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What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word «psychologist»? Common answers include: “the one who helps solve problems”, “he prescribes pills and sedatives”, “knows what to do”, “treats the sick”. This is nothing more than a delusion. A few facts that will shed light on this profession.
1. The psychologist is obliged to comply with the code of ethics
This is a document that regulates the activities of any psychologist. It contains the laws and regulations that he must abide by. This is not a legal document, everything listed in it is about morality and respect. It defines the boundaries of what is permitted in the relationship between the psychologist and the client. Read the code before you start working with a specialist. This will help to understand how the work will be built and to identify a non-professional.
2. Psychologist is not a doctor
Psychologists are often confused with psychotherapists and psychiatrists. The difference between these professions is that a psychologist does not have a higher medical education, which means that he cannot recommend and prescribe pills. It helps mentally healthy people to live through difficult situations, solve problems, develop and prosper. A psychiatrist is a doctor who determines whether a patient has a mental disorder, treats people with mental disorders, including prescribing medications for them.
Often, some psychologists who do not have a higher medical education call themselves psychotherapists.
With the concept of «psychotherapist» is more difficult. According to Russian law, a psychotherapist must have two higher educations: medical and psychological. Any doctor can get a higher psychological education and become a psychotherapist. Such a doctor can prescribe medications to the patient.
However, often psychologists who do not have a higher medical education also call themselves psychotherapists. It’s not about trying to deceive the client: such specialists practice long-term work with the client (several times a week for several months), which is called therapy.
3. He doesn’t give advice
This is a fundamental position: no one, except the client, knows what decision in this situation will be correct. The psychologist assumes what is the root of the problem, but does not know one hundred percent and does not have the right to convince the client to make a decision, to impose his point of view. For example, you do not know whether it is worth continuing the relationship with your husband after learning about the betrayal. The psychologist says: “Get divorced! Change cannot be forgiven! This is advice, you are encouraged to make someone else’s decision. If you follow his lead, get divorced, and then regret it, feelings of bitterness cannot be avoided.
The task of a psychologist is to help you look at the situation from different angles.
Therefore, a psychologist should not give advice and you should not ask him for it. You should not hand over responsibility for life to another person, even a professional. His task is to help look at the situation from different angles. When we fixate on a problem, perception becomes limited, mental blinders prevent us from looking around. To direct to the inner knowledge of how it should be and how it is right is the true goal of this specialist.
4. They also visit psychologists.
These specialists also have problems, anxieties and worries, crises occur. They may be concerned about customer relationships. To prevent professional burnout and the psychologist to remain in the ranks for a long time and be satisfied with the work, he visits a supervisor. The difference between supervision and a regular consultation is that both of them speak a common professional language and discuss not only intrapersonal, but also professional problems.
5. He should not work with a client with similar problems
Suppose a psychologist is getting divorced, and a client approaches him with a request to help him get through the divorce. In such a situation, no matter how high-class professional he may be, he will not be able to help the client without harming himself or him. He will either impose his experiences and give advice, or drive his emotions inside, and this will negatively affect his condition.
The psychologist is only a guide to the subconscious, the true «I», the depths of the psyche. He goes with us on a journey through our inner world in order to find the right and right solutions together.