When do I have to go to the psychologist?

Many of the people who are not used to psychological therapy have a rather biased perspective of the tasks that mental health professionals perform. Sometimes this ignorance is due to the type of education received; For many years, it was considered that only people with very serious mental problems went to this type of professional.

However, psychology covers a multitude of fields, and is not always directly related to serious psychological disorders. It is possible that your therapist can help you with some issues that, a priori, you had not considered could be solved through therapy Psychological, such as coping with certain changes in our lives, the proper management of our emotions or setting healthy limits in a relationship.

In this article we will see the main situations in which it will be of great help to see a professional.

Situations in which going to the psychologist will help you

Psychology professionals are specialized in various fields, and not all of them are dedicated to treating disorders. A therapist can help you in cases that are not considered psychopathy, such as a period of stress due to work or in an affective relationship that is not going as it should. If you think you need help, the ideal is to go to a first general session and let the therapist consider whether to refer you to a specialized professional. In any case, do not hesitate to ask for therapeutic help in the cases that we show you below.

1. You show symptoms of a disorder

Obviously, this is the first warning sign that should prompt you to seek professional help. If you think your symptoms may be related to a specific psychological disorder (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Borderline personality disorder, depression, anorexy, phobias, etc.), it is necessary that you go to therapy as soon as possible. The professional will study your situation and decide what treatment is necessary to follow.

The key to knowing if your symptoms can be linked to a disorder is to assess how they influence your day to day and if considerably deteriorate your quality of life and your relationships, as well as how long this discomfort lasts in the time.

It is also important to go to therapy in the presence of psychosomatic disorders and physical deterioration. In the latter case, there may be a psychological cause as well as a physical one.

• Related article: "Mental health: definition and characteristics according to psychology"

2. Do you have problems in your relationship with your partner or with your family?

Problems in relationships usually generate a very high level of discomfort that sometimes interferes with our quality of life, since the affective environment in which we move is neither pleasant nor nutritious. Your psychotherapist can also help you with this.

In couple conflicts, the most appropriate person is a professional specialized in relationships. partner, which will help you understand where the problem comes from and what are the areas for improvement and possible solutions. In this therapy it is essential that both members of the couple agree to go to the psychologist, and that they go together (unless the professional agrees to certain individual sessions).

Often, people think of the couple as the focus of possible problems and conflicts and they completely forget that situations can also occur in the family that alter our emotional state. Family therapy can be very helpful in this regard.

• You may be interested in: "Family therapy: types and forms of application"

3. You feel that you are not able to manage certain skills or emotions

Psychological therapy has been shown highly effective when it comes to managing our social skills. For example, not knowing how to say that it is not a huge problem, since it prevents us from establishing necessary and healthy limits between ourselves and others. In this case and in many others in which your limitations can play a trick on you (and, what is worse, generate anxiety and tension) it is very useful to go to a professional to guide you and help you develop and manage your skills.

On the other hand, the psychologist will also help you when it comes to promoting coherence and well-being with you yourself, through a process of self-knowledge and empowerment of the routines that are beneficial.

4. You are going through an emotional rut

The reason that leads us to consult It does not have to be a sustained discomfort over time. It can be a specific event, such as a death, a job dismissal or an illness. In these situations, the psychologist will help you manage the negative feelings that the event may cause you (sadness, frustration, fear...), with the aim that you grow emotionally and manage to handle the situation in the best way possible.

• Related article: "Emotional crisis: why does it happen and what are its symptoms?"

5. You want to prepare yourself emotionally and psychologically for a project

Changes or projects, both work and life, can be a powerful source of stress if they are not managed properly. Therefore, go to the psychologist if you need to emotionally prepare for something important, such as a competition, some crucial exams for your career, a job change, etc.

Are you thinking of seeking professional psychological help?

If so, in PSiCOBAi we can help you.

We work serving people of all ages, and we offer face-to-face and online sessions.