Question to a psychologist
Hello. I am 31 years old. I work in the police. After 10 years of service, a departmental psychologist identified schizoid accentuation (psychopathy) in me. Tell me, does the psychologist have the right to make such a diagnosis or should he refer me to the Center for Psychiatry to see a psychiatrist, do I need observation in hospital, what will happen to me if the diagnosis is confirmed? Thanks in advance!
Hello, Sergey! The diagnosis can only be made by a doctor (psychiatrist, clinical psychologist). Accentuation of character is not a disease, but changes in character. Observation in a hospital is not necessary unless indicated by a neurologist. You can contact a psychologist you trust and take a course to work with the problem.
Best regards, Larisa.
Good answer 5 Bad answer 3Hello, Sergey! Accentuation is not psychopathy!!! and especially not a diagnosis!!! and you don’t need to be observed anywhere!!! this is simply a variation in personality quality above the average statistical norm and this suggests that you are simply a more withdrawn person in communication, and fewer contacts are enough for you, it can also go together with an introverted personality, it also speaks of your internal self-sufficiency (i.e. because you don’t need a big company to satisfy your needs) and many people can have such an accentuation and, on the contrary, it helps many people - they are more thoughtful, less susceptible to emotional outbursts, their inner world is rich and sufficient, and they are more guided by rationality when making decisions and logic!
Good answer 8 Bad answer 1
Sergey, is there anything that worries you other than the name? How are you feeling? How are relationships in the family and in the team? What's the question? It is advisable to “check” diagnoses (such as “you have gastritis”) with a couple of doctors. Everyone can make mistakes. And here, according to the test... Read Leonhard's classification. Here's the quote" Schizoid accentuation is characterized byisolationthe individual, his isolation from other people. Schizoid people lackintuitionand the ability to empathize. They have a hard time establishing emotional connections. They have stable and permanent interests. Very laconic. The inner world is almost always closed to others and is filled with hobbies andfantasies, which are intended only to please oneself. May occasionally show a tendency to drink alcohol, which is never accompanied by a feelingeuphoria"There is something about you, who knows more about yourself than you?
Good answer 7 Bad answer 0
Sergey, good afternoon! Schizoid accentuation is a pronounced expression of certain traits in your character. And despite the scary name, it is not a disease! Those. there is some tendency towards psychopathy, but this is not psychopathy itself, which is already a disease. The psychologist probably simply failed to convey this clearly to you or you did not understand him. There is no need to see a doctor for this. Most likely, your profession, due to its peculiarity, has led to some deformations over 10 years. And no wonder - your profession is highly “harmful” to psychological health. Now just calm down, talk to a psychologist (of your choice, not necessarily a departmental one) about how to help your loved one become more balanced. This will be useful for your physical health and your peace of mind, and will be useful for further work. The psychologist will correct some points and teach you how to maintain maximum stability and harmony under constant stress.
Good answer 6 Bad answer 0
Hello, Sergey! Accentuation is not a diagnosis, but the increased influence of a given factor in your character - this is not a pathology, and besides, a psychologist does not make diagnoses at all - only a psychiatrist has the right to do this. How do you feel about yourself? are you comfortable? Do you feel satisfied with life - is your isolation and excessive isolation from other people bothering you? That is, this in itself does not threaten you with anything, it’s just possible that after 10 years of working in the police, your character has transformed and you have become more closed, so as not to show your emotionality, since it can interfere with your work. These are the questions you should think about. And it is possible to turn to a psychologist so that he can help you better understand yourself and your worldviews and emotions. Best regards, Maria
Good answer 4 Bad answer 3Psychologist is a specialist who studies the human psyche and provides him with psychological assistance in different life situations, with different psychological disorders. The psychologist received a higher education in the humanities with a degree in Psychology. After graduating from a higher educational institution, a psychologist undergoes additional professional retraining in the area of interest in psychology, as well as courses for mastering various methods psychological correction.
Psychology ( psyche - soul) is the science of man - his consciousness, feelings, desires and behavior, how what is called the soul works. Psychology is an applied science, which means that it can be viewed in terms of important applications to other sciences and disciplines. Psychologists work almost everywhere people work ( even where technology does the main work, the human factor cannot be excluded).
Psychologists can work in the following institutions:
- educational institutions – schools, kindergartens, higher education educational establishments, colleges;
- healthcare institutions– clinics, health centers, hospitals and clinics ( psychiatric, narcological, oncological neurological and others), rehabilitation centers, antenatal clinics, psychological assistance centers and a helpline;
- legal organizations – legal centers, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, correctional institutions, forensic examination and other organizations of this type;
- manufacturing and other organizations– banks, firms ( HR or management department), civil aviation, railway depot, military regiment and Ministry of Emergency Situations.
Psychologists may also engage in private practice ( self-employment).
In addition to the psychologist, the following specialists deal with the human psyche:
- psychiatrist is a doctor who deals with diseases of the brain that affect the human psyche ( cause – illness, consequence – mental disorder);
- psychotherapist– a doctor or psychologist who deals with mental disorders ( the cause is improper functioning of the psyche, that is, unresolved problems, and the consequence is illness), and using for this various methods psychotherapy.
Psychologist, psychotherapist and psychiatrist are different different approaches to the same mental suffering.
If the question with the psychiatrist is more or less clear ( he is a doctor), what is the difference between a psychologist-psychotherapist and an ordinary psychologist is not always clear, because they often use the same diagnostic tests and very similar treatment methods. The difference is small, but it is there. According to the law Russian Federation, as well as some other CIS republics, only a doctor has the right to be called a psychotherapist, at the same time, in the United States of America, not only doctors, but also psychologists, as well as social workers can practice psychotherapy after receiving the appropriate license and practice under supervision. The main difference is the right to prescribe medications, which only psychotherapists have.
A doctor of almost any specialty can become a psychologist in order to provide patients with qualified psychological assistance in addition to medical care.
Psychiatrists, psychotherapists and psychologists often work “in one team”, as, for example, the attending physician, the diagnostician, and the consultant physician work together.
What does a psychologist do?
Psychologists are engaged either in pedagogical activities or provide psychological assistance, that is, they identify and help eliminate psychological problems. If a psychologist's work is limited to consultation, he is usually called a consultant. A psychologist works with everything related to the human psyche, that is, his inner world or soul. The concept of “soul” among the ancient Greeks is described by deciphering the letter “psi” ( ψ
). It is this letter that has become a symbol of psychology. It is believed that this trident-shaped letter represents the three parts of the human soul - earthly, heavenly and spiritual. If we reformat this into psychological terms, we get concepts such as will ( desires, instincts), emotions ( feelings) and reason ( mind, thoughts). This same concept underlies many religions ( Trinity).
The work of the psyche
"Department" of the psyche | Mental processes | Mental conditions |
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Intelligence | Cognitive |
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Feelings | Emotional |
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Will | Regulatory |
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Depending on their activity, the following psychologists are distinguished:
- Psychologist in kindergarten – monitors the development and mental health of children. A psychologist works not only with children, but also with parents and educators.
- School psychologist– carries out psychological diagnostics and correction of students, advises parents and teachers regarding the state of mental health of children. In addition, there are special classes at school conducted by a psychologist.
- Family psychologist– helps to decide conflict situations between parents and children or among a married couple.
- Psychologist-consultant– gives recommendations in various fields, where psychology is applicable ( legal psychologists, business psychologists, coaches, etc.).
- Psychologist-professional consultant– advises a person at work, determines his psychological profile, helps solve the problem of loss of interest in his favorite job.
- Military psychologist - works in the Ministry of Internal Affairs and in military regiments, protecting the mental health of command and personnel. Special attention allocated to employees who have visited hot spots.
- Helpline psychologist– works in the emergency psychological assistance service.
- Sports psychologist– increases the level of motivation of the athlete, psychological endurance, conducts classes among the team members, helps resolve interpersonal conflicts.
- Medical ( clinical) psychologist is a specialist who has received education as a psychologist ( at a medical or humanities university) and studied medical disciplines related to psychology ( psychiatry, neurology, narcology), but is not a doctor. This specialist studies the relationship between the disease and mental state, provides consultations with patients and their attending physicians.
- Psychologist-rehabilitation specialist– works with teenage children who are experiencing difficulties with adaptation in society, provides them with training, correction and restoration of impaired functions;
- Psychologist-perinatologist– works in a antenatal clinic and provides psychological assistance to women during pregnancy and childbirth ( courses “Childbirth without pain”), after childbirth, during breastfeeding. In addition, this psychologist works with surrogate mothers, women who want to have an abortion, cannot get pregnant or bear a child, and other problems that are associated with the concept of “mother and child.”
- Neuropsychologist– studies mental processes from the point of view of brain functioning. Basically, a neuropsychologist works with the cognitive functions of the brain, that is, cognitive processes, especially if they are underdeveloped. Most often she works with children. A neuropsychologist determines the child’s readiness for school, the compliance of cognitive mental processes ( attention, memory, speech and others) age, identifies reasons that disrupt the child’s learning process and behavior.
A psychologist studies various objects that relate to a person as an individual and his role in society. The main goal of a psychologist is to study human behavior, to find out why a person behaves in specific situation one way and not another.
A psychologist deals with the following psychological problems:
- Problems personal nature – any discomfort that a person experiences ( stress);
- interpersonal problems– violation of harmony and mutual understanding in relationships with other people;
- drastic changes in life– change in a person’s status in society;
- age crises - periods of a person’s life during which mental restructuring occurs;
- psychosomatic disorders – type of psychological disorders that manifest themselves in biological ( bodily) level, develop in both adults and children;
- problems of training and work – disruption of such mental processes as focus of attention, perception ( information), thinking, memory.
All these problems are interconnected and transform into one another. For example, psychological trauma can disrupt harmony in relationships, and disruption of harmony in relationships can lead to “personal” stress and impair performance. Psychosomatic disorders are one of the manifestations age crises, and age-related crises, in turn, can arise as a result of disharmonious relationships. That is why psychologists differ from each other not only in the “problems” they deal with, but also in the principle of applying psychology to a certain area of life and taking into account age.
Personality problems and "personal" problems
A psychologist views a person as an individual with his needs ( Who am I?) or as a social object performing a specific function ( What am I doing?). Personality is a person from the point of view of society ( I am part of society). An individual is a person with his individual psychological characteristics and self-awareness ( I'm not like others). An individual’s problems are “personal” tasks, the overcoming of which leads to personal growth. Personality problems or personal problems are problems of social integration and adaptation ( personal growth).
A person’s personal growth is not always visible to others, as it is associated with a person’s internal struggle. However, personal growth ultimately leads to personal growth—accomplishments that are visible to other people. That is why these concepts are often combined.
Mental personality properties include:
- focus– motivation, desires, interests, aspirations, inclinations, worldview, beliefs;
- temperament– innate type of reaction of the highest nervous activity;
- character- a “collection” of personality properties that determine a person’s attitude towards himself, towards people around him, the world, work ( are acquired personality traits, as opposed to temperament);
- capabilities– individual inclinations of a person to a certain type of activity ( makings).
If any character trait is expressed more clearly than others ( pointed), then this state is designated as character accentuation. A personality with an accentuation of character is called accentuated. This condition is not considered a pathology, but is an extreme degree of normality.
Freud proposed a scientific version of the concept of personality.
According to Freud's concept of personality, there are:
- Id or "It"– the unconscious, which includes instincts and desires that require immediate satisfaction ( no control);
- Ego or "I"- human consciousness or mind ( reason), while the “I” controls the desires of the “It”.
- Super-Ego or "super-ego"– superconsciousness, which includes spiritual values, religious feelings or conscience, morality, while the “super-ego” controls the “I”.
Freud believed that psychological conflict arises due to the constant struggle of these three components, in other words, when desires and opportunities to satisfy them do not coincide ( permissions).
Communication and relationships
Communication is one of the human needs. On the other hand, communication can become a source of stress and cause mental disorders. A person who knows how to communicate correctly can create relationships. At the same time, the ability to communicate and build relationships is the same skill as other human abilities. Psychologist in in this case looks like a programmer who adapts two devices to work together - synchronizes, helping people change the settings of their psyche.
"Extreme" stress
Stress strengthens the mind, just as regular exercise strengthens the body. However, if the stress is “excessive,” the psyche can “break,” which is why psychology also uses the term “psychotrauma.”
Each person has his own threshold of stress that he can withstand while maintaining performance. This is called stress resistance. The level of stress resistance is an individual parameter ( by analogy with physical activity it's like different weight categories), that is, one person overcomes this situation “easily” ( it's not stressful for him), and the other cannot “bear it”. At the same time, psychotrauma occurs to one degree or another in all people who have experienced extreme situations– these are more or less common stressful situations for all people that threaten the life and health of the person himself or his loved ones. At the same time, the negative consequences for people who have experienced extreme situations also vary in severity.
Age crises
An age crisis is a period characteristic of each period of life, which is necessary for the transition to a new level of mental functioning. This is a kind of upgrade or improvement of the “computer” system of the psyche. An age crisis, unlike a personal crisis, occurs for everyone. You can either come out of an age crisis with a “plus”, that is, with a new skill, or you can be left with a gap, which will immediately or a little later affect a person’s behavior.
In psychology, the following age-related crises are distinguished:
- Crisis of the first year of life ( 1 month – 1 year) – the child receives almost all information through feeding ( pleasant emotions while eating), which is why Freud calls this stage oral.
- Three-year-old crisis ( 2.5 – 4 years) – the child learns to control his urge to urinate or have a bowel movement, which is why this stage is called the anal stage. The child’s main motto during this period is “myself,” which is why aggression, negativism, stubbornness, and protest often arise.
- Seven-year-old crisis ( 4 – 6 years) – this period is necessary for the child to realize that he belongs to a certain gender ( phallic stage) and for the formation of adequate self-esteem ( balance between initiative and recognition of parental authority).
- A crisis adolescence (12 – 18 years old) – the transition from childhood to adulthood is the most difficult, and therefore considered the most critical. A person's main desires are to free himself from parental care and integrate into the “pack” ( peer group).
- Middle age crisis ( 30 – 32 years) – reassessment of life, the correctness of the choice made ( crisis of the “meaning of life”). During this period, a person must solve the problems of self-expression, accept himself and realize his professional potential ( What have I already achieved and what have I not yet achieved?).
- Pre-retirement crisis ( about 55 years old) – the main interests are health and human values ( justice). A person begins to wonder what he will do after retirement.
Psychosomatic disorders
Psychosomatic disorders are physical manifestations of stress when psychological trauma disrupts regulatory mechanisms internal organs and a “failure” occurs. Psychosomatics ( soma – body, psycho – soul) today is one of the sections of clinical ( medical) psychology.
According to psychosomatic psychology, any physical illness arises due to an unresolved mental problem, and each illness has its own “own” problem ( this is, in a sense, an “escape into illness” from problems, often unconscious). There are even special tables of psychosomatic disorders. Many used in Everyday life expressions reflect the connection between mental experiences and the body, for example, “I can’t digest it,” “I’m shitting my pants out of fear,” “I feel it in my liver,” and so on.
Learning and performance problems
To learn and process information, the brain uses its “higher functions” or cognitive mental processes. These include perception ( sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch), thinking ( analysis of incoming information) and memory ( storage in the brain “database”). All this also requires the ability to maintain attention on the object. It is important that a psychologist deals with these problems in people who are clinically ( medically) have no reason to disrupt these functions.
How is an appointment with a psychologist?
An appointment with a psychologist is different from an appointment with a doctor. A psychologist never asks the question “what are you complaining about?” Consultation with a psychologist takes place in the form of a conversation. If a psychologist practices psychoanalysis, then there is usually a couch or sofa in the office. However, most often the client ( this is what they call a person who has turned to a psychologist) and the psychologist sit next to or opposite each other. The interest that a psychologist shows comes in the form of an offer to talk about something in more detail ( do you want to talk about it?). If a person does not want to talk about something, the psychologist does not force him. At the same time, the psychologist always shows a willingness to listen. A consultation with a psychologist is carried out both to identify the cause of the problem and to resolve the problem.
A conversation with a psychologist consists of the following stages:
- acquaintance– the stage of establishing emotional contact, the psychologist listens and empathizes;
- finding out the reason for the request– the psychologist finds out what exactly the problem is, as the client sees it;
- clarifying the client's goals– jointly drawing up a plan to overcome a stressful situation;
- search alternative options – a psychologist can offer various methods for solving psychological problems;
- mood for active action ( active psychological support) – the psychologist gives confident arguments that motivate a person to take action to solve the problem.
The psychologist receives information not only from the client’s words, but also non-verbal ( without words) ways.
The psychologist pays attention to the following non-verbal “signals” of the psyche:
- eye contact– contact may be temporarily interrupted if the person talks about a sensitive topic ( this does not mean that the psychologist should constantly maintain eye contact);
- language of the body- gestures and changes in body posture or its individual parts during a conversation indicate internal conflict or intentions;
- intonation, speech rate- indicate the emotional state of the client.
How do psychologists behave at receptions?
What does a psychologist do? | What doesn't a psychologist do? |
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What problems do you see a psychologist for?
The problems that a psychologist deals with are called psychological. Psychological problem is unhealthy psychological condition, in other words, it is a discomfort or an unhappy state. There is a state of happiness or comfort natural state human psyche. Such a psyche easily overcomes the difficulties that arise and solves the tasks assigned to it.
Human psychological health includes:
- positive attitude towards oneself ( your own friend);
- positive attitude towards the world ( the world is my friend);
- ability for self-analysis;
- critical self-assessment ( conscience);
- self acceptance ( lack of self-flagellation);
- responsibility for decisions made;
- adequate self-esteem ( feeling self-esteem );
- desire to improve oneself and one's skills ( improving the “version” of yourself);
- passing age-related crises without negative consequences (education);
- the ability to set goals and achieve them;
- ability to create and maintain relationships with people;
- ability to adapt to changes external circumstances (acquisition of new skills);
A mentally healthy person manages all these processes; he learns this throughout his life, overcoming stressful situations.
A common cause of psychological problems is psycho-emotional stress - emotional reactions and thoughts with a negative connotation, which the psyche perceives as a signal “beware - danger”. But stress itself is not synonymous with psychological disorders. In fact, stress is a “friend” of the psyche, since the stress reaction occurs with one single purpose - to respond to a stimulus ( stress factor) and adapt ( learn to deal with it).
All stressful situations can be grouped into the following groups:
- problem- a discrepancy between what is desired or necessary and what exists at the moment ( goals and reality);
- conflict- this is a discrepancy between the interests of two or more people or different components of the human personality ( "it, "I", "super-ego");
- a crisis– a transition period that is necessary to acquire a new skill.
A psychologist helps a person go through these situations with the greatest benefit for himself, overcome psychological discomfort - a feeling that a person experiences if his psyche does not want or does not know how to change his habits in order to get what he wants ( goal, harmonious relationships, new skills).
Problems that should be addressed to a psychologist
Psychological problem | Causes | What diagnostic methods does a psychologist use? |
Personal problems |
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Diffidence |
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Difficulty making decisions |
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Emotional imbalance, irritability |
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Apathy (loss of interest in life or certain areas of it) |
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Chronic fatigue |
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Soul feelings ("losses") |
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Fears and anxiety states |
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Dissatisfaction with one's own life |
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Suicidal tendencies |
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Addiction (nicotine, alcohol, drugs, computer and gambling, internet addiction) |
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Pathological attachment (excessive emotional attachment to another person) |
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Post-traumatic syndrome |
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Professional stress |
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The phenomenon of professional burnout |
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Study stress |
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Interpersonal problems |
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Disharmonious relationship of a married couple |
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Conflicts between parents and children |
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Difficulty adapting to a team (school, work) |
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Loneliness |
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Problems with members of the opposite sex |
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Moving, dismissal, retirement, divorce |
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Psychological problems in children and adolescents |
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Aggressiveness |
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Habit of biting nails |
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Thumb sucking habit (especially over 5 years of age) |
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Autism, Asperger's syndrome or autistic personality traits (isolation, impaired ability to communicate) |
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Anxiety |
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Hyperactivity and attention deficit |
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Poor learning ability |
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Running away from home, vagrancy |
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Teenage rebellion |
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Psychosomatic illnesses |
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Overweight |
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Lack of appetite |
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Functional dyspepsia syndrome (stomach pain, nausea, vomiting without objective reasons) |
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Constipation |
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Emotional diarrhea |
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Neurodermatitis |
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High blood pressure, palpitations (without an objective reason) |
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Hyperventilation syndrome (lack of air and panic attack) |
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Sexual disorders (frigidity, premature ejaculation, impotence) |
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Stuttering in children |
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Nervous tics in children |
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Urinary and fecal incontinence in children |
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What kind of research does a psychologist conduct?
Research conducted by a psychologist is called psychodiagnostic. To diagnose the state of mind, a psychologist uses tests, questionnaires or techniques that involve performing certain tasks. A psychologist uses tests to identify either the causes of psychological disorders or the tendency to these disorders. There are no universal tests, so psychologists use several tests and techniques at once. The psychologist does not identify psychosomatic disorders. It is up to the physician to decide whether the physical symptoms constitute a serious medical condition or not. A psychologist identifies the psychological factor that triggers the disease.
Tests conducted by a psychologist
Test | What does it reveal? | How is it carried out? |
Professional projective tests |
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Rorschach test |
| The subject is shown 10 abstract pictures that look like inkblots. Some pictures are black and white, while others contain color. A person must describe what he sees in the pictures - a person, an animal, inanimate object, something fantastic. Can be used from 12 years of age. |
Color test Luscher |
| The Luscher test allows you to diagnose the psychophysiological state of a person at a given moment. To do this, the client is shown 8 cards with different colors (blue, green, red, yellow, purple, grey, brown and black). The test subject must arrange the cards in descending order of liking for different colors. |
Thematic apperception test |
| The person is shown one by one pictures with different scenes. The subject needs to tell what he sees in them, describe the feelings of the people depicted there, his feelings from the picture. The story is recorded on a voice recorder; after processing the results, the recording is erased. The topics of the test can be different - “profession”, “happiness” and so on. |
Szondi test |
| This projective technique is carried out using a set of 48 standard cards, which depict portraits of people who have had a mental illness. The subject is given cards of 6 series. Each series contains 8 cards. In each episode, a person must choose his two favorites ( least unpleasant) portraits and two of the most unpleasant ones. It is believed that positive or negative choices reflect unsatisfied needs, while lack of choice reflects satisfied needs. |
Rosenzweig Frustration Test |
| During the test, a person is shown 24 cards depicting two talking people in a frustrating situation ( disappointment, failure). The dialogue is incomplete, since the card only says what one person says to another in a certain situation; the answer of the second person must be thought up by the subject himself. There are children's and adult versions of cards. |
Sentence Completion Method |
| The subject is given a form on which sentences are written that need to be completed. The number of sentences can be from 10 to 60, depending on the age and purpose of the test. You need to write without thinking, the first thing that comes to mind. |
Projective anxiety test for children |
| The child is shown 14 pictures depicting a girl or boy in different situations (they are doing something), and the facial expression of the main character is not completed. The child is asked what facial expression the girl or boy in the drawing has—happy or sad. |
Drawing projective tests |
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Test "House-tree-person" |
| A person is asked to draw a house, a tree and a person on a piece of paper, using colored pencils. |
Test "Self-Portrait" |
| A person is required to draw himself in full growth. |
Family Drawing Test |
| To the subject ( most often it is a child) you are invited to draw your family. |
Test "Non-existent animal" |
| A person is asked to draw an animal that does not exist in nature. The test is most often performed in children, but it is no less informative for adults. After the animal is drawn, the subject is asked to give it a name and tell where it lives. |
Questionnaires |
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MMPI questionnaire (Minnesota Multidisciplinary Personality Inventory) |
| The questionnaire contains 566 statements, which are divided into 10 working scales. For each statement, the subject must give an answer and choose one of the options - “true”, “false”, “I can’t say”. The experimenter enters all answers on the registration form. In addition to the answers, the form records the time the person spent on the test. There are also additional scales for this test. The test is administered to persons over 16 years of age with a sufficient IQ level ( above 80). |
Šmishek Questionnaire |
| There are questionnaires on various topics. The number of questions on the form differs depending on the test. Questionnaires may contain polar statements ( you have to choose one of them) or one statement with different options answers ( yes, no, often, rarely, sometimes, never). Some questionnaires offer to evaluate how well a statement corresponds to a person’s experiences in points. |
Beck Questionnaire |
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Spielberger scale |
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Eysenck Personality Questionnaire |
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Rean Questionnaire |
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Holmes and Rey Questionnaire |
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Rotter Questionnaire |
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Leary Questionnaire |
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EOF test Cattell Questionnaire (16 factor) |
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Interpersonal Relationship Questionnaires |
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Modified Autism Screening Test and CARS Autism Scale |
| The screening test has 23 questions that parents must answer. The autism scale contains options for the child’s behavior in different situations that need to be selected ( each option is scored in points). |
Tests for cognitive functions of the psyche |
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Schulte table |
| Each cell of the Schulte table contains numbers from 1 to 25. The subject is given 4–5 such tables, in each of which he must name and show all the numbers from 1 to 25. The experimenter records the time required to complete the task. |
Raven's Progressive Matrices Test |
| The test consists of 5 series of 12 tasks. General principles tasks - find or calculate the missing fragment or figure. |
10 words technique |
| The experimenter reads 10 words to the subject, which the latter must remember and reproduce. |
What methods does a psychologist use to treat?
The psychological assistance provided by a psychologist is to give a person objective information about the state of his psyche, the causes of his problems, as well as provide psychological influence in order to restore mental harmony and increase the ability to withstand stress. A psychological impact is considered to be any effect that affects the psyche - any external or internal factor that changes mental processes. The psychological influence exerted by a psychologist has the goal of a beneficial effect on the psyche.
Psychological assistance is of the following three types:
- psychological counseling– aimed at changing thinking and forming new position, worldview, values ( obtaining new information and training);
- psychocorrection– changing mental parameters through the development of new skills ( training, education);
- psychotherapy– a more thorough and deep psychocorrection aimed at restoring psychological health in general.
It is believed that psychotherapy is carried out by a psychotherapist, and psychocorrection is carried out by a psychologist ( even if the same method is used).
Typically, different methods include both psychological counseling and psychocorrection, and trainings are created, the name of which corresponds to the goal. For example, “How to find your place in life?”, “How to achieve success?”, “How to achieve personal growth?”, “How to give birth without pain?”, “How to learn to communicate?” and so on. Most methods can be carried out either in the form of individual or group lessons.
It is important to note that a psychologist can and should provide psychological assistance to people who have severe mental disorders, but only in conjunction with a psychiatrist who will provide medical care (prescribe medications, monitor general condition). The same applies to psychosomatic disorders, the severity of which the psychologist cannot determine. Diseases are treated by a doctor, and a psychologist helps eliminate the psychological causes of the disease. Nevertheless, for some disorders, doctors refer a person to a psychologist, since the prescribed treatment brings only temporary relief or the doctor does not find any objective reasons for the symptoms ( such disorders are called functional).
Methods of psychocorrection
Methodology | How it works? | What psychological problems does it help with? | Approximate duration |
Gestalt therapy | "Gestalt" means "form" in German. Form consists of figure and ground. The figure is a person, and the background is his problems ( situation, environment). The Gestalt form includes a need and its satisfaction. If the gestalt consists only of needs ( no satisfaction), then it is called unfinished. Gestalt therapy helps a person see ( realize) yourself separately from your unresolved gestalts - this helps to resolve or complete them ( talking to a problem). The principle of Gestalt psychology is the awareness of problems in the present, even if they were in the past ( I can only decide what I feel here and now). |
| The average course duration is 2 – 2.5 months ( usually 1 session per week). |
Psychoanalysis | Psychoanalysis helps to elucidate the unconscious mechanisms that control human behavior. According to psychoanalysis, many problems are not realized by a person, but continue to exist in his subconscious ( An example would be a background process on a computer that interferes with other programs.). If the causal situation ( psychotrauma) is realized by a person, this is often sufficient to solve the problem that worries the person. |
| Psychoanalysis has been carried out for quite a long time. It may take several years for an unconscious attitude to emerge. |
Art therapy and art therapy | The principle of art therapy and art therapy ( music, dancing, fine arts ) is based on the fact that during creative activities, the process of self-regulation in the brain is activated, and energy begins to be distributed harmoniously. As a result, resources become available to solve problems. |
| Art therapy sessions can be carried out, depending on the needs of the person, for a long time. The effect becomes noticeable after the first sessions. |
Client-centered therapy | This type therapy provides for absolute non-judgmental acceptance of the client by the psychologist and empathy for him. This gives the client the opportunity and strength to reveal his own potential during a dialogue with a psychologist. The principle of operation is similar to accompanying a person during a journey ( into yourself) – there is a common interest, the route is studied by both, but the client himself makes the conclusions. |
| The number of sessions depends on the depth of the desired changes; on average, 10–15 sessions are performed. |
Neurolinguistic programming (NLP therapy) | NLP therapy works on the principle of a conditioned reflex. To change a person’s habitual behavior pattern, a psychologist forms a new conditioned reflex using a word or “anchor” - a stimulus that causes the desired state. When the stimulus is repeated, the state is triggered and the person behaves according to the new behavior model. |
| New model laid over several sessions. |
Cognitive-behavioral(behavioral)therapy | Cognitive therapy cheats automatic installations (thoughts), which arise as a reaction to what is happening ( a striking example is the reaction to signs and superstitions). Behavioral therapy is aimed at changing habitual actions. The psychologist does not evaluate the correctness of conclusions and habits. The client decides for himself how much they help or hinder him in his life, after which the psychologist helps to change attitudes and behavior. |
| The course of therapy is 5–10 sessions. Each session lasts approximately 1 hour. There are 1 – 2 sessions per week. If thinking stereotypes have taken root, then therapy may take longer. |
Autotraining | Autotraining works on the principle of self-suggestion of the desired state. For this purpose, settings are used that a person himself pronounces to relax or tune in to the desired sensations. |
| Training should be carried out regularly until the effect is consolidated, and then periodically to maintain it. |
Existential therapy(analysis)and logotherapy | Existential analysis ( from English word"existence" - existence) and logotherapy ( logos - meaning) deprive the psychological problem of meaning, since a person transfers his attention and the meaning of his existence to the belief of being or existence. In addition, logotherapy has identified 2 more techniques. Methodology of paradoxical intention ( intentions) works on the “wedge by wedge” principle, that is, a person is required to perform an action that is provoked by a problem. Dereflection technique ( distracting attention or ignoring the problem) eliminates hyperreflexia, that is, increased concentration on the problem. |
| The duration of therapy depends on the depth of digging. If a person needs to solve specific problems, then several sessions are enough. On average, the number of sessions is 10 – 15, but for deeper changes, about 50 sessions can be performed. |
Play therapy | With the help of gaming techniques, the child solves problems, thereby learning to overcome internal conflicts, as well as communicate with other children and adults ( in group therapy). |
| The number of sessions is determined depending on age and problem. |
Ericksonian hypnosis | Ericksonian hypnosis is not hypnosis in the full sense of the word, since the person remains conscious during therapy ( psychologists are not licensed to conduct classical hypnotherapy). Ericksonian hypnosis is a kind of trance state ( half asleep), during which the client and psychologist can communicate, while the client’s attention is drawn inward ( it's like meditation). In such a state, it is easier to access the unconscious, which is what the psychologist does. |
| The course of therapy is 6 – 10 sessions. Each session lasts approximately 1 hour. |
Family psychotherapy is a “debriefing” of family relationships, traditions, and accepted norms of behavior in a family or couple. The psychologist offers new ways for a family member to interact. |
| The duration of therapy depends on the type of problem. |
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Fairy tale therapy | The method works on the principle of a mini-performance using dolls and appliqués. The plots of fairy tales reflect unconscious psychotraumas and life scenarios that control human behavior. By acting out and changing the scenario during play therapy, a person learns new behavior patterns. |
| Fairytale therapy is a kind of education style, so it can be carried out for a long time until the problem is solved. |
Psychotherapy is a treatment mental illness psychological methods. It is impossible to treat somatic diseases (those in which the normal functioning of the body, its organs and tissues is disrupted) using psychological methods. By medicinal methods The patient is treated by a psychiatrist, however, no one prevents the psychiatrist from using psychotherapy.
Actually psychotherapy, that is, treatment mental disorders and diseases, psychological methods can only be legally dealt with by a psychotherapist - a person who has a diploma of higher medical education and a medical specialization as a “psychotherapist” (other examples of specializations are “otolaryngologist”, “surgeon”, etc.). In Russia, in general, only a doctor - an accredited specialist with appropriate experience and qualifications - has the right to treat (Article 69, paragraph 1 Federal Law“On the fundamentals of protecting the health of citizens in the Russian Federation” dated November 21, 2011 No. 323-FZ).
However, the reader should not succumb to the hypnosis of the white coat, so to speak. And the point is not only that even certified doctors can be amateurs, have misconceptions and make mistakes.
The problem is broader: in medicine there are a lot of scientifically unsubstantiated methods that, after objective testing, turn out to be useless and even harmful. Therefore, evidence-based medicine arose - a movement whose goal is freeing healthcare from ineffective methods .
So, a psychotherapist and just a psychotherapist are not the same thing at all. Almost anyone can call themselves a psychotherapist. Very often today there is a situation where a woman was a chemist, physicist or engineer, and at the age of 30 she went to some psychotherapeutic courses and then began to call herself, say, a Gestalt therapist or an existential-humanistic therapist, made herself a website and started working psychological counseling, coaching, conducting trainings and webinars. A similar case - a former engineer, chemist, physicist, railway worker, or generally a person with some dubious specialty (such as “manager”) declares himself the creator of his own method of psychotherapy and offers psychological counseling, coaching, group psychotherapy.
Therefore, the first thing you need to know when deciding whether to see a psychotherapist is that “psychotherapy” and “psychotherapist” are not legally protected concepts. This means that anyone can declare themselves a psychotherapist. And given that psychological quackery is easier to carry out than medicinal quackery (at least there is no need to spend money on jars and liquids or on creating pills), there are a great many charlatans under the guise of psychotherapy today.
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What are we treating?
You may be surprised, but today psychotherapy is recommended for people without any mental disorders or illnesses. It is believed that even a healthy person must analyze his past, try to identify the contents of his subconscious or respond to his emotions.
With this approach, psychological counseling comes down to psychotherapy, and instead of solving a specific problem, the psychologist begins to “clean” your childhood, “free” you from “clamps”, achieve from you “spontaneity”, “non-judgmentality” and a constant presence “here-and-”. Now".
Today, many people do not even understand the difference between psychotherapy and psychological counseling. However, this difference is fundamental.
How does a psychologist solve clients' psychological problems? First of all, by providing them with objective information obtained as a result of scientific psychological research (in fact, any counseling - legal, financial - is carried out according to a similar scheme). For example, a woman complains that her husband constantly lies about doing more housework than she does. A psychologist explains to a woman that her husband is most likely not lying because we are all subject to a cognitive distortion called self-serving bias and we all think that our contribution to the matter is greater, be it writing a collective monograph or performing household chores.
If simple information does not help, the psychologist can arrange a kind of confrontation between this woman and her husband in his office so that they can discuss in a safe environment and without the risk of falling into a scandal again (the psychologist acts here as an arbiter) discuss the contributions of each to the performance of household duties . In a number of cases, it may be necessary to make a number of decisions, in particular, to redistribute household responsibilities, agree on the order of their implementation, introduce certain code words so that each spouse can, on the one hand, show dissatisfaction, but, on the other hand, not offend the spouse, do not provoke a new scandal.
If a psychologist notices that a client lacks certain skills, such as communication skills or self-control, he can develop these skills in the client through training. For example, in our case, the psychologist could notice that the spouses do not know how to listen to each other, and instead of dialogue, they slip into parallel monologues. The psychologist can report this and invite the spouses to attend training on constructive home communication.
As you can see, there is no search for repressed traumas or “reaction” of negative emotions.
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Who invented psychotherapy and how?
The history of psychotherapy, even an extremely brief one, would require at least a separate article, but there are some things we absolutely need to know. Indeed, if someone wants to create truly effective method, he must approach its creation from an objective position, focus on facts, not opinions, and objective data, not subjective impressions. How does psychotherapy deal with this?
Let's look, for example, at how one of the main authorities in the field, Sigmund Freud, created his psychotherapy called “psychoanalysis”.
Through dream analysis and free association, Freud believed he gained information about the early childhood of his patients. And in this childhood, Freud always discovered all sorts of unpleasant phenomena, such as a girl’s envy of her father’s penis or a boy’s desire to kill his father in order to take possession of his mother.
Did Freud test his clients' memories objectively? No, I haven't checked. And is it possible to check whether the child was really strictly toilet trained or whether the mother breastfed the baby incorrectly?
By the way, Freud initially created not psychoanalysis, but the so-called theory of seduction. His patients recalled, for example, that as children their father forced them to perform fellatio or worse. And Freud concluded that the basis of any neurosis is the seduction of a child by one of the parents. The scientific community rejected this theory, and Freud transformed it into the more harmless psychoanalysis. Now the patient's memories of his father forcing him to perform fellatio were interpreted only as the patient's fantasies. Well, really, what else can a three-year-old girl fantasize about if not about possessing her father’s penis?
Remember all
Over time, Freud was forgotten about this mess with his theory of seduction, and in the 80s and 90s of the twentieth century, a massive “Satanic panic” arose in the United States. Many psychotherapist patients began to recall that as children their parents forced them to participate in disgusting orgies and bloody rituals. Lawsuits began pouring in and investigations began.
And then it was scientifically proven that it is simply impossible to accurately restore memories using hypnosis, psychoanalysis, regression therapy and other things. American psychologist Elizabeth Loftus played a huge role in the discovery of this amazing fact.
It turned out that human memory is reconstructive, and remembering an event is not reading a record about it from some subcortex, but reconstructing this event taking into account new data and fresh information.
It became clear that even the testimony of witnesses to recently committed crimes must be very seriously filtered, let alone memories of early childhood...
Therefore, if a psychotherapist tells you that all your problems are rooted in childhood, that you will need to restore memories, that you have repressed the psychological trauma you received in childhood, feel free to leave this office.
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Don't keep it to yourself!
By the way, not only the possibility of restoring memories, but also the popular concept of repression has also not received scientific confirmation. We do not forget about events that traumatized us psychologically and/or physically. On the contrary, we cannot stop remembering these realities. For example, a soldier who has lost his comrades in war cannot help but remember bloody battles, explosions and mangled bodies. So, if during a psychotherapy session you suddenly remember something painful that you never remembered before, then most likely, under the influence of psychotherapy, you acquired a false memory.
The concept of catharsis, on which many types of psychotherapy are based, has also not received scientific confirmation.
According to this concept, to free yourself from negative emotion, it needs to be experienced again and again, for example, you should remember an event that traumatized you, and in a family conflict, anger does not need to be restrained, it needs to be expressed, however, not with the help of insults, but with the help, for example, of the so-called I-messages (for example, you shouldn’t say to your husband “you bastard!”, you should say “dear husband, because you started dancing in front of me with that girl and gently put your hands below her waist, I feel pain, resentment, fear, anger and the desire to scratch your face").
Scientific studies (like this one) have shown that expressing an emotion only strengthens it. So the Stoics were right - if you want to free yourself from a feeling, don’t feed it and don’t express it. Among modern psychotherapists, by the way, a recommendation not to express emotions will be received with anger: “not to express means to repress, it means to create neurosis!”
Do all problems come from childhood?
What about childhood traumas? Do the traumas we experienced in childhood really have no effect on us?
Looks like no. The fact is that the child’s psyche, as well as the child’s body, is very tenacious. Therefore, for example, post-traumatic stress disorder, an example of which is the mentioned situation of a soldier who cannot stop remembering the war, occurs much less frequently in children. This is true even in cases of sexual assault. And it’s a shame that the researcher who established this fact, Bruce Rhind, is often accused of legitimizing pedophilia...
And in general, this emphasis on childhood, which is inherent in many movements of psychotherapy, is completely unfounded. Of course, if a person did not learn to speak in childhood, then he is unlikely to master native language to a degree sufficient to not seem like an imbecile, but otherwise, perhaps, there is no such age when reality would cease to influence us, and we would cease to change under these influences.
So, if a psychotherapist is trying to look for the roots of your problems in childhood instead of analyzing your current situation, it is better to look for another specialist.
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And it helped me!
Advanced people can ask the following question here: “How can this be?! After all, the effectiveness of psychotherapy is confirmed by scientific research!”
Who would argue!
Indeed, such studies exist. And they exist primarily because there are currents of psychotherapy that are not built on the concepts of repression, childhood trauma and catharsis. We are talking about behavioral and cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy and rational-emotive psychotherapy by Albert Ellis. Here is a fairly extensive review of research into the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy.
In addition, you need to understand that when trying to evaluate psychotherapy objectively - within the framework of scientific research - errors can be made. We should not forget, in particular, that a double-blind method in psychotherapy research is impossible (the patient knows that he is receiving psychotherapy, and the psychotherapist knows that he is using psychotherapy). In addition, it is difficult to organize a placebo control in a psychotherapy study: a standard placebo - dummy pills - is hardly suitable; you need to use what can conventionally be called a procedural placebo (instead of psychotherapy, arrange, for example, shamanic dances).
In addition, the famous American psychologist Scott Lilienfeld identified as many as 26 factors that create the illusion of the effectiveness of psychotherapy specifically in scientific research. By the way, he is one of the main participants in the movement of evidence-based practices - an analogue of evidence-based medicine in psychology.
One of these factors is the so-called selective attrition: clients who leave psychotherapy are simply not counted in the study, when they should have been counted among clients who did not benefit from psychotherapy.
Another reason for the apparent effectiveness of psychotherapy is the distortion of complaisance: the client is helped not by psychotherapy, but by another factor - obedience, conscientiousness, which forced the person to turn to a psychotherapist, as well as take other actions to overcome his problem and improve the situation.
And, of course, among the reasons for the apparent effectiveness of psychotherapy, one cannot fail to mention the so-called justification of effort: a client who has spent a lot of money and time on psychotherapy is simply forced to demonstrate improvement in order to maintain his bright image in his own eyes and in the eyes of others. Justifying effort, by the way, involves a cognitive bias called the sunk cost bias.
Train on cats!
From experience, I know that all these arguments do not convince either psychotherapists or fans of these psychotherapists. They may even admit that psychotherapy is a scientifically dubious field, declare that “we are only at the beginning of the path,” that “psychotherapy is an art,” etc. So be it, but I think everyone can decide for themselves , whether to become a guinea pig and spend your money and time on psychotherapists trying to create a truly effective methods solutions to psychological problems. Moreover, most psychotherapists still rely on subjective and inaccurate approaches in trying to test the effectiveness of their work.
Or maybe I should see a psychiatrist?
If you have objective problems, you should contact a psychologist. For example, you just can’t find a job, you’re too nervous during an interview, and having found a job, you quickly fall into conflict with management and again find yourself looking for a suitable vacancy? Go to a psychologist. A psychologist can detect a deficiency in communication and self-regulation skills, he can teach you, train you, and everything will work out. On the other hand, a psychologist may find that you have an inadequate level of pride and aggression. In this case, he may recommend that you see a psychiatrist to rule out mental illness.
If there are no obvious problems, you are doing well, you have a family, friends, housing, a stable job, the opportunity to regularly relax, have fun, but you still feel bad, it is better to start by visiting a psychiatrist. Perhaps a course of antidepressants will quickly return you to normal.
With phobias, obsessive actions and obsessive thoughts It’s also better to start by going to a psychiatrist. By the way, perhaps he will not treat you with medications, but will conduct psychotherapy with you or refer you to a psychotherapist. However, having received a diagnosis of “neurosis” or “phobia” from a psychiatrist, you yourself, taking your medical card with you, can find a psychotherapist and make an appointment with him.
There is no need to be afraid of going to a psychiatrist: it is unlikely that you will be immediately registered at a psychiatric dispensary, and no one has canceled the secrecy of the diagnosis. Moreover, in any case, it is better to register with a psychiatric patient (by the way, it is not permanent, but temporary) than to jump out of a window because a psychologist tried to do something about your depression using purely psychological methods.
I would like to talk to you frankly.
In our difficult times, people have begun to understand more and more the truth spoken to professors Preobrazhensky from M. Bulgakov’s story “The Heart of a Dog”: “Devastation in our heads.”
Today, it becomes clear to practically everyone that many of our problems and difficulties are a reflection of our internal psychological difficulties, and we should not be afraid of them and put them in a box that is already full of such things. You have to treat them like anyone else unnecessary things- simply throw it away.
You see, people didn't know for a long time what does a psychologist do, believed that psychologists and psychotherapists treat and work with mentally ill people. However, abroad, for a long time, having a family psychologist has been considered not only prestigious, but also essential. Today, visiting a psychologist does not mean that you have mental disorders; it means that you want to make your life happier and the lives of the people around you. Today, more and more people can answer the question - what does a psychologist do?
Answers to the question of what psychologists do
Advantages of individual work with a psychologist:
The specialist’s attention is directed individually only to you, which will allow you and the psychologist to understand your problem more thoroughly. An individual conversation with psychologists is more comfortable for considering and solving complex problems (sexual, childhood trauma, loss of loved ones, etc.).
Benefits of group psychotherapy:
The opportunity to make new acquaintances, perhaps you can even help another person solve their problem, expand your circle of friends. An opportunity to get to know yourself from a different perspective and reveal your abilities or deal with communication complexes. The opportunity to find support from people with the same problems as you.
So now you know what does a psychologist do. He does not work with mentally ill people, but helps make your life richer and happier, teaches you how to find solutions in difficult situations.
The choice is yours, remember, we are always ready to help you, the main thing is to decide on this step. Make an appointment with a psychologist! And maybe visiting a psychologist will become as familiar to you as a mug of tea in the morning. Sign up, we are waiting for you!
There is probably a sofa in his office, but rarely does a client lie on it. The session is not about finding meaning in inkblot or association game. Clients come with certain requests and, together with a specialist, sort them out. No romance with clients, it's unethical! As well as discussing other people's problems.
2. Don't confuse him with a psychiatrist
A person can work as a psychologist after advanced training courses, while psychiatrists study at a medical school. Courses are different, and so are the specialists after them.
3. There is no appointment plan
Unlike a lesson, during a visit to a psychologist there is no clear structure of what will be done with the client. It all depends on the original request and the techniques that the client responds best to.
4. Trust is not created immediately.
At the first appointments, the psychologist asks a lot of questions, but the client is not obliged to immediately lay out all the ins and outs. No one will rush! When people begin to share more details and experience stronger emotions, then trust arises.
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5. People communicate a lot without words.
Sometimes a person says one thing, but his body language - posture, gestures, facial expressions - indicate something else. That is why they try to invite both participants to analyze family situations.
6. Sometimes it seems that a psychologist is unable to help.
A psychologist does not have a magic wand to remove all problems in one fell swoop. He will listen, offer behavioral strategies, discuss the situation, but the main work is still done by the client.
7. The client base does not appear instantly
If the psychologist is in private practice and is not a social media superstar, the experience client base takes years. He can accept people from colleagues, promote himself on the Internet and by word of mouth, but he doesn’t have to wait in line for those interested.
8. Don’t “psychologize” your family
The task of a psychologist is to balance work and personal life. If his spouse, children, parents do not want psychotherapy at home, you should not force yourself on them.
9. No one admits that he is a psychologist.
Otherwise, everyone is the first to start talking about their problems, wanting to consult for free. An experienced psychologist either does not reveal himself or gives out his business card with a phone number for making an appointment.