Occupational Outlook Handbook and search the handbook for various mental health service professions. Select two professions within the mental health service area and answer the following:
o What are the professions you selected?
o What type of training, level of education, or other qualifications are required for each profession?
o What types of agencies or facilities would employ your selected professions?
How can we help you if we don't even know which professions YOU selected?
It sounds like you want someone to do this entire assignment for you!!!
The two professions I selected within the mental health service area are Clinical Psychologist and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner.
1. Clinical Psychologist:
- Training and Education: To become a clinical psychologist, typically a doctoral degree (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) in psychology is required. This involves completing an undergraduate degree in psychology or a related field, followed by graduate studies in clinical psychology. Additionally, clinical psychologists often need to complete supervised clinical experience and pass the licensing examination in their state.
- Qualifications: Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills, empathy, excellent communication skills, and the ability to conduct psychological assessments and provide evidence-based therapies.
- Agencies or Facilities: Clinical psychologists may work in various settings such as hospitals, mental health clinics, private practices, universities, research institutions, correctional facilities, or government agencies.
2. Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner:
- Training and Education: To become a psychiatric nurse practitioner, one typically needs to complete a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and become a registered nurse (RN). Afterward, additional education is required to become a nurse practitioner specializing in psychiatric-mental health. This includes completing a Master's or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program with a focus on psychiatric nursing.
- Qualifications: In addition to strong nursing skills, psychiatric nurse practitioners should have advanced knowledge of mental health and psychiatric disorders, prescribing medication, providing therapy, and delivering holistic care to patients with mental health issues.
- Agencies or Facilities: Psychiatric nurse practitioners can work in a variety of settings including hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, outpatient mental health clinics, community health centers, private practices, academic institutions, and substance abuse treatment facilities.
To gather more detailed information about these professions, I recommend visiting the Occupational Outlook Handbook (https://www.bls.gov/ooh/) and specifically searching for "Clinical Psychologist" and "Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner" to obtain the most up-to-date and comprehensive information.