Can you help me make a decision?

[kelsss32]

I have always wanted to be a phychiatrist, but I've been having thoughts of being a physcologists. I was just wondering what would be the better route for me to take?

[Jaquta]

To Sunlit80

Just curious but which path did you choose in the end?

Is that Meriks for Merecks Manual?  ??

[Sunlit80]

It’s a tough decision, I know because I’ve had to make a similar one.  I wrote down the pro’s and con’s of both paths for the logical aspect, then spent a few weeks imagining how I would feel in each roll. Speaking to my lecturers helped, as they were able to articulate what it was exactly that they loved most about their chosen field. I tried to ignore the financial aspects and focus on what would truly make me happy: follow your heart and good luck with your decision.

[Red_Lily]

If you want to have more income, becoming a psychiatrist would be more up your alley. Psychiatrists are also treated better and seen in a better light - they have to go to medical school in order to prescribe medications. People seem to think less of psychologists because they dont have the education. Also, it depends on how much time you are willing to spend on becoming one of the two. It may take years to become a psychiatrist, where as psychologists may take only one or two years - some less. It also depends on what area of psychology you want to go into. Forensic psychology is based on law and psychology together, so you would have to take more courses. I would search the internet, and look up various universities to find the prerequisites for psychology courses before making a final decision.

[Jaquta]

I'm definitely not the expert but I would think it would depend on what you want to do.
I've read that Dr Gould is, or has, experience with psychoanalysis.  Being a psychiatrist wouldn't exempt you from studying psychology.  Being a psychologist would mean there would be certain roles you would not have because you do not have the medical training or experience as a doctor/ psychiatrist.

In my experience, as a patient, I have much more contact with the psychologist.  I feel there is much more interaction with a T (weekly vs trimonthly) if I were to see a psychiatrist.  For the most part I have experienced psychiatrists as stuffy nosed individuals who don't care about their patients (unless the patient jeopardizes their sense of security or lifestyle in some way, for example, by making a complaint or threatening them).
Psychiatrists on the other hand get short consults, push paper, prescribe medication and ect and coerce patients into making uninformed decisions.

Perhaps I am a little biased.  On the whole I have little respect or time for psychiatrists (at least the ones who have treated me/ damaged me).

I think a good (caring and compassionate) psychiatrist and one who listens and doesn't dictate can have as important a role as a T.

I personally place more value on a qualified and experienced T.

J