7 Ways a Psychologist Can Help You

If you’re thinking about seeing a psychologist, there are a few different ways that they may help you in your life. This article will explore just some ways that a psychologist can help their clients.  It may seem daunting or a sign of weakness to some, but seeing a psychologist needn’t be a decision that makes you feel this way at all. There are several different reasons why people seek the advice of an allied professional such a psychologist, and seeing a therapist is sometimes seen as a negative stereotype, however this is simply untrue and you do NOT need to be crazy to see one!

1. Getting through roadblocks

Sometimes we all feel like we’ve gone through a lot in our life. Whether it be with our career, relationships, or daily lifestyle; sometimes we may feel like we’ve achieved quite a lot, but often we feel like we’ve hit a ‘life roadblock’ and cannot progress any further. If you’re feeling this way, it’s a great opportunity to see a psychologist.

Not only will they be able to listen to your concerns, but they may also help you to uncover any issues that you may not even realise are stopping you from reaching your full potential. This is a great way to re-evaluate your life and clarify how you would like to move forward.

2. Reduce anxiety, depression, and other mental health symptoms

Psychology isn’t a cure-all for mental health issues, but it is a good place to start to see what your options are for treatment. Even if you haven’t been diagnosed with a mental health disorder such as anxiety or depression, but you are just not feeling yourself, a good place to start is to see a psychologist. They may be able to help you manage uncomfortable emotions or symptoms that you’re feeling, such as nervousness, bouts of sadness, feeling ‘blue’, anger, etc. If you’re concerned about your current mental health then it’s important to seek advice from a medical professional.

3. Alleviate phobias

Sometimes people suffer from phobias that inhibit their ability to live their life fully, and they would greatly benefit from seeing a psychologist. Perhaps you feel an overwhelming sense of anxiety when you need to speak in front of others at work? Or perhaps you’re terrified of flying and you really want to go on that holiday next summer? A lot of phobias can be conquered by speaking with a psychologist and really narrowing down on what’s causing that fear. You may be able to completely eliminate the unconscious triggers causing your fears!

4. Improve your relationships

Sometimes we find ourselves in a situation where talking out issues with our partners or loved ones can be a daunting task. Perhaps talking with them isn’t possible, or it’s made difficult by a challenging situation and the nature of the topic needing to be discussed. Psychologists are able to provide a safe and objective space for people in relationships to be able to discuss their issues, needs and feelings without judgement.

A psychologist can act as a medium between those who are in the session, and can help to navigate and facilitate the discussion to ensure everyone gets to have their say and work through any issues in a constructive manner. Couples often find this is a great chance to talk through what is bothering them, and many couples have even experienced the positive benefits of going to a psychologist early on in a relationship, even if they have no present issues. Relationships don’t just refer to couples, but often family members seek advice from a psychologist too. Parents and their children, siblings, or even extended family members can have issues that they wish to discuss with a psychologist, helping to bring about better working interpersonal relationships.

5. Alleviate harmful actions

Sometimes people may find themselves in situations where their actions and choices in life are negatively impacting others around them, and even may be causing a lot of damage to other people’s well-being. A good example of this is if a person has a gambling addiction, and this is putting a lot of financial stress on his/her family, and the negative impact that addictions in general can have upon loved ones. There are plenty more examples of ways in which a person may be hurting those around them, and seeing a psychologist can help them to determine what issues are causing problems, and how they can work through those issues.

6. Define and work towards goals

You may be wanting to be a better person by improving your lifestyle, eating better, exercising more, changing your career, or being a happier, more confident person. But where do you start? Believe it or not, a psychologist can help you to determine what goals you’d like to achieve, help you to set those goals, and then guide you to set and implement a plan and provide accountability. A psychologist won’t tell you what to do, but rather will help you to work this out for yourself, and together you will develop a realistic road map to help you to achieve your goals.

7. Dealing with traumatic experiences

Whether or not you’re diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), seeing a psychologist can help you to make sense of any traumatic events in your past that may be causing ongoing hurt, grief or confusion. The event can be something like being bullied during your school years, or it could be the death of a loved one, or a major accident.

No matter how big or small your past events may seem or feel like, if it means something to you and is causing you distress, then it is something definitely worth discussing with a psychologist. A psychologist can’t make you forget your past, or talk on behalf of those who were involved, but they will be able to help you communicate how you feel about the events, and offer strategies to help you understand it better and move forward.

Read about how Michelle van Namen – Gold Coast Psychologist at Integrated Health Specialists, can help you to improve the quality of your life!