5 Ways Psychologists Can Help You
This post was developed via a partnership with BetterHelp.
The Basics of Psychology
Psychology is a field of study that fits into the broader scope of mental health researchers and professionals. Psychology can function in two different ways: understanding and application. Psychologists are the individuals who are likely to be on the forefront of breakthroughs in mental health research, pioneering new approaches to talk therapy and therapeutic intervention. Clinical psychologists are the individuals who put what is learned into practice in offices and online, in order to deliver the benefits afforded by what was learned in research regarding human behavior, motivation, and thought processes.
5 Ways Psychologists Can Help You
If you are not certain about whether or not you can use the help of a psychologist, consider this: psychologists are professionals in human thoughts and behaviors, and have been trained to help equip you with the coping mechanisms, behavioral techniques, and thought patterns necessary to improve mental health and enjoy freedom from negative, ingrained patterns and responses that do not serve your ultimate health and wellness.
- Improving Behavior Patterns
Behavior forms the basis of the field of psychology, and that is why psychologists often focus on behavior as a means of changing an individual’s thoughts and mental health. Psychologists are trained in therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy, both of which can be used to ease symptoms of disorders and conditions such as depression and anxiety. With consistent attendance, psychology patients may experience changes to their behaviors that can foster greater independence, confidence, and assurance.
- Improving Thought Processes
In a similar vein, psychologists can help improve thought processes by challenging existing processes via talk therapy. If someone continually puts themselves down in everyday conversations and interactions, for instance, a psychologist may help soothe the urge to be self-deprecating and instead encourage the individual to practice removing that language from their vocabulary entirely, and replace it with more affirming and compassionate language. Psychologists may also help improve thought processes by identifying the roots of old communication barriers and habits, and can help develop thought processes that more thoroughly support optimal health and well-being. Improving thought processes might involve improving self-talk, improving communication habits, and reducing habits such as catastrophizing.
- Improving Relationships
Psychologists can deliver relationship therapy for couples, families, friends, and people in virtually any kind of relationship, thereby improving relationships, but they can also provide therapy for people who find themselves locked in rigid patterns in relationships and help improve those patterns. By helping people identify their unconscious behaviors and develop healthier coping practices and communication habits, people who utilize psychology may find themselves with improved relationships and communication in all aspects of their lives.
Many relationships are riddled with doubt and uncertainty as a result of prior conditioning, childhood relationships, and attachment patterns developed early in life. Attending to the trauma and ineffective coping mechanisms associated with these developmental stages can help improve communication patterns, attachment practices, and overall relationship satisfaction.
- Improving Decision-Making
Learning how to develop self-confidence and assurance means being able to effectively make decisions that align with your values and bring you closer to the person and place you want to be. Psychology can help you get to the root of what it is that you want through talk therapy and other exercises, in order to begin making decisions that actually align carefully with the future you have set out for yourself. As you continue to make those decisions, your confidence and self-assurance will build, and you may find yourself in a position to improve your position at work, in your relationships, and even in your relationship with yourself.
- Improving General Health
Psychology can help improve general health, as well, by helping patients identify the areas of their lives that will most thoroughly benefit from changes. Someone who reaches out for help from a psychologist with general health may struggle to find the motivation to make healthy, whole foods at home, or regularly engage in exercise. They may not know how to communicate effectively, or set boundaries. Psychology can help people develop the tools they need to accomplish all of the above, in order to more effectively attend to their lives and needs and live in abundance.
How Psychology Helps
Whether you are wholly new to the concept of psychology, or you have dabbled in psychological study consistently for years by poring over as many articles as you possibly can, psychology can help you develop the tools and techniques necessary to living in line with your values, pursuing optimal health, and pursuing goals.