The psychiatrist

The psychiatrist

The psychiatrist 

is a doctor with a specialization in psychiatry. He can prescribe a drug treatment, make a diagnosis and name a pathology. He is empowered to conduct psychotherapy. However, psychiatrists are only minority trained in psychotherapy, change techniques (hypnosis, CBT, NLP, EMDR, etc.). Consultations with the psychiatrist are reimbursed by Social Security.

The psychoanalyst

The psychoanalyst does not hold a state diploma. He must theoretically, without legal obligation nevertheless, fulfill three conditions to pose his plate: to have been analyzed himself, to have been trained in analytical theory and, finally, to be supervised in his practice by a "controller", himself analyst . Psychoanalysis is a relatively long process of introspection which can last a few years.

The psychotherapist

The title of psychotherapist, long unprotected, has sometimes been used in an abusive and unprofessional manner. He has been recognized since 2012. Only psychologists, psychoanalysts who are members of a recognized association or doctors can request it. For this they must have followed a theoretical training of 400 hours as well as having completed an internship of 5 months.

The objectives of this specialty

The objectives of this specialty

The objectives of this specialty are:

the study of psychosocial factors playing a pathogenic or protective role for health;
prevention and promotion of healthy behaviors and lifestyles;
treatment of diseases;
the care of sick people and their entourage.
It concerns the individual (or a group of individuals), as well as his immediate environment.


Consult a health psychologist
The intervention of the health psychologist can be preventive, experimental or clinical.

As part of a preventive action, the health psychologist aims to promote and maintain health as well as to prevent the arrival of diseases. It will seek to determine what motivates health-related behaviors and how they can be changed. He is also interested in how emotions and beliefs are related to these behaviors and their consequences.

In individual consultation, the health psychologist has a role of accompaniment and support during the appearance of a health problem for oneself or for a member of one's entourage (illness, handicap, operation, addiction, etc.). The goal for the person is to cope using their own resources and levers.

The characteristics of health psychology

The characteristics of health psychology

The characteristics of health psychology come from scientific and experimental psychology, address the psychic aspects of health and illness, and consider the specific impact of psychosocial factors on health.

Sarafino (1990), in her book Health Psychology, assigns to this discipline three fundamental objectives:

promoting healthy behaviors and lifestyles;
disease prevention and treatment;
improving patient care.


Scope

Health psychology focuses on the role of psychic factors on health behaviors, as well as that of psychic factors on the onset and course of disease.

It integrates psychological and social dimensions into the understanding of health and illness.

Defining elements

Defining elements

Health psychology is a specialty of psychology. It is a young discipline, the vitality and dynamism of which are beyond doubt, as evidenced by the numerous books, reviews, congresses, seminars, etc., which take place both at international and European level. It is at the heart of societal issues, which makes it particularly relevant.

For Matarazzo, 1st president of the American section:


The characteristics of health psychology come from scientific and experimental psychology, address the psychic aspects of health and illness, and consider the specific impact of psychosocial factors on health.

Sarafino (1990), in her book Health Psychology, assigns to this discipline three fundamental objectives:

promoting healthy behaviors and lifestyles;
disease prevention and treatment;
improving patient care.

Health psychology

Health psychology

His appearance


The emergence of this specialty was made in the United States. In 1979 the American Psychological Association (APA) established a health psychology section. The first European conference on health psychology will take place in 1986.

In France, the French Association of Health Psychology was created in 2002. Marilou Bruchon-Schweitzer, who was its president when it was created, is at the origin of the first health psychology works on our territory.

The book Introduction à la Psychologie de la Santé, published by PUF in 1994, marks the beginning of a series of publications in this field in France.
Since then, several specialized masters have emerged. I myself come from that of the University of Rennes 2, whose manager was Alain Cerclé, author of numerous books and researches.