Let’s figure out how to get a match with that very specialist.
From this article you will learn:
- Who is a psychologist and how is he different from a psychotherapist and a psychiatrist ;
- when and why to go to therapy;
- What types of therapy exist ?
- what will help you choose a specialist;
- What behavior of a psychologist should cause concern?
Who is a psychologist?
A psychologist is a mental health specialist. Their toolkit includes evidence-based talk therapy methods. These methods help address destructive beliefs and behavior patterns, negative emotions, complexes, trauma, and poor self-esteem.
The scope of work for psychologists is multifaceted and depends on their specialization. For example, there are :
- neuropsychologists – brain researchers;
- forensic and legal psychologists;
- military psychologists;
- educational psychologists;
- Consumer psychologists “juggle” the desires of buyers and increase sales of various goods.
Are a psychologist and a psychotherapist the same thing?
No.
Typically, a psychologist has a higher education in one of the following areas: clinical, educational, social or legal psychology.
Requests to a psychologist relate to the treatment of specific psychological difficulties or behavioral modification. For example, with the support of a psychologist, one can:
- cope with panic attacks, fears, phobias and the urge to self-harm ;
- learn to control emotions and master effective communication skills;
- reduce anxiety and stress levels;
- correct sleep disorders;
- break free from codependency and overcome relationship difficulties;
- stop listening to your inner critic and punishing yourself;
- overcome difficulties with concentration;
- increase self-esteem and learn to defend personal boundaries.
In addition to a higher education in psychology, a psychotherapist also has specialized training in a specific therapeutic approach, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, existential therapy, Gestalt therapy, or psychoanalysis. Such a specialist may also have a higher education in psychiatry, which qualifies them to prescribe medication.
Psychotherapy is a long-term process. It aims to correct and work through deep-seated issues and personality disorders, as well as develop important psychological skills.
Incidentally, it’s important for mental health professionals themselves to undergo personal therapy and supervision : after all, they’re human too, and their psyches are just as fluid. Furthermore, science is constantly evolving, and ongoing certification and professional development are essential.
Psychiatrists are strictly medical professionals. They work primarily with mental illnesses that require medication and that not only reduce a patient’s quality of life but also directly threaten their health. Typically, people with mental illnesses consult both a psychologist and a psychiatrist. This combination has proven effective.
There are also consulting psychologists in the psychological services market —people with a higher education in psychology who have narrowed their field of practice to one or a few topics: for example, relationship counseling or career self-determination.
The consultant’s primary task is to analyze the request and help the individual choose a direction. Or to assist in achieving a specific goal that doesn’t require behavioral modification or lengthy, methodical work.
But this entire “hierarchy” is quite vague and doesn’t always work in real life: the same person can act as a psychotherapist, psychologist, or consultant, depending on the client’s needs. A strict distinction can only be made with psychiatrists.
When should you see a psychologist?
There is no universal answer.
Some people harbor the idea for a long time and then calmly decide to attend their first session. Others seek psychological help because they’re driven by difficult and traumatic circumstances that are happening right now, such as divorce or postpartum depression.
There are people with a high level of reflection : they are able to subtly sense their own and others’ emotions, possess mindfulness skills, and clearly see which traumas influence their behavior in the here and now. But even such “supermen” can eventually hit a dead end.
For example, understanding that despite having enormous professional potential, one is somehow afraid to express one’s knowledge and skills. One sees no way to realize oneself, and this causes suffering. To broaden one’s perspective and restore harmony to one’s life, one can seek professional help.
In the post-Soviet space, there’s a common belief that therapy is a pastime for weaklings. “I don’t need it, I can handle it myself , ” “I’m just broke,” “ A friend will tell me the same thing for free” —conservative beliefs create the feeling that seeking help is shameful and pointless.
But therapy isn’t about crying on someone’s shoulder or dumping your suffering on someone else. It’s about hard, and sometimes unpleasant, work on yourself.
Psychologists are especially vigorously disregarding men, but attitudes like “men don’t cry” lead only to an unhappy life.
Boys can be exposed to the idea that “negative emotions = weakness” as early as elementary school. They learn to hide their feelings and eventually become adults for whom the phrase “We need to talk” triggers a panic attack .
It’s important to understand that personality isn’t an ephemeral “something” in the head, but a system with its own patterns. We experience various things and learn specific behavioral scenarios—patterns. These inevitably influence our lives, and sometimes even ruin them. One of the important goals of psychotherapy is to identify harmful patterns and learn to live without them.
For example, a child grew up in a strict family, where straight-A grades were always more important than emotions and desires. If they did their homework diligently, they were praised and given gifts. But if not, they were met with angry tirades about family shame and a poor future.
Ultimately, a person learns that being an excellent student and pleasing others is the only way to earn love. These beliefs “migrate” into adulthood. This leads to attempts to buy permissiveness and well-being in relationships with expensive gifts, self-aggrandizement, the desire to embellish life on social media, and self-indulgence in pursuit of promotions. Therapy can help uncover the roots of these patterns and acknowledge and process childhood trauma.
What types of therapy are there?
There are different classifications. For example:
- Depending on the number of participants , psychotherapy can be individual, group, couples, or family (for example, for parents with children).
- Based on the style of interaction between the psychologist and the client, a distinction is made between directive and non-directive therapy.
In directive therapy, the psychologist is the leader of the psychotherapeutic process: they determine the direction and goals and take responsibility for achieving them. Non-directive therapy assumes that the person seeking help sets the tone of the therapy.
The concept of non-directivity (or “non-directivity”) emerged in the 1940s, when psychologist Carl Rogers proposed a then-new perception : psychologists are not life experts, and people should look within themselves more often for answers.
In addition, there are many approaches to therapy. Popular ones include:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) focuses on working with thoughts and eliminating negative beliefs that influence behavior. It is suitable for all ages. It is believed that this approach is universal and effective in addressing a wide range of problems. CBT has undergone three stages of development, each based on specific principles. The first wave—behaviorism—focused solely on human behavior; the second wave incorporated thought analysis (searching for irrational thoughts and creating new ones) into behavioral analysis; the third wave focused on acceptance and mindfulness ( schema therapy and ACT —representatives of the third wave of CBT).
- The psychodynamic approach , rooted in Freud’s psychoanalytic therapy, focuses on better self-understanding and working through internal conflicts and defenses. This approach often establishes connections between “feelings today” and “experiences yesterday.”
- Gestalt therapy perceives the person as a whole. It is believed that thoughts, emotions, and bodily reactions are interconnected and influence adaptation to the surrounding world. Gestalt therapy emphasizes momentary emotions and desires, which a person can express to a psychologist without fear.
Some types of therapy are targeted —they are designed (or were historically developed) to treat specific mental disorders. For example, prolonged exposure therapy is used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder, and dialectical behavior therapy is used to treat borderline personality disorder.
What to look for when choosing a specialist
There are no uniform rules, but here are some things to consider:
- specialist education;
- experience in the required approach;
- publications of the specialist in scientific journals, media and social networks.
Expressing your opinion in the information space is a way to assert yourself, to define your values and your human perspective. It can happen that a therapist is excellent at their work, but you disagree on issues such as sexual freedom or the importance of religion. Such human differences can become a deterrent during therapy. If possible, it’s best to familiarize yourself with the worldview of the therapist you’re considering beforehand.
Some psychologists offer trial sessions . This test drive will allow you to get a feel for how the rapport is developing, learn about the psychologist’s methods, and see if their method of delivering feedback suits you.
What is unacceptable on the part of a psychologist
You should be wary if the specialist:
- Promises quick results. Understanding someone in just a couple of sessions is impossible; we’re too complex.
- Takes on the role of a parent. Moralizing and advising, condemning, and emotionally abusing others are not part of a psychologist’s role; they are harmful and only worsen the client’s condition.
- Inattentive. If you have to explain the same thing over and over again, and the specialist constantly gets confused about the context of your life, they’re probably not focused on you and aren’t interested in progress.
- Shows erotic attention. Flirting, signs of attention, touching, and attempts to communicate outside of meetings indicate that the relationship has already crossed the professional line.
- Imposes values. The psychologist’s personal opinions (especially on topics such as religion, politics, sexual freedom, and orientation) should not be allowed to leak into the conversation.
- Offers unscientific practices , such as summoning spirits or reading horoscopes.
- Devaluates feelings and problems. Only you can decide how sad or hurt you are.
- Crosses personal boundaries – for example, pokes at you without consent, uses personal projections, demands to tell you something you are not ready to talk about.
If a specialist’s behavior raises questions, you can review the psychologist’s code of ethics . It describes the principles that guide most conscientious professionals.
Finding a psychologist isn’t always a quick process. It’s important not to give up if things don’t work out with a particular specialist. Remember, you’re not making a one-time, lifelong choice: it’s okay to try different options, methods, and formats. And when something doesn’t work out, you can and should talk about it—and leave if you can’t establish trust with the therapist.