psychology

Building a Resilient Healthcare System: The Growing Role of Psychology Professionals

Posted on by Joseph Gerard

Medical mistakes can happen. Legal Nurse Consultants review the merit or lack of merit of these mistakes for law firmsWritten by Bailey Hudson,

What makes a healthcare system effective, whether it is in a crisis situation or everyday? It’s not a matter of technology or skilled clinicians – it’s about the capacity to nurture both mental and physical wellbeing. In a culture where stress and uncertainty are the norm, psychologists are the undeserved heroes of medicine. They provide a key component in bringing patients and medical staff the emotional and cognitive resources they need. When we put psychological skills into health care, we’re building systems that not only treat, but also know people. 

Understanding Healthcare Resilience  

Healthcare resilience is about building systems to withstand and bounce back from crises. It ensures continuity of care, even in an emergency. Psychologists help build resilience and empathy for clinicians and patients. 

Defining Resilient Systems  

A robust health care system is flexible, effective, and responsive in the event of an emergency. It involves open communication routes, robust systems, and open protocols. They focus on making rapid decisions and distributing resources. Predictive modelling prevents problems and reduces outages. 

By implementing technology, you can increase resilience through telehealth and electronic records. Positive collaborations with local services reinforce external resilience, forming support groups. You make these pieces run smoothly together so patients get better outcomes. 

Psychology’s Role in Resilience  

Mental health practitioners aid in healthcare resilience by improving wellbeing and reducing stress. They offer therapeutic practices to employees, which in turn encourages a positive working environment. This helps nurses keep emotions in check, which is important during stressful moments. 

Psychologists can help patients recover, too, by providing coping skills that enhance quality of care. Emotional intelligence training for leadership encourages communication and decision making. You have to know these psychological factors in order to create a truly robust healthcare system. 

Empowering Psychology Professionals  

Psychology professionals are the cornerstones of a healthy health care system. Their empowerment requires specialized training, cross-discipline collaboration, and influential policy advocacy. If you focus on these priority areas, you can make a difference in mental health care. 

Enhanced Training Programs  

The key to improving the quality of psychology practitioners is investment in dedicated training courses. You could focus on continuing education and certification courses to stay abreast of the current research and practice. Clinical expertise and scientific knowledge must be prioritized in order to deliver high-quality patient care. 

For instance, access to HE Diploma for Psychology, which helps budding professionals acquire the fundamental understanding and abilities required for further education and career growth. This allows them to come into the profession with the knowledge and skills needed to make a positive impact in healthcare delivery systems. 

New training techniques like simulation training and online learning can build your skills across multiple clinical contexts. These methodologies are versatile and flexible so that you can study on your own terms and put what you have learned to real-world use. 

Mentorship programs can offer you further guidance and help match you with senior professionals who have insight into complex cases and career strategies. By providing opportunities for learning and development, you promote the growth of a holistic, skilled mental health care workforce. 

Interdisciplinary Collaboration  

This requires a close partnership with other health care providers to ensure quality patient care. You learn new skills and become better at what you do by being in teams with doctors, nurses and social workers. 

Being in integrated care teams helps you to better accommodate patients’ multidisciplinary demands. By transferring knowledge and practice from one field to another, care plans can be comprehensive and individualized. Such a collaborative model results in better patient care by drawing on the collective capabilities of different specialties. 

Embracing cross-disciplinary workshops and conferences gives you a better chance to share your ideas with experts across disciplines. These interactions bring respect and insight between individuals, dissolving silos and creating a healthcare team environment that works for all. 

Policy and Advocacy  

As a psychologist, lobbying for mental health-friendly policies is critical. You can advocate for legislation and funding that puts mental health care at the forefront of your mind. By being part of advocacy groups, you create a healthcare system that cares about and pays attention to mental health. 

It is important to stay abreast of what is happening on the policy front. When speaking with policymakers and stakeholders, you can communicate the value of mental health and make concrete, actionable recommendations. 

Organizing with community groups will give your activism more leverage. By working together, you can demand policies that expand access to mental health care so that everyone has a chance to thrive. 

Integrating Psychological Practices  

Resilience depends on improving healthcare through psychotherapy. You can use science, technology, and patient priorities to change things for the better. 

Evidence-Based Interventions  

Including evidence-based interventions means that psychological therapies are evidence-based and effective. You may find cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) particularly useful because it addresses mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression. 

You can also use motivational interviewing as a way to change the behavior. Such treatments not only enhance mental health but also improve physical health by reducing stress and enforcing medical prescriptions. 

Learning these techniques will help you solve challenging healthcare issues. 

Technology-Enhanced Tools  

Technologically, we have new tools that can be incorporated into psychotherapy. You could harness telepsychology to make appointments more accessible for patients who are unable to visit in person. This can change everything in rural or underserved markets. 

You can even use mental health apps on mobile devices to access tools and interventions. Websites that feature VR experiences can be used in exposure therapy for disorders such as PTSD. 

Using technology to harness your psychology practice can significantly boost your reach and impact. 

Patient-Centered Care  

Patient-focused medicine addresses the patient’s individual wants and needs. You’re welcome to develop collaborative care protocols that acknowledge a patient’s unique experience and include them in decisions. 

Active listening and direct communication fosters credibility. This puts care in step with patient values, increasing satisfaction and compliance. 

If you address their issues, you empower your patients and help them live healthier lives. 

Future Perspectives  

The health care system can only continue to flourish because psychologists play an important role. Recent research and global trends suggest the need for psychological expertise to be integrated into healthcare models. 

Research and Innovations  

Psychology is opening the door for new forms of treatment in medicine. Researchers are pursuing digital interventions such as apps and virtual therapy to help increase access and effectiveness. These tools provide personalized support where people can interact with programs that target them. 

There is also an increasing emphasis on interdisciplinary research, where psychology links up with neuroscience and biomedicine. That partnership seeks to uncover new information about mental health, establishing treatments that are grounded in a holistic understanding of the mind-body interface. Crossing these lines, medicine can become more holistic. 

Global Healthcare Trends  

The world is moving towards giving health systems the mental resources they need to respond to new needs. As more and more chronic conditions emerge, mental health needs to be taken into account in treatment decisions. Countries invest in whole-of-care mental health training for clinicians to make them more equipped to deliver integrated care. 

There’s also an infusion of community-based models where mental health services are delivered at the local level to foster community resilience. International groups have called for policies to integrate mental health into primary care and promote its contribution to health coverage. When you engage with these new models, you’re laying the groundwork for a future in which psychological care becomes the foundation of global health. 

Conclusion  

Psychology specialists help to create sustainable healthcare networks by tackling mental as well as physical health. Through better training, cooperation and advocacy, they help establish comprehensive, patient-centred care. Making space for them brings robust, more effective healthcare to everyone.

 

Author’s Bio

Bailey Hudson is a freelance writer. Bailey has worked in the health industry since graduating from university. When not writing about the newest topics on health and wellbeing, Bailey can be found researching new travel locations.

Please also review AIHCP’s Stress Management Certification program and see if it meets your academic and professional goals.  These programs are online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification

10 Different Roles in Psychiatry: Which is Right for You?

Posted on by Joseph Gerard

Depressed black lady receiving professional psychological help at mental clinic, selective focus. Female psychotherapist having session with desperate Afro lady with ptsd or emotional traumaWritten by Veronica Turner

 

Considering a career in psychiatry presents a plethora of unique roles to contemplate, each catering to distinct interests, strengths, and motivations. The broad field offers more than just the general role of a psychiatrist, as the options are compellingly diverse.

This guide will explore 10 different roles in psychiatry that you might consider pursuing. Let’s delve into what each subfield entails, helping you choose one that aligns best with your calling!

 

How to Know if These 10 Psychiatry Roles Are Right for You

Choosing the right career is already hard enough, but when you’re in an industry as varied as psychiatry, it can be even harder. But don’t worry, this article is here to help you decide.

 

  1. Child Psychiatry

As a specialist in diagnosing, treating, and preventing childhood mental health disorders, your role often involves counseling young patients as well as their families. You will connect with kids on a unique level, helping them navigate various issues such as ADHD and depression.

This role encompasses both the complexity of the human mind and the nuances of adolescent development. If you naturally empathize with children and adolescents and want to make tangible differences in their lives, child psychiatry may be just the right fit for you.

 

  1. Inpatient Care Psychiatry

Inpatient care psychiatry is a sphere of psychiatry that deals with patients who require hospitalization for their mental health conditions. As an inpatient care psychiatrist, you’ll likely provide around-the-clock care to individuals in hospitals and dedicated psychiatric facilities.

It’s a demanding job, often involving crisis stabilization, medication management, and therapeutic interventions. Yet, if the idea of helping the most vulnerable reclaim their lives motivates you, then inpatient care psychiatry could indeed be your right choice in this field.

 

  1. Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Psychiatric nurse practitioners are highly skilled medical professionals often handling similar responsibilities as psychiatrists. As a psychiatric nurse practitioner, your role will not include diagnostics, treatment, physical exams, ordering lab tests, and coordinating patient care.

Psychiatric care specialists like nurses, thanks to their background, can provide therapeutic counseling and medication management holistically. If integrating elements of nursing with psychiatry appeals to you, consider pursuing this route in the mental healthcare sector.

 

  1. Geriatric Psychiatry

Geriatric psychiatry is a specialized field that addresses the unique mental health needs of elderly people. As a geriatric psychiatrist, your work revolves around diagnosing and treating mental disorders mainly associated with old age, such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

This role calls for individuals with tremendous empathy and patience since elderly patients often struggle with multiple physical, psychological, and social challenges. If helping older people manage their mental health during their golden years ignites your passion, try this role out.

 

  1. Forensic Psychiatry

Forensic psychiatry is an intriguing subfield of psychiatry that intersects with the law. As a forensic psychiatrist, you’ll find yourself not just diagnosing mental health issues but also making pivotal assessments related to legal matters. In fact, you’ll often appear in court.

Your expertise will be sought in various court cases to help evaluate a suspect’s state of mind during an offense or to assess their competency to stand trial. You may also provide expert opinions on matters like child custody or insurance claims if such information is needed.

 

  1. Disability Psychiatry

Disability psychiatry is a focused area of psychiatry that addresses the mental health needs of individuals with physical disabilities or intellectual development disorders. As a disability psychiatrist, you would offer specialized care and treatment to this unique patient population.

You’ll require dedicated sensitivity and understanding as you navigate these complex cases where disability may affect mental health. If enhancing the quality of life for people grappling with dual challenges motivates you, then the field of disability psychiatry could be your best fit.

 

  1. Administrative Psychiatry

Administrative psychiatry refers to a leadership role within the realm of psychiatric care, making it pretty unique in the field. As an administrative psychiatrist, your job is not limited to patient care but also extends to overseeing the functioning of a mental health facility or department.

You’ll be involved in policy-making decisions, staffing, budgeting, and other managerial tasks while ensuring that the highest standards of psychiatric care are met. If you’re drawn to organizational management along with your passion for psychiatry, train for this role.

 

  1. Military Psychiatry

Military psychiatry focuses on the mental health of soldiers and veterans, who are, unfortunately, unrepresented in this type of care. These professionals work closely with individuals who have experienced the stressors of combat, which can have profound impacts on mental health.

As a military psychiatrist, you will be responsible for diagnosing and treating disorders such as PTSD and anxiety that may arise from military service. Try this role if you’re interested in serving those who serve their country and helping them navigate through challenging times.

 

  1. Addiction Psychiatry

Addiction psychiatry is a specialized field focusing on the diagnosis and treatment of individuals dealing with substance abuse and addiction. In this role, you help patients fight against dependencies on drugs, alcohol, or harmful behaviors that may be controlling their lives.

You play an instrumental role in helping people regain control of their lives and experience freedom from their addictions. If you’re driven by a strong desire to help those challenged by addiction, then venturing into addiction psychiatry could be the right option for you.

 

  1. Psychiatry for Public Health

Psychiatry for public health is a rewarding field focusing on promoting mental health wellness within communities. As a public health psychiatrist, your role extends beyond individual patient care to influencing policies and practices that enhance the mental well-being of larger groups.

You work with communities, government agencies, and nonprofits to develop programs that reduce mental health stigma, raise awareness about mental disorders, and provide accessible support services. A role in this sector suits you if proactive outreach interests you.

 

In Conclusion…

As you explore the many paths in psychiatry, remember that it’s about finding a role that genuinely resonates with your passion and aligns with your professional goals. Investigate each option thoroughly, pursue further training if necessary, and stay open to opportunities.

Whether treating adolescents or working with veterans, managing facilities, or providing public health solutions, there’s an enriching career avenue waiting for you in psychiatry.

Author Bio:

Veronica Turner is a health and lifestyle writer with over 10 years of experience. She creates compelling content on nutrition, fitness, mental health, and overall wellness.

 

 

Please also review AIHCP’s Clinical Hypnotherapy Certificate Program certification programs and see if it meets your academic and professional goals.  These programs are online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification.

Psychology and Moral Theology of Motivation

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Human Needs

Humanity in the fallen world has numerous needs to maintain existence.  Among the most basic needs are food and water.   Instinctively within human nature is a drive for to satisfy hunger and thirst, as well as drives to reproduce.  These are natural evolutionary forces that push the human person to exist and perpetuate the species.   In Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, Maslow lists basic needs of existence as the base of all needs.  Following these needs are needs of safety and shelter.  Beyond that is a more complex social need of belonging and love.  Following this basic social need, is a mental need to perform and succeed in certain areas and talents that help manifest self esteem.   Still even beyond those accomplishments, there needs to be a self actualization of self that recognizes one has met one’s fullest potential.  Finally, after all these physical, social and mental accomplishments, one needs to find an existential or spiritual idea of meaning and tie that meaning into one’s life (Myers & Dewall, 2019, p. 351).  Hence humanity has many needs to find completeness .  Obviously in this search and motivation, the only fulfilling source of happiness is God.  God is the ultimate source of happiness that can never be taken or stolen but promises infinite and eternal happiness that meets every human need.

Human needs start at the most basic and proceed to higher abstract needs. Please also review AIHCP’s Christian Counseling Program

 

Humanity still nonetheless experiences needs in the fallen world that fall short of the perfect End which is God. Throughout life, there are a multitude of illusionary goods that can distract the person from the true good.   In psychological studies, the person is driven by motivation.  Motivation is defined as “need or desire that energizes and directs behavior” (Myers & Dewall. 2019, p. 349).  In addition to genetic and evolutionary drives, one is also driven to certain goods via an arousal of the psychological state that looks to decrease that desire through obtaining or fulfilling it.  This is referred to as Drive-Reduction Theory (Myers and Dewall. 2019, p. 349).

In addition to drive, human nature is also guided by arousal.  Some motivated behaviors increase arousal instead of decrease it (Myers and Dewall. 2019, p. 349).  The Yerkes-Dodson Law points out that optimal performance exists when moderate arousal is present (Myers and Dewall. 2019, p. 350).  Hence certain levels of arousal can be detrimental to overall human performance when not properly moderated.

Morality and Human Needs

These Psychological concepts help explain many of the inner workings of why a person is motivated to certain a good or need, but Moral Theology completes the story through spiritual explanation of the inner moving of the intellect and will.  In Thomistic Philosophy, the soul is comprised of the intellect and will.  The intellect processes information from the senses and is guided by the conscience in judgement.  The will is the motivational force behind human decisions.  Like in Psychology, the will seeks needs and ascertains the good of each need.  Due to humanity’s fallen nature, sometimes this decision can be in contradiction to true moral good and the conscience.

St Thomas Aquinas refers to two types of human appetites within the will.  The two he lists are the Concupiscible Appetite and the Irascible Appetite ( Aquinas. Summae Theologica).  The Concupiscible Appetite’s formal object is a sensible good or evil, which is easily obtained while the Irascible Appetite’s formal object is a more abstract good which is arduous or difficult to obtain ( Aquinas. Summa Theologica).  In regards to the Concupiscible Appetite,  it is attracted to passions and emotions such as love or hate, desire or aversion, or joy and sorrow in regards to the sensible object (Aquinas.  Summae Theologica).  In regards to the Irascible Appetite, it deals with things that are difficult to attain and attached to emotions such as hope or despair, fear or daring, or anger (Aquinas. Summae Theologica).  In essence, the Concupiscible Appetite deals with direct objects or sensible objects, while the Irascible Appetite deals with more abstract objects.  In addition, the will interprets direct objects of the Concupiscible Appetite as they appear good or evil, while the Irascible Appetite is directed towards goods as they present themselves as something good or evil that might be difficult to achieve (Aquinas. Summae Theologica).

Certain emotions are within the range of the Concupiscible Appetite while others fall into the Irascible Appetite

 

Hence emotion plays a large role in one’s appetites and how one is pushed towards or pulled away from an object.  According to Myers and Dewall, emotion itself is the response of the whole organism from physiological arousal, expressive behaviors and conscious experience (2019, p. 369).  Within the list of emotions, many scientists differ what are the core base emotions, but most concede that anger, fear, disgust, sadness and happiness are the basic human emotions (Myers and Dewall. 2019, p.369). Others also include interest, shame, guilt, as well as pride and love (Myers and Dewall. 2019, p. 369).

Ultimately, in Moral Theology, humanity’s broken nature due to Original Sin, prevents one from controlling one’s passions and emotions.  The control our first father, Adam, experienced in the Garden has been corrupted and his descendants experience an ability to control emotion.  This can be seen in the Amygdala.  When emotional situations are perceived they can travel two ways.  In the case of fear, the stimuli can travel the high road through Thalamus and Cortex which later proceeds through the Amygdala with a thought out emotional response, or it can take the faster low road with involves less thought since it is first processed through Amygdala (Myers and Dewall. 2019, p. 370).   This leads to emotional outbursts and reactions.

One can see loss of control in many individuals.  Whether utter fear, anger, or lust, one can lose control.  The Holy Spirit gives humanity four cardinal virtues to help regulate the moral life.  Among one of the most important related to emotional control is Temperance.  Temperance helps curb emotional desires in moderation.  Christians need to pray to the Holy Spirit and help cultivate this virtue in their daily moral life to better curb the Concupiscible Appetite’s desires and direct all deeds to the greater honor and glory of God.  Furthermore, when Temperance is tied with the moral virtue of Prudence one can better discern good and evil within the Irascible Appetite’s abstract desires.

Conclusion

To lead a better moral life, one must understand that humanity is broken via Original Sin.  While Psychology can give some explanations how these broken processes still operate, it is imperative that Christians take responsibility for their actions.  While culpability can be lessened due to emotional outburst, it does not remove consequences or total culpability.   One must constantly look to control their emotional actions and desires with direct and indirect objects.  This involves prayer, fasting and denial.  It involves following the example of Christ who taught temperance and moderation, as well as prayer to the Holy Spirit to supply the necessary graces to overcome one’s fallen nature on Earth.

Please also review AIHCP’s Christian Counseling Certification and see if it meets your academic and professional goals

 

Please also review AIHCP’s Christian Counseling Certification.  The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in Christian Counseling.

References

“Exploring Psychology”. Myers and Dewall. (2019). Worth Publishers: Macmillan Learning, New York. 11th Ed.

“The Summa Theologiæ of St. Thomas Aquinas”. Second and Revised Edition, 1920.  Online: New Advent.  Access here

Additional Resources

“Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs”. Cherry, K. (2022). VeryWellMind. Access here

“Emotions”. Psychology Today Staff. Psychology Today. Access here

“The 6 Types of Basic Emotions and Their Effect on Human Behavior”. Cherry, K. (2022). VeryWellMind. Access here