Many people who are not used to psychological therapy have a quite biased perspective of the tasks performed by mental health professionals. Sometimes, this lack of knowledge is due to the type of education received; For many years, it was considered that only people with very serious psychological problems went to this type of professionals.
However, psychology covers a multitude of areas, 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 psychological therapy, such as coping with certain changes in our life, 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 go to a professional.
Situations in which going to a psychologist will help you
Psychological professionals are specialized in various fields, and not all of them are intended to treat disorders. A therapist can help you in cases that are not considered psychopathy, such as a season of stress at work or in an emotional relationship that is not going as it should. If you think you need help, the ideal is to attend a first general session and let the therapist consider whether they should refer you to a specialized professional. In any case, do not hesitate to ask for therapeutic help in the cases 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 that your symptoms may be related to a specific psychological disorder (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, borderline personality disorder, depression, anorexia, phobias, etc.), you need to 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 may be linked to a disorder is to assess how they influence your daily life and whether they considerably deteriorate your quality of life and your relationships, as well as how long this discomfort lasts over 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.
2. You have problems in your relationship or with your family
Problems in relationships usually generate a very high level of discomfort which, sometimes, interferes with our quality of life, since the emotional environment in which we move is not pleasant or nutritious. Your psychotherapist can also help you with this.
In relationship conflicts, the best person is a professional specialized in relationships, who 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 completely forget that in the family there can also be situations that alter our emotional state. Family therapy can be very useful in this regard.
3. You feel that you are not capable of managing certain skills or emotions
Psychological therapy has been proven highly effective when it comes to managing our social skills. For example, not knowing how to say no is a huge problem, since it prevents us from establishing necessary and healthy boundaries between ourselves and others. In this case and in many others in which your limitations can play tricks 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 enhancing coherence and well-being with yourself, through a process of self-knowledge and strengthening the routines that are beneficial to you.
4. You are going through an emotional slump
The reason that leads us to consult It does not have to be a discomfort sustained over time. It can be a specific event, such as a death, layoff, or 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 possible way.
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 prepare emotionally for something important, such as a competition, crucial exams for your career, a job change, etc.
Are you thinking about seeking professional psychological help?
If so, in PSiCOBAi we can help you.
We work serving people of all ages, and we offer in-person and online sessions.
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This article has been reviewed by our editorial team at PsychologyFor to ensure accuracy, clarity, and adherence to evidence-based research. The content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice.
