You might need to see a psychologist if: you are experiencing anxiety, depression, stressful life events or any other mental health difficulty. you feel like life is more difficult and need support to cope. you would like an assessment of your mental health.
Problems thinking: Problems with concentration, memory, speech or logical thought. Apathy: Losing interest in activities or people. Sleep or appetite changes: Either a substantial decrease or increase in sleep or appetite. Feeling disconnected: Having a sense of unreality or not being able to connect with others.
Psychologists use psychotherapy to explore ideas and emotions in a safe space, provide new perspectives, identify and eliminate bad habits, help with the future, and change the brain.
A psychologist can help you identify your problems and figure out ways to best cope with them; change unhealthy behaviors and habits; and find constructive ways to deal with a situation that is beyond your control. In other words, a psychologist can improve both your physical and mental well-being.
The amount of information you share with a therapist is entirely up to you. After all, you're the client. Still, the more honest you are with your therapist, the better. Giving your therapist a window into your thoughts, feelings, and experiences provides them with context and details, so they can best help you.
It's important to note that only a mental health professional can diagnose a mental health condition. Therefore, the only way to receive a definite answer to the question, “Do I have a mental illness, or am I overreacting?”, is to get in touch with a professional at an accredited treatment center.
Hands. Your client's hands can give you clues about how they're reacting to what comes up in the session. Trembling fingers can indicate anxiety or fear. Fists that clench or clutch the edges of clothing or furniture can suggest anger.
For the most part, you can. Therapists take confidentiality seriously. Any therapist who doesn't is at risk of losing their license, because every single type of therapist is bound by professional rules that require them to maintain it.
Can You Overshare in Therapy? Yes, it is possible for a person to provide excessive amounts of information about their life in a therapeutic setting; however, “oversharing” is not necessarily a bad thing.
Back to Fictional Reader's question about why it may be difficult to look a therapist in the eyes. Some possible root causes range from guilt, shame, anxiety, low self-esteem, shyness, past abuse, depression or autistic spectrum disorders to varying cultural norms and cognitive overload.
feel isolated — disinterested in the company of family and friends, or withdrawing from usual daily activities. feel overwhelmed — unable to concentrate or make decisions. be moody — feeling low or depression; feeling burnt out; emotional outbursts of uncontrollable anger, fear, helplessness or crying.
A nervous breakdown (also called a mental breakdown) is a term that describes a period of extreme mental or emotional stress. The stress is so great that the person is unable to perform normal day-to-day activities. The term “nervous breakdown” isn't a clinical one.
Signs and symptoms may vary, but usually involve delusions, hallucinations or disorganized speech, and reflect an impaired ability to function.
mood disorders (such as depression or bipolar disorder) anxiety disorders. personality disorders. psychotic disorders (such as schizophrenia)
While almost everything you share with your therapist is held in confidence, there are a few exceptions to the rule: danger to self. danger to others. abuse of children (including use of child pornography in certain states), dependent, or elderly adults.
The reason for this is that mental health symptoms can affect self-care, vocational, life skills and relationship aspects of life. With all this being said, an accurate diagnosis for mental health disorders can take weeks to years to determine.