How does a psychologist help in making important decisions in life?

Human beings have a very precious gift: the ability to establish long-term estimates about what will happen, or what could happen, given certain circumstances.

We can make predictions based on our imaginative capacity, in which we combine information about the past and the present to make projections about the future. And that, of course, is a good part of what has allowed us to be a species with such an ability to adapt to various environments all over the planet, as well as establishing very complex societies based on trust and consensus.

Now, with this ability comes a series of responsibilities that often put us under a lot of pressure. We are faced with the need to make important decisions that will determine what our lives will be like months or even years from now.

That is to say: since our mind extends into the future even if we don't do it on purpose, we have to deal with the emotional implications of making a decision in the face of each of the important dilemmas that we face. we face. And sometimes these decisions are so important that we feel emotionally overwhelmed. Fortunately,

From psychology, strategies have been developed to adequately deal with this kind of experiences so complicated

• Related article: "Personal Development: 5 reasons for self-reflection"

This is how psychologists give support in making important decisions

There are many people who go to the psychologist's office without taking it for granted that they have developed a psychopathology, simply to "clear their minds" in the face of an important dilemma, or several of them. Relatively common examples are: doubting whether or not to leave your job, deciding whether to end a relationship or continue to give him opportunities, reach a collusion on whether it is better to stay with the family or move to another country or another city ​​etc

Faced with this type of dilemma, although psychologists do not give advice about which option to choose (this is not our job, and the decision must be made entirely by the person), we do provide resources to face the decision in the most constructive and psychologically healthy, without giving in to unfounded fears and without letting the "I'll decide at another time" indefinitely postpone the question.

So that… Through what processes does the psychologist help those who must make an important decision? Let's see it.

1. Provides support in the process of self-knowledge

In the first stage of the process, it is necessary for the person to be fully aware of what their values ​​are, the ideas and ethical foundations on which their way of facing life is based. In this way, her decision will fit with what the person considers to be good, what defines good behavior, with which he feels comfortable.

To do this, the person is trained in certain introspection techniques that help analyze and organize their ideas, and the beliefs from which they interpret reality.

• You may be interested: "Self-knowledge: definition and 8 tips to improve it"

2. Helps detect strengths and weaknesses

A somewhat more technical part of self-awareness is being aware of your own strengths and weaknesses. This will reveal the risks and opportunities that entail the different options between which the person must choose.

3. Train in anxiety management techniques

Knowing how to make important decisions does not mean completely blocking the discomfort generated by anxiety and stress. We must assume that we will experience some discomfort for the simple fact of facing a high degree of uncertainty. For this reason, psychotherapy is trained in the use of anxiety management techniques, to prevent it from paralyzing the person.

• Related article: "What is anxiety: how to recognize it and what to do"

4. Teaches time management techniques to move forward

It is important to define specific goals in the process of making a final decision. Collect information, check the status of our skills that we would need to use if we choose one of the options, etc. For it, psychologists teach ways to segment behavior patterns with clear time references start and finish.

• You may be interested: "How to better manage time at work: 12 tips (and what to avoid)"

5. Helps detect self-sabotaging thoughts

Finally, this type of psychotherapeutic support also helps people to identify and prevent the appearance of self-sabotaging trap-thoughts, which are those that emerge in our consciousness unexpectedly and serve as an excuse to fall into the easy in the short term (which is usually detrimental in the medium and long term) term). Usually these thoughts they drag us back to our comfort zone and they wear down our self-esteem so that we don't dare to take some risks and show ourselves what we are capable of doing.

• You may be interested: "What are trap thoughts and how to prevent them?"

Are you interested in having professional psychological assistance?

If you are looking for psychology services to face the challenges of everyday life or to start a project emotionally demanding on a personal or professional level, I invite you to contact me.

My name is Thomas Saint Cecilia, I am a psychologist, and I work from the strategies and techniques of the cognitive-behavioral intervention model applied to adults, adolescents, and company teams. You can count on my services in person or online by video call.