6 Myths About Psychologists

Not so many years have passed since is widely known the word “psychology” and such a profession as a psychologist. At the same time the popularity of everything connected with psychology, is enormous – as evidenced by the competition (be a psychologist – it is fashionable), and the number of “popular” literature on the psychology.

In this case, any phenomenon that acquires such a scale, often loses its depth. Having read popular books such as “Psychoanalysis in the comics’ many, such as half-baked students are strongly surprised that psychology is a lot more complicated, in fact, science, and is not as simple as it seems …

Psychologist – it is not quite what we see in movies, especially American … In this article I want to dispel some myths about psychologists, in society.

1) one way or another psychologist has to deal with “abnormal” people. Normal, healthy person will not go to a psychologist.

This is one of the most popular myths. First of all, a psychologist, by definition, has to deal with healthy people who have certain difficulties and problems. With mental health problems has to do a doctor, a psychiatrist. This is a medical specialty. The psychologist also has no medical training and does not even have the right to treat.

As regards to the division psychologist and psychotherapist, it is not so obvious. But we can say that the therapist has to deal with more complex cases, the deep psychological trauma, personal problems. Psychotherapy involves a more profound and long-term performance, in which pretty much can change in the inner world of the client.

The psychologist also consults rather, dealt with special cases, makes recommendations (for example, a psychologist with the customer can turn out a list of techniques that help to relax or, conversely, focus, etc.). The work that began as a consultation, may develop into a serious and long-term psychotherapy.

2) “analyst” and “psychologist” – is the same 

The myth comes from foreign films. In fact, these words are synonyms, as well as are synonyms, such words as “musician” and “rocker”. Namely, psychoanalysis is just one aspect of psychology, with its principles and characteristics of work. It is the work of the psychoanalyst that you see when you see a man that lies on the couch and begins to talk about himself ..

By the way, the couch, traditionally is considered an attribute of psychoanalysis, but modern psychoanalysts do not always use it.

In addition to psychoanalysis, there are several areas (approaches) in psychology, in which psychologists can work – gestalt psychology, cognitive psychology, existential psychology, etc. Each approach has their principles, methods of work, etc.

3) The task of a psychologist – as soon as possible to understand the customer’s problem, give the right advice, and for that he certainly must have great experience in life 

To some extent it also depends on the approach in which the psychologist works, but it can be argued that the task of a psychologist is not to give advice. In general, the psychologist must understand the customer’s problem and solve it. He must help the person to create the conditions that he himself did it – figure out a decision.

No one than the man himself can better know the best solution to his problem, but it is too difficult for him to find it. That’s the task of the expert – to create optimal conditions for the client to himself. This is not an easy task.

Perception of a psychologist as a wizard, which will solve all the problems, is one of the most persistent myths.

As for life experience, if a psychologist gives an advice, it is not necessarily to have been in the same situations as the client. On the contrary it can prevent more – a psychologist can begin to transfer the problem to the problem of its own client.

4) the psychologist should have no problems, otherwise how can he as a psychologist and can help others? 

Psychologist is not God. He may have problems. The only thing that is required of a good specialist – is to be aware of his problems, keep them under control in time to keep track of them when problems begin to interfere with his effective work with the client.
To do this a good psychologist should undergo periodic personal psychotherapy himself.

5) A good psychologist, after a short communication is a psychological portrait of the interlocutor 

Once again: the task of a psychologist is not to understand the client’s life but to help him to understand himself in his life.

Not to be confused the psychologist with a clairvoyant. Often I hear such a request – see the man in the first or second time, and he, knowing my profession, asks him to tell about it. In such cases, I usually answer that I am a psychologist, not a psychic.

6) Every person is a psychologist, but some have a diploma, and some do not 

If we assume an intimate conversation in the kitchen psychological help can be … and probably in the conversation of good friends there are elements of psychological work. If it is, of course, not an “advice from a wise friend.”

However, the specifics of a specialist that he is doing it consciously, more deeply understand the processes occurring during the interaction, and hence – controls the process. In this sense his work is more efficient, professional.