AREA OF INTRODUCTION

When I was an intern at IMH in Kilpauk, they gave me the opportunity to observe clinical
psychologists, psychiatrists and children and adolescent.

CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY

Clinical psychology is a psychological discipline which provides ongoing and comprehensive

mental and behavioral health care individuals, couples, families and groups; consulting
agencies and communities; education, training and supervision; and evidence-based practice.
They aim to reduce mental suffering and promote mental well-being. It is integration of
humanities, behavioral sciences, theory and clinical knowledge understand, prevent and
alleviate mental suffering or dysfunction and promote subjective well-being and personal
development. Clinical Psychology promotes human adaptation, adjustment, personal
effectiveness and satisfaction (Samaj Karya Siksha, 2021). This field integrates the science
of psychology with the treatment of complex human problems, making it an exciting career
choice for people who are looking to work in a challenging and rewarding field (Kendra
Cherry, 2020). The field of clinical psychology encompasses all ages, diverse and
multifaceted systems. You can become a medical psychologist, child psychologist,
neuropsychologist, etc. A degree in psychology ultimately qualifies you for teaching,
business negotiation and communication. He can be a counselor or therapist in universities
and hospitals.
"The official birth of clinical psychology can be traced to 1896 when "Lighter Witmer"
opened the first Psychological Clinic in Philadelphia Pennsylvania." Lightner Witmer, a
former student of Wilhelm Wundt, defined clinical psychology as "the study of individuals
through observation or experiment with the goal of promoting change."

Dr Milu, assistant professor at PN College, Thrissur, said psychology is important now that
mental health issues and discussions have increased following the COVID-19 pandemic and
the prolonged shutdowns that have followed. "In our country, depression is increasing due to
social isolation, especially during the pandemic, due to excessive use of electronic devices,
drug addiction, behavioral problems and suicide. This must be investigated and addressed by
experts in the field” (Gayathri Krishna, 2023).
 PSYCHIATRY

Psychiatry is a branch of medicine that focuses on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of
mental, emotional and behavioral disorders. A psychiatrist is a doctor (M.D. or D.O.) who
specializes in mental health, including substance use disorders. Psychiatrists are qualified to
assess the mental and physical aspects of mental health problems. People look for psychiatric
help for many reasons. Problems can be sudden, such as panic attacks, frightening
hallucinations, suicidal thoughts or hearing "voices". Or they can be more long-term, such as
sadness, hopelessness or anxiety that never seems to get better, or dysfunction that makes
everyday life distorted or out of control. Psychiatrists use a variety of treatments depending
on the needs of each patient (Howard Liu, 2023).

Psychotherapy is a therapy that involves a conversational relationship between therapist and

patient. It can be used to treat various mental disorders and emotional difficulties. The goal of
psychotherapy is to eliminate or control disabling or distressing symptoms so that the patient
can function better. Depending on the extent of the problem, treatment may last only a few
weeks or two, or it may last several times over years. Psychotherapy can be done alone, as a
couple, with family or in a group.

People often confuse these two terms (Psychiatry and psychology) and assume they are the
same. However, psychiatry and psychology are two disciplines that work side by side. "There
is a big difference between the two fields of study, whether it's their practical expertise or the
way they treat or treat patients," said Dr. Milu Maria, Ph.D., associate professor of
psychology at Prajyoti Niketan College, Thrissur. "A psychiatrist requires an MBBS degree
and an MD in psychiatry, while a clinical psychologist has to do a master's degree and an
M.Phil in the subject to practice. Psychiatrists take their patients with medication and
psychologists use behavioral therapy." (Gayathri Krishna, 2023)
 Child and Adolescent
Children and young people have a critical phase of mental health. This is a time of rapid
growth and development of the brain. Children and young people acquire cognitive and
social-emotional skills that shape their future mental health and are important for assuming
an adult role in society. Mental health problems such as childhood epilepsy, intellectual
disabilities, and depression, anxiety and conduct disorders are major causes of illness and
disability in young people. 10% of the world's children and adolescents experience mental
disorders, but most of them do not seek help or receive treatment. The fourth leading cause of
death among 15-19 year olds is by suicide. The consequences of ignoring the mental health
and psychosocial development of children and young people extend into adulthood and limit
opportunities to live a fulfilling life. It shows how these changes during learning and
development can affect the socio-cultural community. Child and adolescent psychology,
neuropsychology, cognitive behavior, anxiety and mood disorders that can affect child and
adolescent behavior are also covered.
ROLE OF INTERN
At IMH in Kilpauk, they provide many opportunities for all UG and PG students to work as
an intern. During this internship, they give us enough knowledge about the field of
psychology and the dimensions of psychology to help each intern find their destiny. This
practice helps to grow their practical knowledge than theoretical knowledge. Interns are
responsible for assisting and observing the psychologist to develop skills and techniques that
will help them approach their clients. Students are exposed to various settings such as
psychiatry, clinical, pediatric and adolescent, and in the inpatient wards, these settings help to
gain sufficient knowledge of disorders and coping strategies.