In recent years, mental health has become increasingly important in the sociopolitical sphere of our country. Going to the psychologist is increasingly a practice integrated into our routine.
It has become so normalized that, in any situation that is interpreted as problematic, we can hear “go to the psychologist.” The idea that going to a psychologist can solve all your problems is very widespread and it is not surprising, since it is a common objective of people who go for consultation.
There may be people who come with a certain idea of what it means to go to a psychologist and, later, end up disappointed or frustrated. Here they come into play the expectations that both the consultant and the professional have about what psychological therapy is.
Many times, the therapeutic process does not work or does not even begin because the person’s expectations, their objectives, what they want to work on in therapy and what can be achieved with therapy are not taken into account. The professional must be in charge of clarifying these aspects, among others, to build a path on which to move forward. It is, therefore, an essential part that can sometimes go unnoticed or be forgotten.
Thus, some of the most common expectations of the person who goes to therapy are the following.
1. Going to the psychologist will solve all my problems
People may see life circumstances as problems to be solved. However, not everything that happens to us in life is a problem to solve. Going to therapy will help you see things clearly and with a more adaptive perspective.
2. Feel good/happy again
Many people seek to feel as good again as they did at a certain stage in their life. In this sense, It is necessary to analyze what your life was like at that time and how it is now what circumstances they have at the present and what is important to them.
The concept of each person’s happiness and what they consider they need to feel happy also comes into play. Each person is different and, therefore, it is necessary to know what they understand by happiness and well-being to regulate those expectations before moving forward.
3. Quick changes
When we go to therapy we want to notice changes in a short time, feel better quickly.
It must be taken into account that therapy is a process, and as such, it requires time. Furthermore, in most cases the discomfort has been prolonged for a long time until we decide to go to therapy and, therefore, the positive changes we expect are not going to be as quick as we would like. Working on these expectations is necessary in the initial phase, assessing and reinforcing the changes that are made, no matter how small.
4. Search for relief
The first few times we go to a consultation we may feel relieved to tell what worries us and that no one judges us. However, this does not always happen, and we may feel discomfort when leaving the consultation or in the days following. If this happens, there is no need to worry, It is normal because we have removed experiences and emotions in session. Being a part of the therapy also necessary to guarantee progress.
You might think that, after telling the psychologist what is happening to us, they will tell us what we have to do, as if they were giving us a script on how to act. Instead of that, It will let us decide for ourselves, being responsible for how we act at all times.
On the other hand, the psychologist may also have expectations about what he or she wants to achieve with therapy, for example:
6. Solve patient problems
The professional may feel the pressure of wanting to solve all the problems that the person brings to the consultation. But not everything is under his control, much of the therapeutic work is done by the person. Therefore, the professional, and more so in the early stages of it, You must regulate those expectations.
7. Notable changes in record time
In addition to solving all the problems, the professional may be required to do so as quickly as possible, and for the person to show improvement as soon as possible. This can lead to working in a hurry, using many techniques and requiring the patient to move around and do things. Even though the psychologist puts all his or her effort on the table, the therapeutic process requires time and the pace of each patient or client who comes for consultation must be respected.
Working on expectations in therapy
To work on the person’s expectations, it is necessary to work on them in the first sessions. It is convenient to expose them, analyze them, incorporate them into therapy or clarify them in case they may hinder the therapeutic work.
To see what the person expects from therapy, you can ask questions such as: What would you like to achieve? What do you think it is to go to the psychologist? It is also essential to work out what you expect from the psychologist, with questions such as: How can I help you? What do you expect from me? Finally, it can be useful to check how committed the person is to the therapy and whether they trust the professional.
Finally, it is vital to jointly establish the objectives and work on the person’s expectations in order to design an individualized and personalized intervention.
The psychologists at the PsicoAlmería center always take into account the adaptive regulation of the expectations of the people who come to their consultation, along with other therapeutic skills that guarantee effective psychological therapy.
