Answered Quora Questions

Question: What is the difference between a psychiatric rehabilitation technician and a therapist? And why would a psychiatrist recommend one rather than a therapist? Dr. Sugarman's Answer: A Psychiatric Rehabilitation Technician, or Mental Health Rehabilitation Technician, helps individuals with mental health conditions or disabilities improve their quality of life and develop skills for independent living, work, and social participation. They work under the supervision of mental health professionals, providing support, encouragement, and guidance in various settings.

Here's a more detailed look at the role:

What They Do:

Provide direct patient care: This includes monitoring physical and emotional well-being, assisting with personal hygiene, and administering medications as directed.

Support rehabilitation and treatment programs: They help patients develop work skills, participate in social and recreational activities, and enhance interpersonal skills.

Encourage and facilitate therapeutic activities: This may involve leading group therapy sessions or organizing recreational activities.

Assist with crisis intervention: They may be involved in de-escalating potentially violent or suicidal situations, using verbal or physical restraint as necessary.

Collaborate with other healthcare professionals: They work closely with nurses, doctors, and other mental health professionals to develop and implement treatment plans.

Help clients access resources: They assist clients in finding and utilizing resources that can support their recovery and well-being.

Skills and Qualities

Compassion and empathy: The ability to understand and connect with individuals experiencing mental health challenges is essential.

Patience and understanding: Working with individuals who may have difficulty managing their emotions or behaviors requires patience and a calm demeanor.

Communication skills: The ability to communicate effectively with patients, families, and other healthcare professionals is crucial.

Problem-solving skills: They need to be able to identify and address challenges that patients may face.

Ability to work under pressure: Mental health settings can be demanding, requiring the ability to remain calm and focused in stressful situations.

Education and Training: While specific requirements can vary by location and employer, many positions require a high school diploma or equivalent, along with relevant experience or training in mental health care.

Some employers may prefer or require an associate's degree or certificate in a related field, such as mental health technician or psychiatric rehabilitation. Continuing education and professional development are important for staying current with best practices in mental health care.

Job Outlook: The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment for psychiatric technicians and aides is expected to grow faster than average for all occupations.

This growth is driven by the increasing need for mental health services and the aging population. Many openings are also expected due to the need to replace workers who retire or leave the field.

It looks like this is an important addition to the full “continuum of care of mental health services.” The training looks less than that of most psychotherapists (who either have masters or doctoral degrees, or meet other standards for “licensed-professional-counselor”) From the description, it seems like they work in larger organizations. I don’t know if they would work as independent practitioners. It would be helpful for any psychiatric rehabilitation technicians, to add to this conversation.

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Question: Is it possible to be dismissed as a client by a therapist or psychiatrist if they disagree with your behavior or statements towards them? Dr. Sugarman's Answer: A psychotherapist or psychiatrist (doing psychotherapy) could “dismiss” a client (patient) for a variety of reasons. Rather than ramble about the complexities, let me just focus on this specific question and keep it personal: If I disagreed with what a patient says, I would try and engage in a conversation, to sort out our differences, assuming it is an issue that in important within the context of our work.

My assumption is that we are both “on the same side of the table” i.e. we are both working towards the patient getting something helpful from therapy. So, if we could resolve any relevant disagreements, or at least agree to disagree, we might be able to continue. We need to agree about these more important issues: That we have mutually defined treatment goals and we are constructively working towards them. If so, it makes sense for the therapy to continue. If we can’t do this, then I think we would mutually decide to not continue the treatment.

(note: i am not sure what you mean about “behavior” so I kept this answer focused only on statements.)