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Psychology is a science and a method that studies and intervenes in individual human behavior. As a science, psychology seeks explanations for different aspects of human mental functioning and interaction with others, such as learning, memory, language, personality... As a method, it uses procedures, techniques and tools to diagnose, evaluate and offer guidance or treatment to people of all ages.
Psychiatry is a medical specialty. Psychiatrists focus on the study of the biological basis of mental functioning in order to intervene in situations of abnormal behavior, usually with the use of medication.
Psychology, on the other hand, studies both problematic behavior and behavior that is considered "normal" in human beings. Its field of action is much broader since it covers cognitive or intellectual, emotional, motivational, social and biological aspects of behavior, in a way that does not only involve the promotion of health. Our work can be linked to psychiatric treatment as a complement or be independent.
A psychologist is a mental health professional who helps people solve cognitive, emotional and/or behavioral problems. The goal is to promote the well-being of individuals.
Therapy is a creative and personal process based on a series of therapeutic techniques that enables the improvement of the patient through self-knowledge and thus allows a better management of everyday difficulties that may arise due to personal problems. A psychological therapy consists of a relationship of trust between patient and therapist.
A therapeutic process is initiated when a person's problems are overwhelming and there is a discomfort that prevents him/her from living his/her life in the desired way. Emotions considered "negative" are part of life and it is normal to have them even if they are not pleasant. They are useful and allow us to perform many functions that, in their absence, would be impossible. It is normal to be sad, nervous, angry or scared at times. We can all feel discomfort (loss of a job, death of a family member, separation or divorce, moving ...), but when we feel that we are reaching an extreme, they last longer than normal or disable our daily life causing great emotional discomfort, hinder our adaptation or impede our development, limiting our capabilities, this is when it becomes necessary to go to a psychologist. People should ask for professional help when they do not feel well, when they do not understand what is happening to them or when, knowing it, we cannot manage to solve the problem alone. Clinical psychology is directed to the person who suffers, sometimes interventions are made on complex problems, but we can also help in decision making, separation process, stress and other issues far from the usual.
Therapy is helpful when you want to feel better. Conversations with a psychologist may be necessary when you feel that your thoughts, feelings or behavior are difficult, when life takes an undesirable turn or when you have reached a point where you can no longer go on alone.
In reality, you do not need to prepare yourself before contacting a psychologist.
Yes, therapy can give you support, recognition, insights and solutions for your daily life. Therapy can help you find inner peace and better cope with difficult feelings and situations. It can help you whether you are in a life crisis or if you want to change difficulties you have been dealing with for a long time.
If your goal is to change the way you think, feel or behave in life, talking to a psychologist is a good place to start. Psychotherapy can help you to get to know yourself better. You can see what coping strategies you are using in your life and possibly replace them with others that work better for you.
Because you don't have to be a slave to your negative thoughts and feelings. We often find it hard to realize that the way we think and feel is just one of many ways of being. But as long as we are alone with our thoughts and feelings, nothing "new" comes in. In order to gain a new perspective on ourselves and our lives, we usually need to talk to someone else. A psychologist can help you to discover that there are many ways of thinking and feeling. This will give you more freedom in your life.
This is an important question. You want help and who you talk to is very important. The short answer is that you must feel that I am the right person for you. A good start might be to take a look at my website to get an idea of whether we might be a good fit.
Acceptance, authenticity, feelings, beliefs, interpersonal relationships and self-esteem are important topics in my conversations. I also like to talk about existential issues.
If you think we might be a good fit, the next step is for us to meet for an initial consultation. This will give you a chance to get to know me better and how I can help you. It also allows you to get a feel for whether you think we have the "chemistry" to talk about what you are having difficulties with.
In the initial consultation, the main thing is to get to know each other better. I introduce myself briefly and would like to know what problems or challenges you are seeking help for. I may also ask you what you have done so far. If you have no experience with therapy, I can also explain it to you a little bit. If you have a lot to talk about, I will let you talk freely. If you are not sure what you want to talk about, I ask you specific questions.
What I especially like, and what I would like to underline: in therapy you can't do anything wrong. You come as you are, no matter if you are sad, angry or anxious, no matter if you prefer to keep quiet or want to let off steam. It's all about you and me understanding your personality better.
One of the basic requirements for successful therapy, in my opinion and from my experience, is that you feel safe, protected and accepted. Therefore, for me the most important thing is that you can feel comfortable and accepted.
That's a good question, but also a difficult one. After the initial interview we need more time to get to know each other better. There are good reasons why you feel, think and act the way you do. The experiences you have had so far play an important role. That is why it is so important for me to know your background in order to be able to help you well.
Another important issue is the therapeutic relationship, because in therapy your coping and protective strategies are activated. This, at the same time, gives us the opportunity to better understand why you feel you have problems. Perhaps you have developed protective strategies that cause more problems than are helpful? When I better understand what the right path is for you, we can deepen this understanding or address other problematic areas.
Most clients sense when therapy is coming to an end. But I often also tell them when I think they have enough insight into what is causing their symptoms or what is keeping them going, and know how to continue to work through their challenges on their own. Some then prefer that we meet less frequently so that they have more time to gain their own experiences between appointments.
At the same time, longer interval meetings can still be very important to learn how you are doing and if necessary, continue to get support from me to keep you on track.
Unfortunately, I can't say a specific number beforehand. The length of therapy or the number of hours needed depends very much on what your ailments are and what your goal is. Your current situation and your possibilities to improve the challenges also play an important role, as well as the degree of commitment.
In my opinion, it takes at least three to five appointments to understand the problematic areas, what triggers them and what maintains them. Many clients often feel after twelve to twenty-five sessions that they have received adequate help and do not need further therapy.
Sessions usually last between 45 - 60 minutes, although if circumstances require it, they can be longer.
At the beginning, the frequency of the sessions is weekly in order to start working more intensively to see some initial changes. Later, once the process is somewhat more consolidated, it is possible to do a session every two weeks or even monthly sessions depending on the factors that influence the situation of each person.
Art. 39 of the code of ethics: in the exercise of his/her profession, the psychologist will show scrupulous respect for the client's right to his/her own privacy. He/she shall only collect information necessary for the development of the tools for which he/she has been requested, always with the client's authorization.
Art. 40 of the code of ethics: all the information that the psychologist collects in the exercise of his/her profession, be it verbal manifestations expressed by his/her clients, psycho-technical data or other professional observations, are subject to a duty and right of professional secrecy from which they can only be exempted by the express consent of the person. The psychologist will see to it that his/her eventual collaborations comply with these criteria of professional secrecy.
