Psychologists Near Me

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FAQs:

What is Psychology?

Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behavior. Psychology includes the study of conscious and unconscious phenomena, including feelings and thoughts. It is an academic discipline of immense scope, crossing the boundaries between the natural and social sciences. Psychologists seek an understanding of the emergent properties of brains, linking the discipline to neuroscience. As social scientists, psychologists aim to understand the behavior of individuals and groups.[1][2] Ψ (psi), the first letter of the Greek word psyche from which the term psychology is derived, is commonly associated with science.

What Does a Psychologist Do?

Psychologists help a wide variety of people and can treat many kinds of behavioral and mental health issues. They can also help with life and relationship issues.

Some people might see a psychologist because they’ve felt depressed or anxious or have lacked self-confidence for a long time. Others may see a psychologist because they have a short-term issue they want help with, such as feeling overwhelmed by a new job or having difficulties with a loved one.

Psychologists are often included in the comprehensive care of people with medical conditions, too. For example, they may help people with sleep difficulties, chronic pain or eating behaviors, or people coping with a chronic illness

Psychologists can provide 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 (reasoning and thinking) strengths and weaknesses

- Vocational (career) preference

- Personality characteristics

Psychologists use an assortment of evidence-based treatments to help people improve their lives. Most often, they use psychotherapy (commonly known as therapy or talk therapy), which involves building a talking relationship to establish and assess your feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. Some common types of therapy include:

- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)

- Interpersonal therapy

- Humanistic therapy

- Psychodynamic therapy

Therapy can be for individuals, couples, or families. Your psychologist will work with you to determine the best type of therapy for your needs and goals. Some people benefit from a combination of talk therapy and medication to manage their mental health condition. If this is the case for you, your psychologist will work with your primary healthcare provider and/or a psychiatrist for your overall treatment.

What is a Clinical Psychologist?

Clinical psychology is a field of psychology. It’s characterized by thorough knowledge of a broad scope of areas in and outside of psychology. Clinical psychology encompasses all ages, multiple diversities, and more severe mental health conditions.

A clinical psychologist has specialized and broad training to provide comprehensive mental and behavioral healthcare for individuals and families. Clinical psychologists can work in many settings, including schools, hospitals and clinics, counseling centers, and community organizations.

What is the Difference Between a Psychologist and a Psychiatrist?

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who can diagnose and treat mental health conditions. They can prescribe medications and other medical treatments.

A psychologist has a doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD) and often has extensive training in research or clinical practice. Psychologists treat mental health conditions with psychotherapy (talk therapy). A psychologist usually can’t prescribe medication.

Psychiatrists typically treat more complex mental health conditions than psychologists, especially ones that require medication or medical treatments.

To give another perspective, psychology is the study of the mind, emotions, and behavior; whereas psychiatry is the field of medicine focused on diagnosing and treating mental health conditions.

Can a Psychologist Prescribe Medication?

In general, a psychologist can’t prescribe medication. But five states in the United States, including New Mexico, Louisiana, Illinois, Iowa, and Idaho, have laws that allow licensed psychologists with additional, specialized training to prescribe a limited list of medications that can improve certain mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety.

Where do Psychologists Work? 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly a quarter of psychologists work in a private practice environment. These professionals do their jobs in their own offices and are often able to set their own hours. And many psychologists who run their own businesses will accommodate client schedules by working evening and weekend hours as needed.

While some psychologists work alone, others collaborate with a larger healthcare team. In the latter scenario, psychologists will work in collaboration with physicians, nurses, social workers, and others to treat patients. When employed in hospitals, clinics, or other healthcare facilities, psychologists will typically work shift schedules that may also include night and weekend work.

The most predictable schedules often go to psychologists employed in academic, business, or government settings. These professionals will often work shifts that align with typical business hours.

What is the Difference Between a Therapist and a Psychologist?

A psychologist is a social scientist who is trained to study human behavior and mental processes. Psychologists can work in a variety of research or clinical settings. Psychology degrees are available at all levels: bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate (PhD or PsyD). Advanced degrees and licensing are required for those in independent practice or who offer patient care, including clinical, counseling, and school psychologists.

A psychologist will diagnose a mental disorder or problem and determine what’s best for the patient’s care. A psychologist often works in tandem with a psychiatrist, who is also a medical doctor and can prescribe medication if it is determined that medication is necessary for a patient’s treatment. Psychologists can do research, which is a very important contribution academically and clinically, to the profession.

A therapist is a broader umbrella term for professionals who are trained—and often licensed—to provide a variety of treatments and rehabilitation for people. Therapists can be psychoanalysts, marriage counselors, social workers, and life coaches, among other specialties. A therapist’s goal is to help patients make decisions and clarify their feelings in order to solve problems. Therapists provide support and guidance while helping patients make effective decisions within the overall structure of support. When selecting a therapist, their education, licensing, and professional credentials should be essential considerations.

Can Psychologists Diagnose?

Psychologists hold a doctoral degree in clinical psychology or another specialty such as counseling or education. They are trained to evaluate a person’s mental health using clinical interviews, psychological evaluations, and testing. They can make diagnoses and provide individual and group therapy. Some may have training in specific forms of therapy like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and other behavioral therapy interventions.

Are Psychologists Doctors?

Psychologists have at least 6 years of university training and supervised experience. They may also hold a Master's or Doctorate level qualification in psychology. If they have a Doctorate (PhD) a psychologist can call themselves ‘Dr’, but they are not medical doctors. Clinical psychologists have special training in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness.

How Much Does Therapy Cost? 

Depending on where you live and the level of care you’re seeking, the cost of seeing a psychologist can vary. For most parts of the U.S., one session may cost about $100 to $200. The cost will also depend on the type of practitioner you’re seeing. 

The Types of Psychologists

There are plenty of psychologists who engage in this type of talk therapy, but people who work in the field of psychology also do a variety of other things. Below is a list of some of the specialty areas and related tasks they include.

Clinical Psychologists

Clinical psychologists assess, diagnose and treat individuals experiencing psychological distress and mental illness. They also perform psychotherapy and develop treatment plans.

Cognitive Psychologists

Cognitive psychologists investigate how people think, including topics such as decision-making and problem-solving. This type of psychologist is interested in how the brain processes, learns, stores recognize and utilizes information.

Consumer Psychologists

Also known as marketing psychologists, consumer psychologists research consumer behavior and develop marketing strategies to promote businesses. This type of psychologist is involved in helping businesses better understand what makes consumers purchase products and services. 

Counseling Psychologists

Counseling psychologists provide psychotherapy to people experiencing psychological disturbances, behavioral problems, emotional difficulties, stress, and related issues. These professionals share many commonalities with clinical psychologists.

Developmental Psychologists

Developmental psychologists research human development across the entire lifespan. Some focus on a specific period such as early childhood, adolescence, adulthood, or old age. These professionals may perform tasks such as evaluating children who may have a developmental delay or disability, investigating issues associated with aging, and studying how language skills are acquired.

Health Psychologists

Health psychologists are centered on how psychology, biology, social groups, and behavior influence wellness, illness, and overall health. They work with clients to help maximize well-being and improve both mental and physical health.

Personality Psychologists

Personality psychologists study the different aspects of personality and how individual traits influence an individual's life and behavior. Researchers in the field of personality psychology are interested in a wide range of topics that can have applications in everyday life.

Social Psychologists

Social psychologists study the behavior of groups, including how people behave in social settings and how groups influence individual behavior. A social psychologist might investigate a wide range of topics, including attitudes, prejudice, communication, interpersonal relationships, aggression, and persuasion.

Cross-Cultural Psychologists

Cross-cultural psychologists look at how people vary across cultures and how cultural affiliations influence behavior. They often explore how different aspects of behavior may be either universal or varied across different cultures.

Biopsychologists

These psychologists are also sometimes called biological psychologists or physiological psychologists. They study and perform research on the brain and behavior. By examining the neural bases of behavior, biopsychologists are able to understand different biological factors that might impact how people think, feel, and act.

5 Types of Therapy in Psychology

Therapy is a broad treatment system with many far-reaching branches. In this context, therapy refers to the use of psychological methods and systems to treat people with depression, anxiety, and other mental disorders. Various types of therapy in psychology exist. Here we cover a few of the most common varieties.

1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, is often utilized to help people who struggle with negative thoughts or are looking to break a habit. In CBT practices, the psychologist must study a patient’s patterns of thinking and gain an understanding of the origins of these patterns. Once identified, specialists can work to combat thought patterns that are causing emotional harm, focusing on developing coping mechanisms that will help patients deal with issues as they arise in the long term. A psychologist (Ph.D. or PsyD), a licensed clinical social worker (MSW), or a licensed professional counselor (M.A., M.S., or Ph.D.) trained in CBT can properly treat patients in need of this specific counseling.

2. Psychodynamic Therapy

This type of therapy focuses on self-awareness and self-examination. In this practice, psychologists will guide patients toward identifying the root cause of any suffering or problematic relationships. Many parts of psychodynamic therapy evolve from the principles of psychoanalysis and can be applied to a wide range of psychological disorders. Psychologists who practice psychodynamic therapy help patients to form a practical and positive sense of self. Psychodynamic therapy can be carried out by a licensed clinical social worker, a psychologist, or a licensed professional counselor who has training or experience in psychodynamic therapy.

3. Humanistic Therapy

Humanistic therapy focuses on examining a patient’s worldview and how it affects their everyday choices. It deals with unraveling one’s true self, processing others’ criticism, and realizing self-acceptance. This type of therapy is slightly different from others because humanistic therapy focuses on the specifics of an individual’s day-to-day life. Humanistic therapists’ job is to help patients gain personal acceptance, determine what they wish to achieve in life, and find the methods that will help them get there. Engaging in humanistic therapy requires the help of a psychologist or licensed clinical social worker with training in humanistic therapy to guide participants through the process.

4. Psychoanalytic Therapy

Psychoanalytic therapy deals with understanding the subconscious or unconscious mind. This type of therapy may be the best fit for those who have undergone therapy for a long time and want to go deeper to understand the unconscious origin of the thoughts that affect their actions. Psychoanalytic therapy is often used for patients with compulsions, obsessions, or phobias. The therapist will then help their patients explore the unconscious and subconscious mind to find the origins of destructive behaviors and work to eliminate them. Psychoanalysts—likely psychiatrists (M.D.), psychologists, or licensed professional counselors—who have been trained in psychoanalytic theory and technique are best fit to oversee the process of psychoanalysis.

5. Integrative or Holistic Therapy

Holistic therapy is an integrative approach to counseling based on principles of psychosynthesis. It deals with understanding the relationship among the spirit, mind, and body of an individual and addresses how issues in one aspect of a person’s lifestyle can affect other areas.

Pursuing integrative and holistic therapy as a career exposes practitioners to greater awareness of self and the environment, which will, in turn, promote greater acceptance of self and clients. Therapists in this profession view their patient’s symptoms as a window into their consciousness, which can lead to or bring attention to a person’s higher awareness.

Common Conditions that Psychologists Treat

Your psychologist can help treat several different mental and behavioral health conditions, as well as help you cope with various life stressors. These issues can be long-term or short-term.

Situations and conditions you can see a psychologist for include:

- Alcohol use disorder and other substance use disorders.

- Anger issues.

- Anxiety.

- Body dysmorphic disorder.

- Coping with a new diagnosis or managing a chronic illness.

- Depression.

- Eating disorders.

- Family and relationship issues.

- Gambling disorder.

- Gender dysphoria.

- Hoarding disorder.

- Grief and loss.

- Issues with work or school performance.

- Obesity.

- Pain.

- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

- Postpartum depression.

- Sleep disorders.

- Stress management.

- Self-confidence issues.

- Phobias.

- Unhealthy habits.

- Trauma.

While it can be difficult and overwhelming to seek help for mental health and behavioral conditions, it’s essential that you do so. Mental health conditions are very common, and your mental health and emotional health are just as important as your physical health.

Benefits of Seeing a Psychologist

Knowing the signs when you need to visit a counselor or when to see a psychologist is very fruitful. But still many people think that seeing a psychologist is not that necessary as the problems can be solved without their help. Here, we are going to tell you about some of the benefits of seeing a psychologist.

1. The Counselor Gives You an Objective And Neutral Perspective

When you take suggestions from your family members or friends they might provide you with advice but it is from a subjective point of view and their own experiences and feelings come to it. A psychologist gives you an objective and neutral perspective. They give a third direction to your thought pattern and help you think and see things logically.

2. Helps You Cope With Your Daily Problems Also

Psychologists are not only for helping you to cope with mental health issues. But they also help in solving your daily problems. If you are not able to concentrate, have issues in relationships, or with family members, or need career counseling, psychologists help in everything. For example, if you are suffering from a sleep disorder then you can seek the help of a psychologist to improve your current condition and visit a psychologist to make your condition better.

3. It Leads You to Self-awareness

Another benefit of visiting a psychologist is that they lead you to self-awareness. The psychologist helps you in understanding your thoughts, emotions, and feelings, and also helps you in knowing your strength and weakness. It helps you in strengthening yourself.

4. It Gives You The Feeling of Worthiness And Leads to Self-acceptance

In the chain of benefits, another benefit of seeing a psychologist is that they fill you with the feeling of worthiness and lead to self-acceptance. They fill you with confidence and hope and give you the courage to prove yourself. Moreover, they make you accept yourself and love yourself.

5. Provide You a Space Where Someone Listens to You Without Judging You

A person is always in need of someone who can hear them out without being judgemental. A psychologist is a person who provides you with the space where you can speak your mind without having the fear of someone judging you. They hear you without being biased and support you.

6. The Counselor Helps You in The Elimination of Bad Habits

Another benefits of seeing a psychologist are that the counselor helps you in eliminating your bad habits. You may have the habit of drinking or smoking or even the bad habit of venting out your anger onto someone else. A psychologist helps you in eliminating it and becoming a better person.

What Therapy Can Do for You

Just like a psychologist is so beneficial, similarly, there are a lot of things therapy can do for someone. There is a thinking that therapy is taken up only by those who are ill but on the contrary, anyone can take up therapy regardless of whether they are ill or not. Here are some of the things therapy can do for you and counseling psychologist benefits.

1. Therapy Leads to Physical And Mental Fitness

Who does not want to be physically and mentally well? Everyone works over physical well-being but forgets about mental health. Therapy helps you calm down your mind and relax. It helps you in becoming both mentally and physically fit.

2. It Helps You Overcome Your Fear And Other Insecurities

Everyone has their fear and other insecurities. Some are driven by fear of something while others may have some insecurities. Therapy helps you in facing these insecurities and fears and overcoming them. It helps you in fighting the trauma and vent out the deeply hidden emotions so that you feel relaxed.

3. Therapy Helps You Deal With Traumatic Events And Past Experiences

Who does not have a past? Some have a happy past while the past of some people is horrific to which they remain entangled. Therapy helps you in unlocking those chains that connect you to your past. It helps you in dealing with traumatic events and past experiences and overcomes them bravely without blaming yourself.

4. It Helps You Identify Triggers That Lead to Attacks

Many attacks are it panic attacks or anxiety attacks are triggered by certain things or actions about which you might not be aware. Therapy helps in identifying those triggers and dealing with them so that they won't trouble you anymore when you encounter them.

5. Helps You Cope-Up With Stress And Anxiety

Stress and anxiety are part of life but when they become serious they should be cured as they can lead to serious issues. Therapy helps you in coping with stress and anxiety and keeping them at bay. It helps you remain calm and be at ease during tough times and is one of the effective benefits of seeing a psychologist.

What to Expect from a First Appointment with a Psychologist

A lot of people are scared to see a Psychologist as they worry about the questions they may be asked.  Initially, a Psychologist will ask a standard set of questions they ask all the people who come to see them.  This process is the same if you see a Psychologist in person or via Telehealth.

Particularly in the first few sessions, your Psychologist will ask you a lot of questions.  This is a process of getting to know you and clearly understanding what is happening in your life.

In the first appointment, your Psychologist will ask questions about your medical history/physical health, mental health history, alcohol and drug use, career or schooling, early life, finances, family relationships, and other close relationships.  They will also ask you a lot of questions regarding the reason you came to see them to get a good understanding of this issue and its impact on your life.  They will ask you questions about your current life as well as questions about all the different life stages you have been through.  This is because your current symptoms can be impacted by previous events.

Common Questions Your Psychologist Will Ask

• What brought you to see me today?

• What would you like to focus on?

• Have you had any really sad or scary things happen to you?

• What are your goals, hopes, and dreams for your future?

• What are the things you like about yourself?

• What makes you most content/happy in your life? 

• What does that mean for you? How has that affected you? What impact did that have on your life?

They will also ask you if you have any thoughts of harming yourself or others.  It is important you answer these truthfully as they can help you if you are suicidal.

If there are topics you don’t want to discuss you can let the Psychologist know this.  You may also want to get to know and trust your psychologist before you discuss difficult topics.  It is very helpful if you tell your psychologist that there are some topics that you do not feel comfortable discussing at first.

What Happens After The Assessment

From your answers to these questions, your Psychologist develops an understanding of what is happening for you (formulation).  Your psychologist won’t just spend the time during your session thinking about you but will reflect on your situation in between your appointments.  They will consider your experiences in the context of their experiences, research, and theoretical understanding.  They bring this all together in a formulation or short story that they will share with you and can help to guide treatment.  The goal is that the formulation helps you understand the targets of treatment.

From this story or formulation, your Psychologist will be able to identify what types of treatment or skills might assist you.  This is an opportunity to learn more about yourself in a safe and supportive environment.

The process of assessment should be one which helps you to gain a coherent narrative or story of your situation.  Understanding why you feel, act, or think in a certain way should be an empowering process.  Being able to communicate this story and have another person hear your story is an important part of the therapeutic process.

Remember you can ask questions too. You can often learn a lot by asking why a Psychologist is asking a certain question in terms of the importance of this on your mental health.

If there is anything you think is important and your Psychologist does not ask about it please ensure you let them know.  Even if they did not ask about a certain topic if it's important to you then they will want to know about it.

How to Know if Therapy is Working

As you begin therapy, you should establish clear goals with your psychologist. You might be trying to overcome feelings of hopelessness associated with depression or control a fear that is disrupting your daily life. Remember, certain goals require more time to reach than others. You and your psychologist should decide at what point you may expect to begin to see progress.

It is a good sign if you begin to feel a sense of relief, and a sense of hope. People often feel a wide variety of emotions during therapy. Some qualms about therapy that people may have resulted from their having difficulty discussing painful and troubling experiences. When you begin to feel relief or hope, it can be a positive sign indicating that you are starting to explore your thoughts and behavior.

How to Find a Psychologist

A psychologist who works well for one person may not have the same result as another. When choosing a psychologist, there are professional and personal factors that people should consider. An effective psychologist will be able to work with a person’s individual needs, including the problem itself and how they deliver treatment.

Approaches

There are different approaches that a psychologist may use depending on the issue. Choosing a psychologist with experience in the relevant field will increase the chance of a therapy plan working. This will partly depend on the type of treatment a person would like to undergo. A psychologist may use consultations alone or include other methods, such as medication or hypnotherapy. However, it is important to note that psychologists cannot prescribe drugs in all states.

Relationship

A person must feel completely comfortable with their psychologist for the therapy to be effective. Having a good relationship makes it easier to open up about sensitive topics. A psychologist may work in private practice or as part of another workplace. For example, a school or college campus may have a psychologist on site, and they often work in general hospitals.

Costs

Treatment fees vary depending on the healthcare environment and factors such as insurance. Some health insurance companies cover mental health treatment, but this is not always the case. It is important to check an insurance policy to see if it covers psychological therapy. If a person does not have health insurance, the psychologist may charge using a sliding scale fee policy. This means that they alter the fees depending on the person’s income.

Sources:

Wikipedia

Cleveland

Umass Global

All Psychology Schools

NAMI

Your Health In Mind

Very Well Mind

Northwestern Mutual

Psych Help

APA

Medical News Today

My Fit Brain

Saybrook

 

The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 (in the United States) immediately.