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Viviana Calas

Pathway

Lesson 4

Career Research Essay

This career, psychiatry care specifically for addiction, will involve both me becoming a

mental health professional and a licensed medical doctor. This career focuses on providing

assistance to clients who battle addiction to a variety of items. Which include drugs, sex,

gambling, and food. As well as creating treatment interventions to support in the recovery

process. Additionally, assisting with behavior modification to help develop new and healthier

coping mechanisms.

In order to be successful in this considerably rigorous career, I will need the proper

education, licensing, certifications and skills. I will have to work in a variety of settings. The

majority of professionals work in outpatient residential mental health facilities. The education I

will need takes many years. Complete college and then medical school. Once I graduate from an

accredited program, I will need to complete a residency in psychiatry, which totals to 4 years. I

would also need to pass oral and written examinations to obtain state medical licenses required to

practice medicine. I will also need a certificate from the ABPN, which requires training. Having

empathy and leadership skills is also a must. Verbal and written communication skills.

Certain schools offer excellent psychology and psychiatric care courses. Kaiser

Permanente is a medical school I can look into. They offer training and the proper modern

medical education. It is located near me, in Pasadena, California. Although it is a very lengthy
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process and considered difficult to pass, with the right aid and management it is very much worth

it. These institutions require credits and weekly clerkships. Coaching programs are also

available. The salary for an addiction psychiatrist starts at $61,600 a year to $187,199 a year.

Salaries have increased since 2004. One of the highest paying industries for psychiatrists range

from healthcare and social assistance.

Other careers related to this one in particular include substance abuse counseling, clinical

psychology, and forensic psychology. They have similar requirements and take the same amount

of time to complete. They include both the study of behavior and mental functions. All help

individuals and require medical school. But they differ within goals and points. It is a steady

career field and it is estimated that it will grow 19% in the next 10 years. There are many areas

and counties that are don’t have programs and centers for substance abuse and mental health.

The help needed can be in demand when times get rough,

I can envision myself being successful within this career because I have a huge passion

for helping individuals with substance abuse and mental health problems. I seek to understand

these individuals as they are often demonized and pushed away. I want to raise awareness of

lesser-known illnesses and work with patients who have severe abuse issues. It has been a goal

of mine to prevent anymore drug crises within the area and develop new methods of research to

treat certain illnesses and genetic disorders. I have empathetic skills from my childhood and I

have patience, compassion, and the ambition to help my community.

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Works Cited

“How to Become an Addiction Psychiatrist.” How to Become an Addiction Psychiatrist,

www.psychologyschoolguide.net/psychiatry-careers/becoming-an-addiction-psychiatrist/.

“How to Become an Addiction Psychiatrist.” Doctorly.org, doctorly.org/how-to-become-an-

addiction-psychiatrist/.