For many people, going to a psychologist is synonymous with being weak, but in reality, undergoing psychological therapy can transform you into a stronger emotional person and provide you with the right tools to better adapt to difficult situations that may arise in life. Read on to find out why going to a psychotherapist is so important.
What is psychotherapy?
First, you need to understand what psychotherapy is and what a psychotherapist does . Psychotherapy is a scientific psychological treatment that, based on the psychological or physical manifestations of human distress, promotes changes or modifications in behavior, physical and mental health, as well as the integration of psychological identity and the well-being of individuals or groups, such as couples or families.
What is a psychotherapist?
A mental health professional, primarily a psychologist or physician, who can address various psychopathological disorders . Specifically, they specialize in the cognitive (thought), affective (emotions), and behavioral (behaviors) areas; for these reasons, they can help you empower yourself in the face of everyday circumstances and improve your quality of life.
Before practicing his profession, the psychotherapist has undergone specific training in the area of psychotherapy in a recognized institution, through accredited training programs that meet the parameters of rigor and quality.
When to go to a psychotherapist?
First of all, it is good to reiterate that going to the psychotherapist is an act of intelligence and courage, because in many cases the person who needs help is not aware of having the problem or of avoiding facing reality.
Many people still do not know when they should undergo such a session, mainly because of false beliefs about what psychotherapy is and who it is intended for. Usually, you should go when indicated by a health, educational, social or other professional.
In this regard, here are some reasons why you should see a psychotherapist.
It helps you feel better. When faced with a problem that causes pain or distress, you'll definitely need someone to talk to freely about yourself without fear of being judged for your feelings and repressions.
Since the psychotherapist is a person you do not know and who does not know your relatives and friends, you can express your most hidden thoughts and feelings, which is very positive for your well-being.
When you express how you feel and release your emotional charge, you'll feel much more relieved. This is known as " catharsis ," a Greek word that refers to purification and is used in psychology to explain the process of freeing yourself from negative emotions.
It teaches you the tools to manage your internal conflicts . Conflicts are normal in people's lives and, in many cases, necessary for personal growth. Psychotherapy sessions teach you new (more adaptive) ways to solve problems.
In addition, it can help you perceive conflicts differently, so that they can affect you much less, and allow you to put into perspective the importance of tense situations. In this way, your way of adapting to new everyday circumstances will be different, improving the quality of life and having fewer difficulties in your personal and professional relationships.
It helps you change limiting beliefs. Due to certain beliefs and values, a lot of sense and coherence is given to the world model, but the same situation can be experienced differently by each individual person. Beliefs ultimately help you simplify the world around you and are interpretations of reality and not real facts.
Some beliefs are maladaptive or limiting and need to be corrected, because they are not innate, but are acquired throughout life. Therefore, the psychotherapist can help you identify, analyze, test and modify them.
It helps you live in harmony with yourself and others. The introspection that occurs during therapy allows you to get to know yourself better and overcome, for example, an existential crisis.
In addition, psychotherapy is effective for problems at work or with your partner; therefore, psychological therapy can help you solve all these problems, allowing you to relate to others in a more serene and effective way. This will positively influence your mental health and allow you to find peace and inner well-being.
Confidentiality of sessions . The relationship with the psychotherapist is confidential and strictly professional. As stated in the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct of the Official College of Psychologists, the professional must guarantee the confidentiality and privacy of everything communicated to him by anyone consulting him. Therefore, everything you say in a therapy session will be a secret between you and your therapist. This allows for a relational framework within which very intimate fears can be addressed.
Relationship of trust and empathy. In addition to the knowledge and professionalism that the psychologist must show, the environment of trust that is created between you will allow you to express the problems and feelings that you consider most sensitive (and that perhaps you would not tell anyone else).
The psychologist will not judge you and will also have the necessary training to create a good environment of trust and empathy, so that you can express yourself without any fear.
Professional counseling. The psychotherapist is an expert in psychological therapy and has a broad knowledge of human behavior, since he studied psychology at a regulated university. For work as a psychotherapist, it is likely that he has obtained a specialist degree (for example, in sexology, marriage counseling or clinical psychology), from which he will certainly have acquired everything necessary to put his knowledge to the service of the patient.
Psychotherapy, therefore, is not like confessing problems to a friend or relative, because there is a solid basis (both theoretical and practical) approved by science. There are many psychology and psychotherapy studies in Italy, both private and collective, such as that of www.psicologa-psicoterapeuta-padova.it.
It empowers you in the face of life. One of the goals of psychotherapy is that the relationship between therapist and patient is not dependent. Therefore, the psychologist helps you to be the owner of yourself and acquire new skills that will be useful to you on a daily basis.
However, participating in psychotherapy does not mean waiting for the psychologist to solve your problems, but rather learning to accept and love what you are and putting in the necessary will to change what causes discomfort and prevents you from growing.
Psychotherapy changes your brain. Neurological studies are finding growing empirical evidence of psychotherapy's ability to modify and improve brain structures , thereby improving our ability to cope with everyday life.
