Background

• Your Background by Curious, 12/23/98
  
  

I'm a psychiatrist who works a lot in forensic mental health. I have worked in most kinds of clinical settings, including several kinds of psychotherapy, and have taught and/or supervised psychiatrists, other therapists, and trainees for many years. The reason I specify that I'm not a psychologist has to do with a few differences between psychological training and practice and my own. There are, of course, many areas of overlap but it wouldn't be right for me to suggest that I am a member of, for example, the American Psychological Association or understand the nuances of psychometrics. Finally, one principle of legal situations in clinical practice is that the setting and the work performed is often more relevant than the credentials of the practitioner. That means, among other things, that a psychologist, a psychiatrist, and an MSW who diagnose and treat, say, depression with psychotherapy are all held to similar standards (thus, know what you are doing before you take on responsibility for patient care). For a complete summary, you are welcome to check out my website at www.reidpsychiatry.com (click on the "Qualifications" subpage).

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