As you learned this week, psychology is a large field, with many different areas of research and a variety of perspectives. Still, most of us see it, accurately, as a source of help for dealing with problems that involve mental health and behavioral issues.
For example, your friend Bob has developed an irrational and debilitating fear of bugs. Encountering an insect of any kind makes him extremely anxious. It has begun to affect his life, because he refuses to leave the house. You’d like to help Bob, but aren’t sure where to begin.
Incorporating information from this week’s lecture and reading, along with your own research, please compare the qualifications of mental health practitioners with the following titles:
Medical Doctor (M.D.)
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.)
There are also a number of practitioners with degrees at the Master’s level, including:
Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW)
Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC)
Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT)
* Note: All of these titles may vary somewhat by state.
Based on the information you’ve collected, please write a paper explaining what kinds of problems the various practitioners address (e.g., an M.D. would most likely be dealing with problems that require prescription medications). Then address what specific ways each professional might be able to help Bob with his entomophobia. For example, a Marriage and Family Therapist would be helpful if Bob’s reluctance to leave the house was negatively impacting his marriage!
Which mental health professional(s) would you most recommend to Bob and why?
Requirements:
3-4 double-spaced pages (not including the cover or references pages), 12 point font, and APA format.
References must be cited appropriately.
See the How to Score Well Rubric to understand how you will graded on this written assignment.
