A few days ago
Pretty Princess

Clinical pyschologist/ Child and adolescent psychiatry? Nursing- Mental Health?

I would like to do something along these lines (working with children)

I am not sure the route to go, whether to do:

A degree in nursing (mental health)

Degree in pyschology

Degree in pychology with social work

Can anyone give me some advice preferably people who have gone this route or are doing so at the minute.

(I am living in the UK)

Many thanks

Top 1 Answers
A few days ago
Dr_Adventure

Favorite Answer

There is no degree in psychology with social work – these are two different though related fields. Also there is a difference between psychology and psychiatry (requires a medical degree). Each of the disciplines you refer to: Psychiatrist, Psychologist, Social Worker and Nurse are different. Both psychiatrist and nursing are more medical in their conceptualization. Psychologists are more individually focused and social workers tend to focus on the relationship between the individual and the environment. In general a nurse will have a good deal of direct contact with the child – but will have much less autonomy in terms fo practice. Also they will tend to work inpaitent. Psychologists will have a good degree of autonomy but generally you will want a PhD (I don’t think that the UK licences MA level psychologists). Social workers will work both inpaitent and outpaitent as well as in the community and schools.

It would probably be good to talk to and ideally observe several different professionals to see if you like what they actually do. In general social workers will have the most autonomous direct practice in the widest variety of settings.

DA

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