Is psychiatry the right field for me?

Question

For my profession I want to help people with mental health problems (not life problems like marital issues, etc.) in addition to being able to prescribe medicine. I already know the requirements for becoming a psychiatrist, but once I have a job as a psychiatrist will I be able to do counseling and prescribe medicine or would it be better to pursue a career in a different branch of psychology?

Answer 1

Well, you have to decide that for yourself.  But as someone who has had experience with Psychiatrists as a patient, I don't feel any of them helped me at all.  It was only after I stopped taking meds and paid attention to my diet and exercise habits (I was no longer seeking counseling) that I started to make things better for myself.  I'm appalled that my psychiatrists prescribed me all this useless Corporate snake oil and didn't drive home how important diet and exercise was.  If you really want to help people don't make the same mistake.

Answer 2

I agree with "the great..."    I believe medicine should only be used as a last resort.  Noone seems to ever say that excercise is as just as important...

Psychiatry sounds like a good field for and you do have the choice on what clients you take and which ones you do not.  You can choose to take every except marital issues, or what/not