In the era of technological progress, it is becoming increasingly difficult for modern man to function in society. Therefore, in our time, the profession of a psychologist has become very relevant. Thanks to special knowledge, techniques and methods, the psychologist helps a person to solve problems gently and quickly, without resorting to medical treatment.
What is a psychologist?
In our country, the profession of a psychologist is not so much in demand, as, for example, in the USA. Russian people either do not know what a psychologist is and why they are needed, or they imagine the profession of psychologist at two extremes. Some believe that only mentally unbalanced people go to these specialists. Others think that the psychologist is a wizard, a kind of wizard who, with the swipe of a magic wand, can solve all their problems.
In fact, a psychologist is primarily an ordinary person endowed with special abilities (empathy, sincerity, the ability to listen and understand). Also, a psychologist is a specialist with unique knowledge in his industry. With the help of certain technologies, methods and techniques, he is able to help solve piled up problems and direct the life of the client in the right direction.
Most of these specialists use many different approaches in their work. These are such directions as gestalt therapy (in communication problems), art therapy and fairy tale therapy (usually used in working with children), body therapy (for physical problems) and others.
Reasons for parents to turn to a child psychologist
Almost every parent in his educational practice heard that a child needs to be shown to a psychologist. And why is a child psychologist needed, in principle, few of them know.
Usually, a specialist is consulted during ordinary age-related crises in a child.
Crises and global growth spurt occur in the following periods:
- 1 year - 1.5 years;
- three years;
- seven years;
- teenage years.
At these stages of age, there are sharp jumps in growth, intellectual, physical and emotional development of the child. Parents, faced with the unpredictable behavior of the child, are lost and do not know how to behave further. Past experience in relationships no longer helps to build a dialogue with a son or daughter, and then a specialist in the field of child psychology comes to the rescue.
There is also a whole list of periods in the life of parents and a child when a psychologist may need to be consulted:
• Adaptation in kindergarten and school. This period often negatively affects the psyche of the baby. And it is not always possible to see the consequences of adaptation without the help of a specialist.
• Problems in the family (conflicts, vivid quarrels, divorces, etc.). In this case, psychologists strongly recommend showing the child to a specialist. Diagnosis of the emotional state of the baby in this situation is necessary so that he can calmly endure the current situation and future changes in family life.
• Willingness to study at school (6-7 years). The psychologist evaluates the level of preparation of the child with the help of a set of techniques and gives recommendations for admission to a particular school (with in-depth training) or class.
School psychologist and his main responsibilities
Many people wonder: why do we need a psychologist at school? Moreover, often the headmaster himself does not know how to load the poor fellow.
Parents and especially teachers need to understand that for a child, a school is a center for exploring society, with its rules and laws. It is here that he receives the first experience of interpersonal relationships. Therefore, the school needs a common strategy for raising a child by a teacher and parents with the participation of a psychologist. The latter helps to develop a single line of adult behavior when interacting with the baby and adjust it if necessary.
The psychologist's tasks include timely diagnostic, correctional work with children, as well as family consultations.
Diagnosis is carried out according to the following mental processes:
- cognitive (memory, thinking, attention);
- emotional sphere of the child.
With insufficient indicators of diagnostic methods, each child is separately or in the group carried out corrective work. It includes elements of the game, projective techniques (if the child is a primary school age). Carrying out various extracurricular activities.
The best friend is a psychologist
In modern Russia, there is a tendency for people working in various organizations to be advised by various specialists to turn to a psychologist on a particular issue. Nevertheless, few patients really understand why a person needs a psychologist.
Actually the answer is very simple. The psychologist heals mental wounds.
If a person has a heartache, then he goes with his problem to a cardiologist. If the tooth hurts, then he will go to the dentist - dentist. And if a person has a soul ache, then he needs to turn to a psychologist - a healer of souls.
In fact, psychology is the science of the soul in literal translation.
Psychology is “soulmate”, “science of the soul” (psyche - soul, logos - word, speech, thought or science).
The family got sick. Emotional wounds
Why do we need a family psychologist?
A specialist in this profile is necessary when a deep mental wound appeared not in one person, but in the whole family.
In this case, its members just need to consult a family psychologist. He will direct them in the right direction and help overcome the crisis.
Usually a family consultation consists of several individual meetings with each family member and group activities with the whole family together. Individual consultations last from 40 minutes to an hour and a half.
During this time, completely diverse topics are covered.
For example:
- what boundaries and rules are in the family;
- how the interaction of all its members occurs and what features are present in the relationship;
- who is currently undergoing a crisis and what worries family members.
Having understood the situation, the psychologist gives each member of the family certain recommendations that he needs to fulfill within a given time.
After 2-3 weeks, the psychologist conducts a second consultation, at which there is a analysis of successes and failures in the homework of each family member. The psychologist explains how this or that act influenced the success in therapy. The psychologist may invite other family members to the next conversation.
Consultations with a specialist help to overcome family crises and conflicts. The psychologist helps patients to adjust the behavior model of each family member, as a result of which their mutual understanding and relations improves.
Individual consultations with a psychologist
Who needs a psychologist consultation and why?
He works not only with a group of people. Also, this profession implies the ability to build a course of work with one client.
Psychological consultation of one patient is usually a one-time, situational conversation between a specialist and a client about his life situation.
Usually a professional psychologist begins to work immediately. He finds out the problems that led the client to him. It helps to understand them and unravel complicated situations, and then build a future model of life, which is necessary for a person who has applied for help.
What are the psychologists?
If a person needs a consultation with a psychologist, then he should know that they specialize each in their own field. And in a specific situation, it is better to turn to a narrow specialist working with specific age or social groups.
The psychologist may be:
- age - (deals with crisis conditions of people);
- perinatal - (advises pregnant women);
- for children - (deals with children from one to 16 years old);
- teenage - (deals with teenage problems from 11-12 to 18 years old);
- clinical - (deals with accentuations, mental disorders);
- family - (specialist in family life, also advises unmarried couples);
- criminal - is engaged in the study of criminals;
- psychologist trainer - (provides training);
- consultant - (recruitment at the request of the employer);
- teacher-psychologist (school worker).
If a person is clear why a psychologist is needed, what tasks he performs and with whom he works, then most likely, sooner or later he will turn to this specialist for help. When choosing a psychologist, you need to make sure of his professionalism and make sure that you have the appropriate education.