Mental Health Professional
Mental Health Professional
A Mental Health Professional (pronunciation: men-tal hel-th pro-fesh-uh-nl) is a health care practitioner or community services provider who offers services for the purpose of improving an individual's mental health or to treat Mental disorders. This broad category was developed as a name for community personnel who worked in the new community mental health agencies begun in the 1970s to assist individuals moving from state hospitals, to prevent admissions, and to provide support in homes, jobs, education, and crisis situations.
Etymology
The term "Mental Health Professional" is a compound of the words "mental", "health", and "professional". "Mental" is derived from the late Middle English word "mental", meaning "of the mind", "health" comes from the Old English word "hælth", meaning "wholeness, a being whole, sound or well", and "professional" is derived from the Latin word "professio", meaning "public declaration".
Types of Mental Health Professionals
There are many types of mental health professionals. Some of the most common include:
- Psychiatrist
- Clinical psychologist
- Counseling psychologist
- Psychotherapist
- Social worker
- Occupational therapist
- Art therapist
- Music therapist
Each of these professionals has a different role and expertise in the field of mental health. For example, a psychiatrist is a medical doctor who can prescribe medication, while a clinical psychologist focuses on therapeutic techniques for mental health issues.
Related Terms
See Also
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