Psychotherapy is becoming more and more popular, which makes me very happy. I have already mentioned that we live in difficult times - the beliefs of the old generation clash with the modern understanding of the world, focused on self-realisation.
Visiting a therapist is not only treating disorders - more and more people simply want to work on themselves, take better care of their needs and start understanding their emotions. Personally, I am of the opinion that any reason is good to start psychotherapy!
Today I will tell you what to look for when choosing a specialist. Many people forget that every psychologist and psychotherapist is a person with a specific personality, experience and a specific way of working. If you are not a specialist in this field, this article will certainly help you choose the right person to work with you.
Keep your eyes peeled and read carefully!
Let's go!
Why the medical approach doesn't work in psychology?
Although psychology (especially clinical psychology) deals with the treatment of people and is inextricably linked with medicine, the way of working with the patient is definitely different (or at least it should be!).
Let me explain!
First, mental disorders are more heterogeneous than diseases or other conditions. You have probably noticed the differences in terminology yourself, because we are no longer talking about something like "mental illness" - it is a stigmatizing term and not very accurate. Depression can manifest itself in different ways, and how we experience it depends on many factors.
Therapists working in the existential trend say that if a specialist treats two patients in the same way, he treats at least one of them badly - I agree!
Another issue is that doctors have strict treatment procedures and are not very focused on building a trusting relationship with the patient. When you go to have your wisdom teeth pulled out at the dentist, you sit in a chair, get anesthesia, and then the procedure takes place - no one here even thinks about building a lasting relationship and gradually opening (unless the gums from which the eight have not yet grown).< /p>
So what does real psychotherapy look like?
Now let me tell you something that absolutely EVERYONE should know before they decide to see a professional.
Working with the difficulties of another person consists primarily in gradually opening up and building a lasting relationship, so the statement "I would visit a psychologist once" ... does not experience a collision with reality.
The starting point for our considerations is that every relationship changes something in us, although we are not always aware of it. Every psychologist is also a human being and, believe it or not, each person visiting us affects how we perceive the world and the way we understand other patients - this is another building block of our experience.
Psychotherapy is a long-term process of change, and what areas it concerns and how long it will last depends largely on the trend. It is worth getting acquainted with the approach that is closest to the specialist we choose before the visit. Personally, I believe that wanting to learn more about approaches to working with the patient is the first step to change!
If something lasts longer, it means that it will consist of work and time put into it - in this case, it is building a relationship with another person who comes to us to get to know himself better. One should be particularly sensitive to the differences between patients - their personality, temperament, experience and intelligence.
What else is worth paying attention to when choosing a specialist?
Let's remember, above all, that the selected specialist is suited to us, so it's worth knowing what people we get along well with and with whom we most willingly undertake various activities.
When working with other people, such qualities as openness, empathy and the ability to listen are valuable. This is extremely important in some currents, such as humanistic psychology.
If you think your therapist is a warm, non-judgmental person, you've probably come to the right place!
During therapy, many questions may arise, often not easy ones - it's a sign that the person you choose is fully professional and wants to get to know you well in order to help you! Seemingly unimportant things for you can turn out to be extremely important in the process of recovery and change!
Pay attention to how you conduct the conversation - is it more partnership or maybe directive? Medical "doctor knows best" absolutely does not work in psychotherapy! Yes, that's what psychoanalysis was all about, but today there's a slight departure from that in favour of psychodynamic therapy or other more patient-centred approaches.
Note if the person you work with actively listens to you - does he remember what you say to him? Some details escape us all, but I know of cases where a patient repeated the same thing for three sessions - something that absolutely should not happen! I wrote about it at the beginning of this paragraph, but I repeat it because this aspect seems to me extremely important.
It's time to break some stereotypes…
The dream of each of us, therapists is to graduate from the best university, but let's not forget that paper is not everything! Just because a certain university has a good psychology doesn't mean that someone who graduated from it will be able to help you! Soft skills are of particular importance in this job!
Similarly, the number of publications does not necessarily mean that the selected specialist will be a match for you! Scientific achievements are great, but let's remember that we don't all have to do it.
The title before the name certainly sounds professional, but again - it does not have to be an indicator of success in therapy! Some people are more predisposed to helping people, and others to work at the university with students - we have different predispositions and it's beautiful! If you work well with a master's degree, there is no need to look for someone with a doctorate or a professorship!
The courses you've completed have certainly influenced the way you work with patients, but the skills you've learned may not apply to you, and that's perfectly fine! Perhaps you'd be great at working with someone who's just starting their career and has a natural ability to help others?
When choosing a psychologist or psychotherapist, always look at him as a person, not the number of courses or the title!
Finally, I would like to remind you that therapy is always about you and for you - do not hesitate to change a specialist if you feel that you cannot get along. We're human and sometimes we just don't get along!
I hope this article has given you an insight into what psychotherapeutic work is really about. Personally, I believe that the ability to listen to other people and sensitivity to their needs are extremely valuable!
I have been working with people for many years - my clients turn to me with various difficulties. I always get to know their needs and understanding of the world in detail in order to help them find the best solution! I combine different ways of working because I know that only a holistic view of a person is able to solve his problems.
I'm also waiting for you - it's never too late to open up to new things in your life!