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Originally Posted by mountainfrog
Doctors are relatively well off here, possibly third after politicians and mafiosos.
To enter this circle as a foreigner is almost impossible.
As far as I know the state requires an applicant to go thorough exams again.
Even passing those one would have difficulties from the competing colleagues.
I know of a Cuban doctor who worked (too) successfully in a private clinic and was "sawed off" by a charlatan doctor who is also a politician.
m'frog
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The mental health field in the DR, like much the rest of the socioeconomic structure of the country, is two-tiered; one large inefficient system of subpar public services for the large sectors of the poor and high-quality private professionals for those few who are well-educated and have the means to access specialized help. The professionals working with the latter, much smaller group, compete for a relatively tiny "market" of patients. Sustainable financial success is elusive even for those working with the elite clientele.
Putting the DR specifics aside, IMO in order to function in any country as a good therapist that person must have a strong understanding of the culture and language of the people to be helped. That's fundamental.
Also, some, but not all psychologists are doctors (PhD's or PsyD) but they are not medical doctors (M.D.'s). They train heavily in the theoretical aspects of mindfullness, design and interpret intelligence and personality tests, and some become clinicians or therapists.
Psychiatrists are M.D.'s with postgraduate specialization in the medical care of mental illnesses. People with psychoses or medically-complex behavioral problems should go to one of these and not a psychologist. Some psychiatrists are psychotherapists, but most psychotheapists are not psychiatrists.
Despite some areas of overlapping literature, the theoretical underpinnings, philosophy of care, and licensing requirements for these two disiciplines are quite different in all countries with regulated professions, but laypeople everywhere still often unwisely make no such disticntion.
BTW, brujos are therapists without degree and they are more readily available to the uneducated and poor; and because they can connect more easily they are in many cases just as effective as those of us with fancier titles. They know how to listen, and can be quite persuasive with ritual-rich recipes and life coaching.
- Tordok
(10)
psychologist job
