but rather “talking”, whether it entails psycho-analysis or the development of required mental/behavioral/thinking skills.
There are various types of specialisation with the field of Psychology:
Clinical, Counselling, Educational, Research and Industrial (In South Africa, Forensic psychology and Neuropsychology will be added to the list very shortly). Psychometry (psychological assessments) is also considered a field on its own.
Each specialisation area entails a different type of qualification and registration with the Medical Board.
Clinical psychologists assess, diagnose, and intervene in order to alleviate or contain rather serious forms of psychological distress and psychopathology, or what is commonly referred to as “abnormal” behavior. They are normally involved in serious cases, i.e. working in psychiatric institutions.
Counselling psychologists assist relatively well-adjusted people in dealing with normal problems of life, concerning all stages and aspects of a person’s existence in order to facilitate desirable psychological adjustment, growth, and maturity.
Educational psychologists assess, diagnose (learning disorders) and intervene in order to facilitate the development of children and adolescents within the contexts of family, school, social or peer groups and communities.
Industrial psychologists apply the principles of psychology to issues related to the work situation of relatively well-adjusted adults in order to optimise individual, group and organisational well-being and effectiveness.
Research psychologists address any of the above professional categories, not to render services to the public in that field, but to apply research methods and techniques in order to contribute to the knowledge base of that particular field.
Psychologists differ from Psychiatrists - not only in the type of qualification/s required (In order to become a psychiatrist, you need various medical degrees to mention but a few). In particular, psychologists are not allowed to prescribe medication. Hence, where a disorder is diagnosed or suspected, a psychiatrist is required to officially confirm the diagnosis and prescribe the required medication. Psychiatrists seldom offer psychological therapy per se.
Paediatricians have a medical background (degree) and focus in particular on the physical/developmental as well as mental issues of children and adolescents (In other words, they are quite apt of telling you when you are dealing with child/teenager-gg’s or whether there is a real problem present!) They can prescribe medication but do not necessarily offer [psychological] therapy.
Audiologists, also called language and speech therapists, focus on hearing and language skills development. Stuttering is an obvious example. But quite often, poor reading and writing is accidentally considered as i.e. Dyslexia, where as an underlying language delay might be the cause. They offer various therapies in this regard.
Pastoral therapists mainly utilise religion or spiritual beliefs to assist their clients to overcome their problems. Even in pastoral therapy, there are differentiations. Some work from a Christian perspective, others from Charismatic, African or Feministic Perspective or more; there are also Postmodern Pastoral therapists who do not focus on religious affiliation per se but rather focus on the client’s particular spiritualty and the “pro’s and cons” the client’s orientation might provide [or not].
Social workers address socio-economic issues, basic counselling interventions, parental guidance, especially legal aspects regarding child abuse, and so much more. These people are the corner stones of any community.
The lay counsellor, or Grass-roots worker, is a person taught by professionals, often by attending a short training course or 2; to provide some mental health services but who do not have extensive formal training and is not able to register with a professional body. Most of them are required to work under supervision. In South Africa there is at present a move towards accredited training for lay counsellors, however, not very successful yet. (Due to strict legislation to protect the client/patient, it does unfortunately happen that many of them also give themselves out as “professionally trained therapeutic service providers” especially in rural areas).
The role of professionals, paraprofessionals, and lay workers has been conceptualised as a “mental health pyramid”. At the narrow top of the pyramid are experienced mental health professionals who serve as psychologists, psychiatrists, medical doctors, paediatricians, occupational therapists, psychological counsellors, and so forth. As one move down toward the base of the pyramid, one finds people with less intensive mental health training.
While above is definitely not a comprehensive explanation of the differentiated services the various therapists offer (that might take a book or two…) hopefully it offers at least some guidelines for those who are struggling in the dark!
(The attached file entails Cutting Skills Milestones – enjoy!)
Whom to choose.. And why?
Occupational therapy is a specialised health area concerned with the evaluations and treatments of physical and [combined with] psychiatric conditions. Physical education i.e. anatomy and physiology is a prerequisite. These specialists often deal with people who have injury, pain, recovering from surgery and work on improving strength, flexibility and mobility in patients (i.e. stroke patients, if working at a rehabilitation clinic). Some prefer to work in a school environment. Where children have not mastered the needed developmental milestones, they focus on rehabilitation i.e. motor skills, muscle tone, and more; and then of course there is also for example sensory disorders that sorts in this “category”.
Sometimes for example, underlying ADHD or problems on the Autistic spectrum, muscle tone or other physical concerns is also indicated. Hence, an integrated approach is generally needed involving occupational therapists, psychiatrists, and psychologists. In lay terms, purely utilising medication is not going to address the problem (In this case medication can only address the academic problems – attention regulation, possible hyperactivity). For that reason, a multi-disciplinary [team] approach is mostly recommended.
Physical therapy overlaps to a certain extent with occupational therapy. However, it mainly focus on physical injuries (i.e. torn muscles, back problems) and often utilise equipment such as sonars etc, for rehabilitation.
Psychologists on the other hand, focus on the human mind and specialise in diagnosing/treating mental disorders i.e. emotional and/or behavioural. Therapy does not entail physical manipulation or exercises, but rather “talking”, whether it entails psycho-analysis or the development of required mental/behavioral/thinking skills.
There are various types of specialisation with the field of Psychology:
Clinical, Counselling, Educational, Research and Industrial (In South Africa, Forensic psychology and Neuropsychology will be added to the list very shortly). Psychometry (psychological assessments) is also considered a field on its own.
Each specialisation area entails a different type of qualification and registration with the Medical Board.
Clinical psychologists assess, diagnose, and intervene in order to alleviate or contain rather serious forms of psychological distress and psychopathology, or what is commonly referred to as “abnormal” behavior. They are normally involved in serious cases, i.e. working in psychiatric institutions.
Counselling psychologists assist relatively well-adjusted people in dealing with normal problems of life, concerning all stages and aspects of a person’s existence in order to facilitate desirable psychological adjustment, growth, and maturity.
Educational psychologists assess, diagnose (learning disorders) and intervene in order to facilitate the development of children and adolescents within the contexts of family, school, social or peer groups and communities.
Industrial psychologists apply the principles of psychology to issues related to the work situation of relatively well-adjusted adults in order to optimise individual, group and organisational well-being and effectiveness.
Research psychologists address any of the above professional categories, not to render services to the public in that field, but to apply research methods and techniques in order to contribute to the knowledge base of that particular field.
Psychologists differ from Psychiatrists - not only in the type of qualification/s required (In order to become a psychiatrist, you need various medical degrees to mention but a few). In particular, psychologists are not allowed to prescribe medication. Hence, where a disorder is diagnosed or suspected, a psychiatrist is required to officially confirm the diagnosis and prescribe the required medication. Psychiatrists seldom offer psychological therapy per se.
Paediatricians have a medical background (degree) and focus in particular on the physical/developmental as well as mental issues of children and adolescents (In other words, they are quite apt of telling you when you are dealing with child/teenager-gg’s or whether there is a real problem present!) They can prescribe medication but do not necessarily offer [psychological] therapy.
Audiologists, also called language and speech therapists, focus on hearing and language skills development. Stuttering is an obvious example. But quite often, poor reading and writing is accidentally considered as i.e. Dyslexia, where as an underlying language delay might be the cause. They offer various therapies in this regard.
Pastoral therapists mainly utilise religion or spiritual beliefs to assist their clients to overcome their problems. Even in pastoral therapy, there are differentiations. Some work from a Christian perspective, others from Charismatic, African or Feministic Perspective or more; there are also Postmodern Pastoral therapists who do not focus on religious affiliation per se but rather focus on the client’s particular spiritualty and the “pro’s and cons” the client’s orientation might provide [or not].
Social workers address socio-economic issues, basic counselling interventions, parental guidance, especially legal aspects regarding child abuse, and so much more. These people are the corner stones of any community.
The lay counsellor, or Grass-roots worker, is a person taught by professionals, often by attending a short training course or 2; to provide some mental health services but who do not have extensive formal training and is not able to register with a professional body. Most of them are required to work under supervision. In South Africa there is at present a move towards accredited training for lay counsellors, however, not very successful yet. (Due to strict legislation to protect the client/patient, it does unfortunately happen that many of them also give themselves out as “professionally trained therapeutic service providers” especially in rural areas).
The role of professionals, paraprofessionals, and lay workers has been conceptualised as a “mental health pyramid”. At the narrow top of the pyramid are experienced mental health professionals who serve as psychologists, psychiatrists, medical doctors, paediatricians, occupational therapists, psychological counsellors, and so forth. As one move down toward the base of the pyramid, one finds people with less intensive mental health training.
While above is definitely not a comprehensive explanation of the differentiated services the various therapists offer (that might take a book or two…) hopefully it offers at least some guidelines for those who are struggling in the dark!
(The attached file entails Cutting Skills Milestones – enjoy!)
| devel_cutting_skills.pdf |
RSS Feed
