Interested in Psychiatry

[Strauss6868]

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I am very interested in becoming a Psychiatrist, but I have one major concern.

Are Psychiatry residents trained in therapy in conjunction with medical training? I feel that the best way to treat a patient is a combination of medication (assuming it is needed) and therapy.

I want to know to what extent a psychiatry program trains its students in a form of therapy and how I can research different programs to find the way they lean in terms of psychotherapeutic training (psychodynamic, humanistic, behavioral, etc.).

Thanks.

 

[nitemagi]

Technically the ACGME requires you have at least an understanding of 5 forms of psychotherapy - psychodynamic, CBT, interpersonal, brief therapy, and maybe supportive. I forget what all 5 are. I'd say programs vary in how in depth their training is. Also it's important to recognize how in depth of training is realistic during residency. Psychoanalytic training is usually at least an additional 4 years, regardless of underlying degree (MD, Ph.D., MSW, etc.).

My opinion is that it's realistic to get exposure to many and decent training in maybe two. CBT is the easiest (manualized), DBT is longitudinal but easy to incorporate.

I guess the short answer is that the pendulum is swinging back in the direction towards balancing therapy, but it's not even yet. If you want additional therapy training (I know I plan to continue it in further years), you can pursue it. Humanistic branches of therapy are less often taught in residencies. Some NY programs may have some exception to that. But we're all lifelong learners 🙂

 

[Strauss6868]

Technically the ACGME requires you have at least an understanding of 5 forms of psychotherapy - psychodynamic, CBT, interpersonal, brief therapy, and maybe supportive. I forget what all 5 are. I'd say programs vary in how in depth their training is. Also it's important to recognize how in depth of training is realistic during residency. Psychoanalytic training is usually at least an additional 4 years, regardless of underlying degree (MD, Ph.D., MSW, etc.).

My opinion is that it's realistic to get exposure to many and decent training in maybe two. CBT is the easiest (manualized), DBT is longitudinal but easy to incorporate.

I guess the short answer is that the pendulum is swinging back in the direction towards balancing therapy, but it's not even yet. If you want additional therapy training (I know I plan to continue it in further years), you can pursue it. Humanistic branches of therapy are less often taught in residencies. Some NY programs may have some exception to that. But we're all lifelong learners 🙂

Do you know if any schools allow for "electives" in psychology instruction from their respective graduate programs?

Is this possible without doing a joint PhD/MD degree?

 

[nitemagi]

Do you know if any schools allow for "electives" in psychology instruction from their respective graduate programs?

Is this possible without doing a joint PhD/MD degree?

I'd say it's very allowed. I can only speak for my own program, but I suspect that programs will encourage you to follow your interests, as long as they're clinical or scholarly interests. Therefore if you can find a mentor to teach and supervise you in a discipline you want to learn, then it's just a matter of finding the time for it. I'm getting additional training in hypnosis and psychodrama, for example.

 

[zac16125]

Psychoanalytic training is usually at least an additional 4 years, regardless of underlying degree (MD, Ph.D., MSW, etc.).

I've heard something along those lines before, but can you tell me how exactly that works. Certainly a physician would not spend 4 additional years after residency learning how to do psychoanalytical therapy before open a practice.

 

[billypilgrim37]

I've heard something along those lines before, but can you tell me how exactly that works. Certainly a physician would not spend 4 additional years after residency learning how to do psychoanalytical therapy before open a practice.

That's exactly what they do, more or less. That's not to say they are not seeing patients throughout this process as part of their candidateship, but yes, being an analyst is hard.

 

[Chimed]

That's exactly what they do, more or less. That's not to say they are not seeing patients throughout this process as part of their candidateship, but yes, being an analyst is hard.

AND expensive...You have to go through analysis yourself, and that involves multiple sessions that you'll pay for out of pocket.

 

[st2205]

How much longer is training to become an analysts-therapist?

 

[billypilgrim37]

How much longer is training to become an analysts-therapist?

Programs range from 4-8 years, I believe. It's a bit like a ph.d in that it's a flexible program and based on the candidate's progress.

This thread has gone far too long without someone wanting to become an analrapist.

 

[st2205]

Programs range from 4-8 years, I believe. It's a bit like a ph.d in that it's a flexible program and based on the candidate's progress.

This thread has gone far too long without someone wanting to become an analrapist.

Hey, come on, I beat you to it.

 

[billypilgrim37]

Hey, come on, I beat you to it.

Dude, I totally missed it. So Aspergery of me. 3 extra cupcakes for you.

 

[st2205]

Dude, I totally missed it. So Aspergery of me. 3 extra cupcakes for you.

Bonus points if you can name what fellowship he did post-residency.

 

[digitlnoize]

"Sean Connery: I'll take 'The Rapists' for $20.
Trebek: that's therapists...not the rapists.

Gotta love celebrity jeopardy. "Famous Kareem-Abdul Jabars".

 

[zac16125]

Programs range from 4-8 years, I believe. It's a bit like a ph.d in that it's a flexible program and based on the candidate's progress.

This thread has gone far too long without someone wanting to become an analrapist.

I did not realize that. Thats pretty crazy, that you effectively have to do an 8 year residency to do pyshoanalysis. That can't be a very popular route.