WHAT a psychologist does and HOW he does it are the most important questions that concern a person who has decided or intends to seek psychological help. And one more thing – SHOULD I contact a psychologist? Yes - if a person wants to solve some problem that is important to him and he does not want to tell his relatives and friends about it or he is afraid of misunderstanding on their part. Yes - if you need to understand yourself (your inner world) and your life circumstances. Yes - if you want to survive a difficult (psychologists say “crisis”) period of life with minimal losses, but there is either no support from loved ones at all or not enough. And this is not a complete list of situations with which people go to a psychologist. “And what can a completely stranger to me (a psychologist) understand in my situation, because he doesn’t know me, doesn’t love me, isn’t friends with me, and generally sees me for the first time in his life?” This question can often be heard from people who find themselves in a difficult situation, do not yet see a way out of it, and cannot turn to a psychologist due to the above fears. Let's try to figure it out! So... The psychologist really doesn’t know anything about you, and can only find out what you tell him yourself. You will tell only what you yourself consider necessary. The psychologist will ask you clarifying questions. Or maybe this won't be necessary. Sometimes this first conversation takes place over the phone, and you yourself will be able to feel whether you want to contact this particular specialist for an in-person consultation. Be attentive to yourself and your feelings - and then your work together with a psychologist will be effective! At the first meeting, you agree on the nuances of the work. These are, first of all, the goals of the work, that is, what you turned to a specialist for, or your request. Working hours, i.e. the number of meetings required to solve the problem. Time - a specific hour is assigned on a specific day of the week, or several days if you arrange meetings more than once a week (psychological consultation traditionally lasts from 50 minutes to 60 minutes). It is important to discuss the criteria for effectiveness - with a psychologist you first discuss possible changes in your external or internal life that will allow you to judge the results of the work done. The fact that a psychologist is “a complete stranger to you” and at the same time takes upon himself the responsibility to help you understand your own life is, rather, not a harm in psychological work, but a great benefit! Otherwise, no psychologists would be needed, and people would go with their emotional experiences to friends and relatives. Fortunately, in the vast majority of cases, this is what happens! But, firstly, not all people want and can discuss their deepest feelings with loved ones, and this happens for various reasons. Secondly, our most intimate experiences concern those close to us. Thirdly, the psychologist will be impartial and non-judgmental towards you, because... he is initially not interested in maintaining a personal (family, friendship, love, etc.) relationship with you. The psychologist will explain to you exactly what methods of psychological assistance he knows and how, in his opinion, your joint work will be structured. Here you can ask questions yourself. Psychological assistance can be short-term - even 1 or 2 consultations focused on a specific request. Consulting in a format of 10 to 30 meetings is aimed at a deeper study of the individual and the search for the reasons that led to life difficulties. Long-term work with a psychologist is aimed at deep internal changes, personal and spiritual growth of a person, searching for something new in oneself and in life, and such work can last from several months to several years. Psychological counseling (mainly for medium- and long-term forms of work) can be an equally exciting and painful process. This is due to the specifics!