Working as a psychologist with a specialty in offering psychotherapy is a process that goes hand in hand with constant training. Not only because every year new research appears that shows interesting findings about behavior and the human mind, but also because to be a therapist it is important to learn a whole series of skills that can simply be acquired by reading books or studying a Bachelor’s Degree or Bachelor’s Degree. in Psychology. It is necessary to accept with humility that becoming a good psychologist takes years and to keep an open mind while developing various competencies and skills.
In this article we will talk about how to improve as a psychologist taking as reference a series of skills to “train” once the university degree has been completed.
The keys to improving as a psychotherapist psychologist
The work of the psychologist specialized in patient care in the context of psychotherapy is as complex as it is fascinating; That is why there is a lot to learn and improve in this professional field. Here we will limit you to a summary of the keys to take into account to improve as a psychologist, explaining their implications when offering services.
1. Learn to see beyond literality
One of the characteristics of psychotherapy is that, especially in this area, “the client is not always right.”. Obviously it is essential to know and understand the explanations that the patient gives about why she has decided to attend therapy, but we must limit ourselves to having this as a reference, it is necessary to look further. And part of the psychologist’s job is to help the person understand what is happening to them, the reason for their discomfort (which does not mean unilaterally imposing stories about the origin of their problem, as we will see later).
Thus, the psychologist must go beyond the literal, what in the world of art and text analysis is called attending to the “subtext” of what is said. Words are only a resource to communicate, not an objective expression of what is happening in a person’s mind.
2. Train in specific techniques and strategies
It is essential not to remain solely in abstract ideas about life habits and routines that help preserve mental health.; It must be very clear that specific problems require specific therapeutic resources. Luckily, year after year meta-analyses and all kinds of studies are carried out that test the effectiveness of different therapies and forms of psychological intervention by analyzing their effects on patients with specific disorders.
Furthermore, this training process will enrich our range of possibilities when using techniques, ensuring that we always use the most useful and effective one given a specific problem (even though others of general application would have also served, but without offering the same results).
3. Maintain a professional role without falling into condescension
As we mentioned, one thing is to assert our knowledge as psychotherapy professionals, and another is to limit ourselves to “explaining” to the patient what is really happening to them, as if their function was to accept any type of feedback from us.
After all, Their reactions to the hypotheses that psychotherapists draw up are also part of the information that the psychologist must analyze., since they reveal things about their beliefs, their way of perceiving themselves, etc. And, on the other hand, with a unilateral approach to therapy it is impossible to establish a correct rapport and therapeutic alliance.
4. Assume that the psychotherapist’s work goes beyond sessions with patients
It would be very comfortable to assume that the psychologist’s work is only what happens between the moment the patient enters the consultation and the moment he leaves at the end of the therapy session. But this is not true at all, just because it is important to prepare for the sessions and reflect on the information collected during them.
In today’s society the psychotherapist You must also take on tasks pertaining to the world of marketing.: knowing how to create a flow of patients, making yourself visible, making things easy for making appointments, developing a brand image… There is no point in being a psychologist if, due to an overly passive attitude, no one knows about our existence and no one benefits from it. what we know how to do.
5. Develop social skills for a correct therapeutic alliance
Training social skills is essential in psychotherapy, for several reasons. First of all, avoid misunderstandings and allows both parties to make clear what the other is saying.
Second, beyond the world of information understanding, helps establish good harmony from the first sessionsso that the patient is able to open up and honestly express his fears, his insecurities, what makes him feel bad, etc.
And thirdly, it is something necessary for the patient don’t stop going to therapy and experience no progress or benefits despite having paid and invested time and effort in the process.
You may be interested: “Therapeutic alliance: what it is, how it influences therapy and how it is created”
If you are interested in learning the theoretical and practical aspects of psychotherapy to become professional, the Master in Integrative Psychotherapy from the Mensalus Institute may fit what you are looking for.
This training program, which is in its 12th edition and lasts one year, can be carried out in person (at the Mensalus Psychology Center, located in Barcelona), online (with live classes and content uploaded to the intranet and accessible at any time) or mixed.
Regardless of the chosen modality, the contents and classes are designed and taught by a teaching team made up of psychologists and researchers who are fundamentally dedicated to the field of clinical and health psychology. From an integrative theoretical position, this Master allows both learning the fundamental ideas and concepts of therapy and observing and participating in real cases with patients, something that is possible because it is a training program carried out by one of the psychological and psychiatric care centers. most important in the Catalan capital. Furthermore, its completion allows you to obtain a University Degree from the Nebrija University of Madrid.
If you are interested in knowing more about the Master in Integrative Psychotherapy, contact Instituto Mensalus.
