Category — 3.2 The “P” Professionals

There is a wide variety of mental health practitioners, and understanding the role that each one plays can be confusing. The following practitioners provide mental health support: psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric social workers, psychiatric nurses, counselors, pastoral counselors, and other professionals who call themselves ‘therapists.’ Others practice alternative therapies, for  example, reiki and others.  In Canada, certain regulations ensure that therapists have had a specific training for their area of work.  Not all therapists are psychologists and not all psychologists are trained therapists. Mental Health Canada provides some useful information on therapists and therapies.

Psychologists who work on inter-professional teams and conduct psycho-educational assessments pre-kindergarten. e.g Hearing Loss team at Sunny Hill Health Centre for children which includes a developmental pediatrician, clinical psychologist, nurse clinician, speech &  language pathologist, occupational therapist & physiotherapist. Some or all of these professionals may be involved in the assessment of children with multiple diagnoses.

A psychiatrist is a physician  whose education includes a medical degree (MD or DO) and at least four additional years of study and training. As physicians, psychiatrists can prescribe and monitor medications.

Practice

Psychiatrists are the primary mental healthcare givers. They provide medical/psychiatric evaluation and treatment for emotional and behavioral problems and psychiatric disorders.

They assess and treat mental illnesses through a combination of psychotherapy (see full Glossary), psychoanalysis (see full Glossary), hospitalization, and medication.

Further reading in this topic:
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1464-0597.2007.00273.x/full
Source: Young, R. & Nichol, J. (2007). Counseling in Canada. Advancing psychology for all. Applied Psychology, 56(1), 20–32, January 2007

A psychiatrist is a physician whose education includes a medical degree (MD or DO) and at least four additional years of study and training. As physicians, psychiatrists can prescribe and monitor medications.

Practice

Psychiatrists are the primary mental healthcare givers. They provide medical/psychiatric evaluation and treatment for emotional and behavioral problems and psychiatric disorders.

They assess and treat mental illnesses through a combination of psychotherapy (see full Glossary), psychoanalysis (see full Glossary), hospitalization, and medication.

Physiotherapists or physical therapists are health-science professionals with a master’s or PhD degree in physical therapy

Practice

A physical therapist uses exercises, stretches, and other techniques to improve mobility, decrease pain, and reduce any disability related to illness or injury. Children may need physical therapy as a result of developmental delays, injuries, long hospitalizations, or after surgery. Doctors often recommend physical therapy for kids who have been injured or have movement problems from an illness, disease, or disability.

Physiotherapists work with infants and young children assessing their motor development; they work in collaboration with parents and other service providers including infant development (IDP) and supported child development (SCDP) consultants, and with teachers in preschools, daycares, and schools.

Physical therapists are often able to relieve pain and help children resume daily activities. After an injury, physical therapists teach exercises designed to help children regain strength and range of motion, and also show them how to prevent a recurring injury. Physical therapy (PT) may be needed any time a child has difficulty moving in such a way that it limits daily activities.

General pediatricians are MD specialists who care for the health of infants, children, teenagers, and young adults. They specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of ailments specific to young people and track patients’ growth to adulthood.

Just like General pediatrician, Developmental pediatrician who works in inter-professional team with nurse clinician, speech &  language pathologist, occupational therapist & physiotherapist. Some or all of these professionals may be involved in the assessment of children with multiple diagnoses.
Some pediatricians have an additional specialization. For example, some of them become pediatric surgeons, pediatric neurologists, or pediatric immunologists (see full Glossary).

Practice

Like most physicians, pediatricians work with different healthcare workers, such as nurses and other physicians, to assess and treat children. Most of the work of pediatricians involves treating day-to-day illnesses—minor injuries, infectious diseases, and immunizations—that are common to children, much as a general practitioner treats adults.