Many people are afraid of visiting a psychologist. However, the fears are not justified. Like a psychiatrist, a psychologist is there to help you understand your own emotions and concerns. What can you expect from a visit to a psychologist?
A visit with a psychologist usually begins with a conversation about general topics related to concerns or everyday problems. The psychologist’s goal is to get to know you and your story. During the first visits to the psychologist you will certainly talk more and the specialist will listen to the problems you come with. This stage is the most difficult because you have to open up and understand your perception of the world. Many people do not want to share intimate details of their lives. However, a good specialist is completely objective in his judgments and tries to understand each patient individually. The goal is not to ridicule the person, but to help them find their own life balance.
On subsequent visits, the psychologist can give us the first clues as to how to deal with the problem, whether it is trauma or low self-esteem. Small steps and tasks that the patient has to do on his or her own are also a good way to treat anxiety or disorders. They allow the patient to detach from the problem and find strength to fight against adversity.
For sure the psychologist will ask what tasks were the most difficult for us and whether we see improvement in our relationships with others or with ourselves. Noting the results and observing them is a very important part of all therapy. After all, the methods of action must be verified, just as with other specialists who, for example, recommend a change in our diet or prescribe medication. In the same way, the psychologist, by making observations, acquires information whether the advice he or she has given us produces positive results. Of course, for our treatment to be meaningful, the psychologist’s advice must be followed and put into practice. Without action on your part anxiety or other problematic issues will not disappear by themselves.
The fear of opening up and talking is of course understandable, but you should not be afraid to visit a psychologist. Thanks to it, you can identify the problem and make it much less irritating. Breaking some taboo, having an honest conversation and being able to be heard will definitely make you find the strength to take action. A psychologist can help a lot at a difficult time in life, especially after the loss of a loved one or with health problems. The support and understanding will definitely allow you to look at the world around you more positively.
You can prepare for your first visit to a psychologist to make the conversation easier for both parties. It is good if you write down all your questions and the most important issues you want to arrange with the specialist. You also need to check what a particular psychologist does because of their specialties. One will be suitable for treating trauma, while another can help you find your own path and career path. Find a specialist who will adequately address your expectations for therapy.
The right attitude is very important. A psychologist’s job is to help us, not to judge or denigrate. Objective assessment of the situation will help to find a good way and cure the obsessions, get rid of guilt or low self-esteem. Psychotherapy takes quite a long time, but it gives good results, as long as you are willing to cooperate and open up to conversation. In a friendly atmosphere of understanding and trust, it is much easier to get rid of fears and find a convenient solution to the problem with which you come to a specialist.
Unfortunately, society still has a rather negative attitude towards such specialists as a psychologist or psychiatrist. Serious mental problems are hidden, which further deepens resentment towards the world and people. A psychologist can be the first step in taking care of yourself and your own psyche.
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