FAQ

According to American psychological association’s (APA’s) policy on the use of the title “psychologist” is contained in the general guidelines for providers of psychological services,which define the term “ professional psychologist” as follows: “ psychologists have a doctoral degree in psychology from an organised ,sequential program in a regionally accredited university or professional school.” APA is not responsible for specific title or wording of any particular position opening, but it is general pattern to refer to master’s level positions as counselors, specialists, clinicians and so forth( rather than as “psychologist” ).

Practicing psychologists help a wide variety of people and can treat many kinds of problems. Some people may talk to a psychologist because they have felt depressed, angry or anxious for a long time. Or, they want help for a chronic condition that is interfering with their lives or physical health. Others may have short-term problems they want help navigating, such as feeling overwhelmed by a new job or grieving the death of a family member. Psychologists can help people learn to cope with stressful situations, overcome addictions, manage their chronic illnesses and break past the barriers that keep them from reaching their goals. Practicing psychologists are also trained to administer and interpret a number of tests and assessments that can help diagnose a condition or tell more about the way a person thinks, feels and behaves. These tests may evaluate intellectual skills, cognitive strengths and weaknesses, vocational aptitude and preferences, personality characteristics and neuro psychological functioning.

Psychiatrists are physicians who have earned an MD , whereas psychologists are clinicians who have earned a PhD. Psychiatrists generally spend shorter periods of contact time with clients/patients, and the principal method of treatment is psychiatric medicine.conversely clinical psychologists do not deal with medicine and the principal method of treatment is psychological assessment and the use of psychotherapy to relieve psychological hazards.They spend more time with patients in assessing their psychological problems and then applying best suited psychotherapy according to the need.It is not uncommon for people suffering from mental illness to combine these both services to maximize their impact.

Although Counselling and Psychotherapy overlap considerably, there are also recognized differences. While the work of Counselors and Psychotherapists with clients may be of considerable depth, the focus of Counselling is more likely to be on specific problems, changes in life adjustments and fostering clients’ well being. Psychotherapy is more concerned with the restructuring of the personality or self and the development of insight.

The number of psychotherapy sessions you need — and how frequently you need to see your therapist — depends on such factors as:
• Your particular mental illness or situation
• Severity of your symptoms
• How long you've had symptoms or have been dealing with your situation
• How quickly you make progress
• How much stress you're experiencing
• How much your mental health concerns interfere with day-to-day life
• How much support you receive from family members and others
• Cost
It may take only weeks to help you cope with a short-term situation. Or, treatment may last a year or longer if you have a long-term mental illness or other long-term concerns. Psychotherapy may not cure your condition or make an unpleasant situation go away. But it can give you the power to cope in a healthy way and to feel better about yourself and your life.

Take steps to get the most out of your therapy and help make it a success.
• Make sure you feel comfortable with your therapist. If you don't, look for another therapist with whom you feel more at ease.
• Approach therapy as a partnership. Therapy is most effective when you're an active participant and share in decision making. Make sure you and your therapist agree about the major issues and how to tackle them. Together, you can set goals and measure progress over time.
• Be open and honest. Success with psychotherapy depends on your willingness to share your thoughts, feelings and experiences. It also depends on your willingness to consider new insights, ideas and ways of doing things. If you're reluctant to talk about certain things because of painful emotions, embarrassment or fears about your therapist's reaction, let your therapist know.
• Stick to your treatment plan. If you feel down or lack motivation, it may be tempting to skip psychotherapy sessions. Doing so can disrupt your progress. Try to attend all sessions and to give some thought to what you want to discuss.
• Don't expect instant results. Working on emotional issues can be painful and may require hard work. It's not uncommon to feel worse during the initial part of therapy as you begin to confront past and current conflicts. You may need several sessions before you begin to see improvement.
• Do your homework between sessions. If your therapist asks you to document your thoughts in a journal or do other activities outside of your therapy sessions, follow through. These homework assignments can help you apply what you've learned in the therapy sessions to your life.
• If psychotherapy isn't helping, talk to your therapist. If you don't feel that you're benefiting from therapy after several sessions, talk to your therapist about it. You and your therapist may decide to make some changes or try a different approach that may be more effective.

For any kind of emotional pain, loneliness, unhappiness, dissatisfaction etc.

Yes, they definitely can.

Through providing a safe and secure environment for sharing, accepting the client for who he or she is, helping the client get in touch with his feelings, helping client reorient their thought process, pointing out faulty thinking, suggesting modifications in behavior as needed and giving directions for a more meaningful life.

Atleast, a session takes 30-40 Minutes.

Once a week for about a month for any progress to be achieved.

Psychotherapy is a private process that often involves discussion of very sensitive issues. Most therapy clients assume that the things that they say to their therapist are completely confidential. WHEN you seek private psychological treatment, only two individuals know everything that happens in each session. One of these persons, of course, is you. The other person is the psychotherapist treating you. The entire psychotherapeutic experience, in my opinion, deserves a great deal of respect and reverence if it is to be successful. Still, it’s your life, and so it’s your right to tell anyone who will listen to you what you do with your life.
This is usually true, but there is exception to confidentiality.
People should aware that confidentiality can be broken if the client is believed to be a danger to him or herself or someone else. A psychologist or other mental health professional may be required to break confidentiality in order to protect the client or the person that they are threatening to harm.