Aug

23

How to choose a psychotherapist

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When to seek help from a psychologist, how to choose him and why talking to friends does not help with psychological trauma. People has always had a spiritual need to understand himself. Previously, this was helped by the religious paradigm. We knew what was right and what was wrong. Existential questions about life and death were regulated. But as the world becomes more globalized, people no longer have anyone to turn to – and non-religious people also need the spiritual. The world is changing rapidly, and we no longer understand how to treat it and how to react to it. The man is left alone, and friends here can not help. You have a clear and clear relationship with a psychologist. There are certain frameworks of behavior. You don’t have to worry about being offended by the counselor’s reaction to your words.

What is the difference between a psychologist and a psychotherapist

Psychologists are divided into specialists in various fields. A practical psychologist helps a person in self-examination of himself. The psychologist provides assistance in the form of counseling, diagnosis, correction.

Psychotherapy is the treatment of psychological trauma. Psychotherapists are called both doctors and psychologists. But they must be distinguished. A psychotherapist is a doctor, a person with a medical education, who treats, first of all, with drugs. The psychotherapist works with those who do not have organic lesions and serious physical injuries to the brain. Otherwise, such issues should be addressed by a psychiatrist.

The psychotherapist makes a medical diagnosis and selects the appropriate drugs. This does not exclude the fact that he has a conversation with the patient, helps him to understand himself. The person who consulted a psychotherapist is a patient, that is, one who has entrusted his health to a specialist and is committed to accurately follow the prescription. The doctor is primarily responsible for her condition, which will depend on medication.

Psychologist-psychotherapist is a person with appropriate psychological education. The psychologist does not prescribe drugs and does not make medical diagnoses. Otherwise, he must refer his client to a medical professional. Psychologist-psychotherapist treats psychological traumas. He accompanies the client on the path of self-understanding and search for personal decisions and actions, explains, highlights certain motives and consequences.

A person who consults a psychologist or a psychologist-psychotherapist is his client, not a patient. The responsibility for the end result lies not only with the specialist, but also with the person himself.

The psychologist provides the service, but does not require the client to unquestioningly follow his instructions and advice (the latter he does not give at all). And every client has to make an effort.

Many psychologists study the methods of psychotherapy and apply it. The line between a psychologist and a psychotherapist is quite blurred today.

How to understand that you should consult a specialist

I would suggest the following algorithm:

  • Recommendations from people you trust.
  • Sites, open pages of specialists on Facebook: read what they write in articles and professional notes, ask questions.
  • Personal meeting with a specialist: ask questions that concern you, check that he has therapeutic practice, personal therapy and supervision *.

Most people come for recommendations. In addition, it is necessary to clarify all the questions of the specialist: his experience, direction of work, education. Even if you have personal questions to a specialist – ask them. And about marital status, and about age, and about the place of reception. The level of personal sympathy is important. If you feel or see something that does not impress you – it is better to look for another specialist. Feel free to analyze the pages of psychologists – how close to you is the world of this person. There are also sites with databases of psychologists, for example, “The psychologist”.

Of course, do not forget to clarify whether the psychologist is working with your problem: communication difficulties, depression or suicidal thoughts. A qualified psychologist can refer you to another colleague who works with your problems.

How to understand that a psychologist is incompetent

Choosing a psychologist is always a risk. Now many people who profane psychological help offer their services. I can name some signs of such pseudo-help:

  • You are promised to solve your problems quickly and painlessly.
  • You are offered to make you “good” and “correct” if you perform simple “exercises”. But man can only be himself. Exercises such as forbidding yourself “bad feelings”, “positive thinking” or persuading “I see a goal – I do not see obstacles” will not make you happy in the more or less long term. True psychology gives an understanding: what I am really endowed with, what is the primary source of my suffering and “bad” feelings, what I really want.
  • The psychologist places the responsibility for your actions and decisions on some forces beyond your control.
  • Lack of unconditional acceptance of your feelings, respect for them, attempts to impose “right” feelings on you.
  • Trying to persuade you to “change” as it seems necessary to the psychologist.

How to understand that therapy helps

The psychologist helps to formulate a specific request from the problem. It is he who is put to work. The result is if the problem is solved or the client has learned to live with it. After all, there are problems that are impossible to get rid of. If it is solved, then you can take the next task, the goal to which to move.

Category: Psychotherapy

About the Author ()

I’ve hurt myself while trying to help myself more than you can imagine, that’s why I want to scientifically analyze every popular self-help technique and ‘method’ there is.