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You probably know by now that psychologists are incredibly valuable to society. They assist many people with their mental health conditions as well as life challenges and difficult situations. But what are psychologists, and how exactly do they help? This article will give you a brief introduction to the work of psychologists. For further reading on this subject, you can find more information and resources at BetterHelp.
What Is A Psychologist?
Psychologists assist their patients in improving certain areas of their lives, mental health, or overall well-being. They may help treat certain mental illnesses or help clients navigate specific life changes and situations.
Patients may come into the office with a known condition and be given strategies and treatments to help cope or ease the symptoms. Others may come in utter despair over a difficult time in their life. They will often find warmth, empathy, as well as strategies to cope through the period.
All the ways that psychologists can help are only limited by the variety of psychologists available. As you will see in the next section, there are many types of psychologists in the world, meaning they can help with just about any mental health condition or situation.
What Are The Different Types Of Psychologists?
When people think of psychologists, they draw an image in their mind of lounging on a couch while the psychologist analyzes their childhood. Though talk therapy is an important component of working with psychologists, many types of psychologists use their education and experience in other ways. Some of these types include:
- Clinical neuropsychologist: These psychologists study the relationship between the brain and behavior.
- Clinical psychologists: These psychologists work in more clinical settings to support people with mental health conditions, psychiatric disorders, or behavioral problems.
- Geropsychologists: They focus on the mental health and well-being of the elderly.
- Family psychologists: These psychologists help families with issues that affect the family unit as a whole.
- School psychologists: They work with students, caregivers, and teachers to help the students succeed in their academic setting.
- Counseling psychologists: These psychologists focus more on counseling and assist their clients with a variety of issues related to work, health, socializing, and more.
- Forensic psychologist: These psychologists assist with the psychological elements of legal cases. They work with attorneys, judges, and victims of crimes.
- Sleep psychologists: These psychologists focus on sleep-related issues, including sleep disorders.
This is by no means a comprehensive list. There is a multitude of psychologists that assist in every area of modern civilization. Wherever there is a need for a professional of psychology, there are bound to be psychologists.
How Do Psychologists Help Their Patients?
Psychologists help their patients in a variety of ways. However, most of their help can be organized into three categories: diagnosis, treatment, and navigating life. Read on to learn more about how psychologists help in these three ways.
Diagnosing Mental Illnesses Or Developmental Disabilities
After learning more about the client, their struggles, and overall mental health, psychologists can diagnose certain mental illnesses. This is done in accordance with various tests and assessments. This may bring clarity to the client as well as a clear path forward to treatment and well-being.
Furthermore, psychologists can assess whether someone is struggling with a developmental disability, such as autism or ADHD. Many people worldwide do not know much about these conditions and therefore go years without a diagnosis or understanding of their unique challenges. An assessment can bring clarity to these clients. After the assessment, the psychologist will work to help the client adjust and make necessary changes to improve their mental health and quality of life.
Finally, psychologists may conduct assessments that do not pertain to any mental health disorders. Sometimes, these assessments are designed to help the patient see their strengths and weaknesses or give them an idea of their personality and way of thinking. This is valuable to clients who just want to learn more about themself and make some necessary changes to improve their inner life.
Provide Treatment And Management Strategies
Whether a patient is experiencing a sleeping disorder, ADHD, or bipolar disorder, a psychologist can help them treat or manage the condition. Depending on the disorder, the psychologist will be able to use a variety of tools to help the patient manage their condition and ease their symptoms. For conditions that do not have a cure, they can suggest habits, lifestyles, and coping mechanisms encourage the best quality of life.
However, it is important to note that psychologists do not typically prescribe medication. This requires a medical degree, which most psychologists do not have. Therefore, if you are interested in medication, you will need to seek out a psychiatrist.
Navigate Life Changes and Transitions
Many people seek out psychologists to help them navigate an important phase of their life. This can be anything from a divorce, to starting college or experiencing the sudden death of a loved one. A psychologist can provide empathy as well as management tools to help patients navigate any transition or phase in life.
Bottom Line
Psychologists are indispensable professionals that assist with the mental health of millions of people. Many people go to them to seek care, support, and understanding. If you are struggling with a mental health condition or a difficult life challenge, then don’t hesitate to reach out to a psychologist for help.
Author Biography
Marie Miguel has been a writing and research expert for nearly a decade, covering a variety of health-related topics. Currently, she is contributing to the expansion and growth of a free online mental health resource with BetterHelp.com. With an interest and dedication to addressing stigmas associated with mental health, she continues to specifically target subjects related to anxiety and depression.
