How do you know WHEN to go to the PSYCHOLOGIST?

Does going to the psychologist work? There are still people who say they "don't believe" in psychology or who claim that "going to the psychologist is crazy." Nothing is further from reality. Psychology is not a belief that you may or may not have, psychology is a science, a discipline with a solid scientific base and a health profession recognized by the system as all the others. Obviously, going to the psychologist or psychologist works. There are validated evaluation methods and effective treatment protocols with scientific evidence. Now, psychology is not magic and it does not solve everything for everyone. It is interesting to know in which areas she works, what type of problems she solves and for what situations it is indicated to go to these professionals. How do you know when to go to the psychologist? In this Psychology-Online article you will find 30 motifs for which you do need to see a psychologist or psychologist.

Index

1. What is a psychologist
2. How to know if I need to go to the psychologist
3. How to choose a good psychologist
4. What is it like to go to the psychologist for the first time
5. Why go to the psychologist or psychologist
6. When to stop going to the psychologist

A psychology professional is a person with university studies who has completed thebachelor's or psychology degree. Psychology is the science that studies mental processes and behavior of people. As people go through different stages during life and have various areas or facets, there are also different specialties psychology, which address each of these divisions. Among them, we find the clinical or health psychology, educational, sports, work and organizations, social, community, forensic, experimental, neuropsychology... Within clinical psychology we find different specialties depending on the type of patient they treat, such as child, youth, adult psychology, psychogerontology, specializing in personality disorders, abuse, in self-esteem...

In addition to all these specializations, it is very important to know that in psychology there are different streams or approaches. Although its objective is the same: to study mental and behavioral phenomena to intervene favoring the psychological well-being, this can be done using quite different methods and techniques, although just as valid. They are different perspectives and ways of working.

Depending on your needs and your goals, you should look for one type of professional or another. Next we will see when to go to the psychologist or psychologist.

How do I know if I have to go to the psychologist? First of all, you should know that going to the psychologist or psychologist can be useful in any situation. It will always be beneficial for you to know yourself better and learn about your psychological processes, analyze your thoughts and manage your emotions. However, there are a number of reasons to go to the psychologist, some specific situations in which it is better to consult a professional. What is the use of going to the psychologist? Next we will see in which cases it is important to consult with a psychology professional:

1. You hurt yourself or you hurt others. Whether they are physical or verbal aggressions, in the form of self-aggression or hetero-aggression, they must stop as soon as possible. A psychologist or psychologist will carry out an evaluation of your personality and your current situation to find the cause of this behavior and teach you strategies to manage your emotions and develop the self control. In addition, aggressions leave psychological consequences that must be treated by professionals.
2. You have experienced a situation of abuse or violence: there are many types of violence, from domestic violence to sexual assault, through workplace harassment. Professional help will be useful to rebuild your self-esteem and equip yourself with self-care strategies.
3. You have experienced a traumatic situation: from an attack to a traffic accident, the accompaniment of a psychologist or psychologist will help you process the event and cope with possible post-traumatic symptoms.
4. You have suffered a loss: it may be that a relative dies, that you lose your job or that you have to emigrate. When there is a great loss, a grief is necessary. Psychological help will be useful to go through the grieving process in a healthier way.
5. You have received a shocking diagnosis: the diagnosis of a serious illness, for example, involves many changes and losses, so it does not stop requiring a duel, which will be better traveled with tools and professional support. That is why there is, for example, psycho-oncology.
6. You have sleep problems: You have been sleeping too little or too much for a while and this is not usual for you. Both sleeping too many hours (hypersomnia) and difficulty sleeping (insomnia) are symptoms that may indicate a psychological problem or disorder. It is always best to consult with a professional.
7. Your appetite has changed drastically: another indicator of how we are is our appetite. As in the previous case, whether you feel much hungrier than usual or much less, you can be signs of psychological problems or disorders and are worth a professional assessment.
8. You feel very tired / tired: this is another of the characteristic symptoms of psychological disorders. In this article we see the reasons for fatigue and its relationship with psychopathology.
9. You don't feel like doing anything: the lack of interest, motivation and will to carry out tasks are typical symptoms of depressive disorders, but also of dementias, among other conditions. Therefore, the best option is to consult a professional.
10. You have trouble concentrating and making decisions: If you feel difficulty when thinking, reasoning or making decisions, consult a professional, as it may be a symptom of psychological disorders.
11. You have memory problems: the lack of memory or the perception of it is also a symptom of psychological problems and illnesses, which can range from an episode of stress to the onset of Alzheimer disease, so it is worth consulting with specialists.
12. You feel much more energy than usual: if you feel that you think faster than normal (tachypsychia), that you have a lot of energy, that you do not need to sleep and you feel very capable of carrying out complex projects, it may be that you are presenting an episode or disorder psychological.
13. There are things that worry you a lot: you feel that you care much more than others and there are certain issues that overwhelm you so much that they interfere with your day-to-day life. You spend a lot of time thinking about the same topic and you usually feel nervous or nervous.
14. There is a specific situation that overwhelms you: you have a peak of stress due to family problems, job changes, a few oppositions, a couple breakup, a move... any event that you find difficult to manage. A professional will teach you relaxation techniques, emotional management, cognitive restructuring, stress management or whatever your particular case needs.
15. You cannot develop your life normally: there are issues that interfere with your normal daily life. For example, you have a fear that does not allow you to have a healthy social life or your mood prevents you from carrying out your work tasks.
16. You can't enjoy life: Another reason why you should consult a professional is the fact that you cannot enjoy life. The anhedonia or inability to feel pleasure and enjoy activities that were previously enjoyed (hobbies, sexuality ...) is another psychopathological symptom worth investigating.
17. Your mood changes constantly: you feel that you have no middle ground, you always explode, you cannot achieve a balance in your life... emotional instability is very annoying and a red flag that can indicate certain psychological disorders, such as borderline personality disorder. Consulting with a professional is necessary to receive an assessment of your specific case.
18. Do you have problems with your partner that you can't handle: be it communication problems, sexual problems or any situation that you feel you don't have the tools to handle. Counting on psychological help will be really useful to discover the origin of the problems and achieve an understanding.
19. You don't want to be with your partner but you can't leave her. If the relationship with your partner does not bring you well-being, if you do not feel loved and do not want to continue with the relationship, if there is discomfort, but you cannot leave it, you may find yourself in a dependent situation emotional. Professional help is key to ending false myths of romantic love, to strengthen your self-esteem and get out of unhealthy relationships, to be able to build healthy and beneficial relationships.
20. You haven't had a partner for a long time Despite looking for her: you feel uneasy about not having a partner and you have been looking for one for a long time. This desire may be born of the fear of loneliness, your relational patterns may be maladaptive and your relationships may not be successful... It can be due to many factors that a professional will be able to identify and help you address.
21. You have problems at work: you do not feel comfortable with the work you do, you support a large workload, but you do not know how to set limits, you are involved or involved in a bad work climate... Any complicated situation that you experience at work will require strategies to manage it and a professional psychologist can help you acquire them.
22. You have no friends and that worries you: Another occasion in which it is necessary to go to the psychologist is when there is no social area. We are social beings and we need to have a support network, share with other people, feel accompanied and part of a group. For this reason, you may find it uncomfortable not to have friends. It may be that some personality traits make it difficult to build deep relationships or that you lack training your social skills, among many other reasons. Whatever it is, psychological help will be key to overcoming this situation.
23. You lose your temper with your children often: just as in the role of partner, in the role of father or mother, our vulnerabilities can be observed. Breeding is a complex task that requires psychological balance and many skills. In this article we explain the reasons for continued anger with sons and daughters.
24. You compare yourself with others constantly: comparison is a sign that your self-esteem is negative and / or unstable. Going to the psychologist will help you to know, accept and respect yourself, thus building a healthy self-esteem. Self-esteem is the central axis that supports our psychological well-being and it is very important to work on it.
25. Do you have any addiction: substance use, pathological gambling, compulsive shopping, work addiction... exist addictions of many kinds, psychological disorders with serious consequences that need psychological treatment.
26. Your environment recommends it. There are many psychopathological symptoms that go unnoticed by the person who presents them or that he is not able to observe their importance. If several close people suggest you go to a professional, it is reason to do so. At the very least, ask for a professional assessment of the situation.
27. You don't know how to guide your life. When to go to the psychologist? When you don't know what you like, you're passionate about nothing, you don't know what to study, what kind of job to look for, you feel lost, overwhelmed, you don't know what you want to do with your life... You may be passing a existential crisis and that a psychologist or psychologist can help you get to know you, rediscover you and clarify your ideas.
28. You have unhealthy habits: tobacco, alcohol, junk food, sedentary life..., do you feel identified? Self-esteem is not saying how well you look in the mirror, self-esteem is taking care of yourself physically and emotionally, respecting your body and acting according to what is best for you and your health. Substance use, poor diet, personal neglect, unproductive television viewing, etc., are habits that denote self-esteem problems and that also serve to camouflage deficiencies or avoid psychological problems that have not been known manage. One of the tasks of psychologists is to promote health, help to stop habits unhealthy and implement healthy habits, solving the underlying discomfort with strategies adaptive.
29. You want to know and understand yourself better. Going to the psychologist will help you to know how you are, to analyze your thoughts, to feel your emotions and understand your behaviors. You will discover emotional charges that perhaps you did not even know you had, but that were conditioning the way you act. You will be able to heal, improve and live more consciously and more in accordance with your values ​​and your beliefs. In short, going to the psychologist or psychologist will help you have a better life.
30. You want to treat patients: in case you want to dedicate yourself to clinical or health psychology and you want to work as a psychotherapist caring for patients (or even as coach attending clients) I believe it is absolutely essential to go through a psychotherapy process to get to know yourself in depth, to be aware of your own internal issues to be able to handle them and not interfere in therapy, thus being a good or a good professional.

In this article we have talked about the reasons for going to the psychologist regarding young people, adults or the elderly. We address the case of infants in another article in which we explain when to go to the child psychologist.

If you have felt identified or identified with some of the previous points, you may have decided to start a psychotherapy process with a professional. To choose a good psychologist or a good psychologist, we must take into account several requirements:

• Regulated academic training. A person who is professionally dedicated to psychology, in whatever branch and in whatever form, it is mandatory that they possess the Official title of Graduate or Bachelor of Psychology. In addition, within each specialty, other degrees may be required. For example, in Spain, current legislation dictates that to practice psychology in the health field, you must be in possession of the Master University Degree in General Health Psychology or the title of Specialist in Clinical Psychology through the PIR training (Internal Psychologist Resident).
• Specialization. In addition to academic training, another factor to take into account when choosing a professional is that they are specialized in the specific area that has to do with your problem. That is to say, that it is dedicated to a type of patients, an area or a specific stage of life. As we have seen, psychology is very broad and a psychologist who is dedicated to forensic psychology you may not know how to intervene with people with dementia or infants with academic difficulties. It is important to know what type of professional to look for depending on the problem presented. For example, a professional specialized in educational psychology, if it is about learning disabilities; in clinical adult psychology, when it comes to psychological disorders of anxiety, depression, personality disorders...; or in couples therapy, if your consultation is for problems in your relationship.
• Update. Another relevant factor is that the psychology professional is up to date. Psychology is a relatively new science and in constant growth and change based on the results of the investigations that are constantly carried out. Therefore, psychology professionals must be informed of recent studies.
• Comfort. An essential requirement is that the professional transmits confidence to you. Most likely, you will not fit in with all the professionals and the way of working of each of them. So, if you are not comfortable with a professional, if you do not trust his techniques or if you feel that his methods do not work for you, do not hesitate to comment and find another professional if necessary. A good professional can recommend or refer you to other professionals who work more according to your needs.

In the first consultation with the psychologist or psychologist, a presentation and evaluation session is usually carried out. Most likely, the professional will ask you about your reason for consultation, for your current situation and for the evolution of the problem in order to collect the main information.

For his part, the professional will also explain how the psychotherapy process works. He will present his vision of the problem or situation presented and how it can be worked. He will explain to you what the process of evaluation and what techniques will be used (tests, interviews, interconsultations, medical tests ...) in order to reach a diagnosis or the cause and explanation of the problem presented. It will also explain what options treatment There are different techniques and methods that can be used to solve and improve the different aspects of the problem.

During the first sessions, the symptoms you present and your personality traits will be evaluated to make a "psychological X-ray" of your person, both of your way of being and of your problem current. In this way, the psychologist or psychologist can adapt the techniques to what works best for you. Together or together you will establish objectives The initial lines of work will be the main ones, although new objectives often appear throughout the process.

When you go to the psychologist for the first time, you too should look at the factors mentioned above on how to choose a good professional.

What are the benefits of going to the psychologist? Next we will see, in broad strokes, the main reasons to go to the psychologist:

• We don't get enough emotional education. We all have emotions, but we have no idea how they work. Just like we have thoughts and we behave in ways that sometimes we don't like. Why? In general, we have no idea how the mind works and that makes us not understand our way of thinking, feeling and acting. Going to the psychologist provides all this information.
• We can stop suffering. Change is possible, but it is not easy. It takes knowledge, time, and practice. There are many psychological disorders that have effective treatments in place and many problems that can be solved through psychological techniques. Therefore, going to the psychologist is always good.
• We need to know ourselves. It is essential to know who we are and why we are like this. Going to a psychology professional brings light and clarity to these questions.
• We need to regulate ourselves. We need to learn to manage our emotions in a healthier and more functional way, since it is the way to relate to ourselves and to the world respectfully and positively.
• We deserve to live in peace. The main reason to go to a psychologist or any other health professional is that you deserve to live with wellness. Going to the psychologist or psychologist is one more way to take care of yourself, as well as nourishing yourself in a healthy way or taking medical check-ups that are appropriate. Remember that Health is the most important.

One of the most frequently asked questions is how long a psychological treatment lasts and when can you stop going to the psychologist. These questions do not have an exact answer.

It is not necessary to stop going to the psychologist, although the sessions usually end when the person has completed sufficient learning, has incorporated quite a few strategies and has made the necessary changes to to be able to face by herself the situations that come.

Depending on the person and, above all, according to their pathology (or problem), the duration of the therapy will be one or the other. For example, there is brief therapy, which takes less than 20 sessions (normally, about 10 sessions) that would be between 2 and 4 months approximately. Since, according to the creators of the strategic brief therapy, changes can be seen around the 7 sessions. On the other hand, however, a depressive episode usually requires between 9 and 12 months of treatment, and can be much longer in cases of recurrence or resistance.

It will also depend on the collaboration or non-collaboration of both the patient and their close environment and their adherence to treatment. That is, if the assigned sessions and tasks are fulfilled.

Ultimately, the psychologist is a healthcare professional who must be turned to and who must have the right to go whenever necessary.

This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

If you want to read more articles similar to How to know when to go to the psychologist, we recommend that you enter our category of Clinical psychology.

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