Working on yourself is difficult and stressful situations can shake faith in our own strength. Despite this, the topic of mental health often remains in the background, and lots of people have the mindset of “be patient” or “you can handle it yourself”.
In fact, many of us do need the help of a psychologist, and it’s important to recognise that when it happens.
Peace of mind is an integral part of a happy and fulfilling life, and the main task of a psychologist is to help a person who is confused in life, facing difficulties, and unable to solve their problems alone. People who need help feel this way because their body’s response to stress is different.
That’s why in this article we will tell you how to choose a good psychologist and why even the frankest conversations with friends will not solve psychological problems. So, if you’re thinking, “How can I find a psychologist near me?” keep reading for all the main considerations you need to know.
Common Stereotypes Preventing You From Getting Help
First of all, let’s look at the stereotypes that stop many of us from turning to a specialist:
“I’m normal, why should I go to a psychologist.” The fact is that psychologists work with all types of people. They help with advice and training, teach correct coping techniques, correct your behaviour, and increases self-esteem.
When a person has pathological disorders – it is dealt with by a psychiatrist: they diagnose and prescribe medication.
A psychotherapist is also a person with medical education: they identify possible causes of internal problems, helps to get rid of them, and prevents them in the future. Psychotherapy involves non-drug treatment.
The help of a psychologist may be one or many consultations, but treatment by a psychotherapist or psychiatrist is usually longer.
“I can discuss my problems with my friend, it will be enough.” You can, but it’s not the same. In a conversation with a friend, you can get great psychological support and help in a difficult life situation. You can complain, understand, and hear the words you want to hear at that very moment.
But consulting a psychologist is radically different from the usual conversation. First, there are situations when we decide that it is better for loved ones not to know about our problems because it can negatively affect the relationship. Or we cannot be 100% open for fear of condemnation, disagreement, misunderstanding.
Secondly, confidentiality and impartiality are significant advantages of a psychologist. They are obliged to keep everything they hear a secret, and they see the problem comprehensively and independently.
“I am a psychologist myself.” No, even a psychologist is not going to treat themselves. And among these specialists, it is absolutely normal to periodically go for a consultation with their colleagues, as well as a dentist would go to another dentist.
Psychological help requires certain knowledge and skills, a need base, and an understanding of mental processes. Even if you know how to solve your problems yourself, no matter how logical you are, no matter how much you reflect, and no matter how well you understand people, remember: it’s difficult. It’s best to objectively evaluate the system while being in it.
When Do You Need A Help From A Psychologist?
The help of a psychotherapist may be needed at any point in your life, so you should consult a good psychologist as soon as possible. Good reasons to seek help are if:
- You have a topic that you can’t discuss with anyone.
- Everything makes you nervous.
- You feel unreasonable anxiety.
- You overeat.
- You feel constant emotional exhaustion.
- You feel apathy, nothing makes you happy.
- You have constant mood swings.
- You feel lonely and isolated.
- You have a sleep disorder.
- You feel that you have lost control.
- You have problems in your relationship.
It should be noted that these worries occur from time to time in every person’s life. The benefit of a good psychologist with relevant experience is that they will help to overcome these difficulties as they arise.
Finding A Specialist: What Do You Need To Pay Attention To
What distinguishes a good psychologist?
1 – A good psychologist does not abuse their authority and influence over the patient. Does not teach, does not incite, does not impose their opinion. Instead, they help you to understand your own unconscious experiences that are causing problems.
2 – Does not make empty promises. A good psychologist will not promise that after their consultations you will never be nervous again or start your own successful business tomorrow.
3 – Accepts the patient as they are. The psychologist does not evaluate your actions. Like a lawyer and a doctor, they serve YOUR interests.
4 – The specialist is happy to answer questions about their specialisation, field, or school to which they belong, as well as show the necessary certificates and documents.
5 – Make appointments in your office, not on the street, in a cafe, and, of course, not at home. The psychologist mentions the exact time of meetings, the exact payment, and the number of consultations.
6 – They won’t brag about which public figures are among their clients. A professional always values your privacy and preserves your reputation.
7 – A psychologist who is also a sexologist and speech therapist is involved in the adaptation of children to kindergarten and retirees before retirement – a rather dubious specialist. A true specialist has a clearly defined range of problems with which they work.
8 – And of course, focus on your own feelings. A psychologist does not have to be your friend, but this person should inspire confidence in you and generally be pleasant and attentive.
When Will I See Results?
To see the best outcome, you need to communicate with the psychologist, and you need to be completely open. Achieving this level of relationship is quite difficult, so you need to trust the one you’ve chosen.
A good professional tries to understand you and find the cause of the problem. You should not expect a magical intervention, but a specialist who knows how to listen is a necessity. From there, the result also very largely depends on your attitude to the recommendations they propose and how willing you are to implement changes.
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