What is a Psychologist?

Psychologists are the most highly trained mental health professionals. A licensed psychologist is a doctoral level mental health specialist who has approximately seven years of educational training after graduating from college. Psychologists must hold a doctoral degree, complete a post-doctoral year of training and pass a national exam before they can be licensed. They are required to continue pursuing education for the duration of the licensure. Psychology is the only non-medical mental health profession that requires a doctoral level of education in order to be licensed. Psychologists have many areas of specialty including, but not limited to helping clients with life problems, with serious mental health problems, performing evaluation assessments, psychoeducational and neuropsychological testing Psychologists are doctors who listen.

What is a Psychotherapy?

Psychotherapy is not easily described in general statements. It varies depending on the personalities of the psychologist and patient, and the particular problems you are experiencing. There are many different methods I may use to deal with the problems that you hope to have addressed. Psychotherapy is not like a medical doctor visit. Instead, it calls for a very active effort on your part. In order for the therapy to be most successful, you will have to work on things we talk about both during our sessions and at home. Psychotherapy can have benefits and risks. Since therapy often involves discussing unpleasant aspects of your life, you may experience uncomfortable feelings like sadness, guilt, anger, frustration, loneliness, and helplessness. On the other hand, psychotherapy has also been shown to have many benefits. Therapy often leads to better relationships, solutions to specific problems, and significant reductions in feelings of distress. But there are no guarantees of what you will experience.