A psychologist is a fully trained mental health professional whose job it is to help people learn the healthiest ways to handle mental health challenges. They can assist people who are living with specific conditions, such as depression or anxiety, or they can support those who are going through a tough time in life, such as grief. Any good psychologist will go through many years of education and training to be able to provide a range of top-quality mental health services, so it’s not an easy job to achieve to say the very least. Upon completion of an undergraduate degree, those who are interested in this career still need to pursue a further 4 to 6 years of full-time study, likely specialising in one set area.
What does a psychologist do?
Psychologists research specific topics and aim to support the effective treatment of people’s cognitive, emotional, and social processes and behaviours.
- One of the main goals of a psychologist is to evaluate and understand their clients’ thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. Psychologists can work in many settings, including private practices, schools, hospitals, community health centres, prisons, nursing homes, and so much more.
- They often also take part in research and conduct studies in their field so that they can further improve the support and treatment offered.
- Psychologists tend to treat mental health issues or symptoms by providing counselling and psychotherapy, which is commonly referred to as talking therapy.
Here are a few responsibilities that a psychologist might have:
- building people’s confidence
- treating mental illness
- teaching healthy coping mechanisms
Unlike psychiatrists, psychologists are not medical doctors. That means that they are unable to write you any kind of prescription or perform any kind of medical procedure.
Reasons to See a Psychologist
There are a number of different reasons why you might want to see a psychologist, and you must never feel self-conscious about doing so. You should take the time to contact a psychologist if you experience any of the following signs:
- Experiencing thoughts, emotions, or behaviours that seem out of control and negatively affect your relationships, work, or overall sense of well-being.
- If you are struggling to deal with life issues, like illness, the death of a loved one, divorce, or problems in the workplace.
- Heavy use of drugs or alcohol is interfering with your health, emotions and relationships.
- You may feel hopeless to the extent that life no longer seems worth living, falling victim to negative or even suicidal thoughts.
Where do psychologists come into contact with their clients?
A clinical psychologist has broad training to provide comprehensive mental healthcare for individuals and families from all walks of life. Clinical psychologists can work in many settings, such as in schools with children, in hospitals and clinics, or even in nursing homes to help the elderly. You can meet with a psychologist in a variety of locations, and you can choose a one-on-one session or even work in groups if this better suits your needs.
Types of psychologists
Although there are a number of different types of psychologists, most of them can be placed into 5 different categories. These categories are as follows:
- Clinical psychologists
- Neuropsychologists
- Health psychologists
- Counselling psychologists
- Forensic psychologists
If you think that you would benefit from contacting a psychologist, then reach out to The Reset Health Group to help you find peace and harmony.
