Now I'm going to defend my profession! I could restate that, and say that I will clarify some things about psychology. But the truth is, as a profession, we tend to be a bit defensive about what we do. It comes from years of seeing that "look" sweep across the face of the friend of a friend, who, in casually chatting at a social gathering, learns what we do for a living. It comes from years of hearing psychiatrist jokes and rude comments about anyone who goes to counseling. And in fact, it comes from within our profession as well, from a traditional focus on what is "wrong" with our "patients", instead of a balanced perspective on the whole person who wants to make improvements in the quality of their life.
And this is the first misconception about psychologists. That we fix what is broken. That people who come to us are different from people who don't. That only folks who are weak, or in a real bind, seek out our services. That going to a psychotherapist is a last resort. And that certainly it is something you don't talk about.
Here's the truth: Psychotherapy is about many things. It's about coaching people to reach new goals. It's about supporting folks while they take new risks and make changes in their lives. It's about helping people become more confident. More energetic and enthused about life. More skilled at getting along with others. It's about building and sustaining healthy intimate relationships. And it's about coping with loss and stress effectively.
And yes, it's about helping people take an objective look at their internal world. And sometimes we find that there are serious, impairing problems. Problems that used to be called "mental illness". It's an archaic term in my opinion. We now know that the brain chemistry is a fickle system, prone to all degrees of dysfunction. None of us have "perfect" brain chemistry. And in any case, our brain chemistry is not a fixed, unchanging thing. It reacts rather wildly in fact. To chemicals, to the food we ingest, to illness in other parts of our body, and definitely to stress.
And it's been reacting all of our lives. Even in utter, it was reacting, probably at it's most intense level, to our mother's state. Her health, her diet, her stress. Definitely to any drugs, alcohol, nicotine, even caffeine she put into her body. And the ghosts of our ancestors visited our newly developing brain circuits as well through not quite understood genetic paths.
So some people who come to psychotherapists have to contend with neurobiological/chemical states that, mildly put, are a pain. They, due to no actions on their part, may be vulnerable to cycling into depression. Or of having panic attacks. Or of reacting with rage to the slightest obstacle. Or they may have compulsions or obsessions that even to them make no sense. Or their brains may conjure up any variety of illogical lines of thinking.
And of course, some people come to psychotherapy to heal old wounds. To bravely look in the face a past of abuse, degradation, or emotional humiliation. To confront emotional neglect due not necessarily to malice, but much more frequently to ignorance, young parents, and perhaps the problems of alcoholism, depression, and toxic marriages.
If you're getting the impression that the pool of people who use the services of psychologists is large and in fact encompasses humanity, you're absolutely right. Psychology is about understanding human psychological nature. That's a vast area, one in which all of us can benefit from informed opinion.
It's ridiculous when you really think about it. We're a nation proud of the traditions of self improvement, of being the best we can be. We proudly and publicly announce our intentions to improve our bodies. We flock to exercise and diet and even yield our bodies to knives in the quest of improvement of our external self.
Who's "crazy" here? Folks who see psychologists? Or just maybe it's a culture that ignores the benefits of internal self improvement.
Please read Three Misconceptions About Psychologists: Part 2 - We Just Listen by Debra Moore, Ph.D.
Please read Three Misconceptions About Psychologists: Part 3 - Not All Psychologists Are Like Dr. Laura! by Debra Moore, Ph.D.
Please read Common Questions about Counseling by Debra Moore, Ph.D.
Please read A Myriad of Psychotherapists and A Myriad of Psychotherapies by Allan N. Schwartz, CSW, Ph.D.
Please read Marriage and Family Therapists by Gadi Zohar, MA, MFT
Dr. Moore is a licensed psychologist and Founder and Director of Fall Creek Associates. She is President of the Sacramento Psychological Association, adjunct faculty member in the School of Psychology at the Fielding Graduate Institute, teaches classes through The Learning Exchange, and frequently appear as a guest on public service programs having to do with psychology and emotional wellness. She has also written a newspaper column called Senior Wellness, which focuses on general psychology topics as well as those of special interest to senior readers. In addition to working with private clients, she welcomes the opportunity to disseminate information on psychology and mental health issues to the general public through her PsychPages website.
