We all know the main job of a psychologist is attending to patients dealing with cognitive impairments. As a psychologist however, patients require you to sit down listen to their personal issues and offer solutions which is at times draining, the misconception that many have in mind is that every psychology is a therapist. What they don’t understand is that there is a thin line between the two.
Understanding the role of a psychologist
Being a psychologist is not always as easy as many would think, the pressure that comes in dealing with patients that aren’t in their right state of thinking is insanely draining. However, even more discouraging and draining for the psychologist is them attending to cases that require both cognitive, behavioural and emotional attention.
I like to call it mathematics of dealing with the human brain which is quite complex, in this approach it’s imperative for a psychologist to embark on extreme research to come up with ideal solutions.
While many may know, being a psychologist requires deep research and profound knowledge in the anatomy of the patient’s cognitive and behavioural responses. This at times is tricky as every patient is unique and what works for one patient may not work for another. I like to call it mathematics of dealing with the human brain which is quite complex, in this approach it’s imperative for a psychologist to embark on extreme research to come up with ideal solutions.
Some psychologists offer therapy, a part of the job description if it involves clinical and counselling settings. However, contrasting the roles of a psychologist from a therapist is quite important, not all psychologists have the grace to sit down, listen and provide solutions to patients dealing with personal issues. Unfortunately, the framework of this job pushes most psychologists to commit to being therapists.
The difference between a psychologist and a therapist
Trickling down to the difference each role serves is, a psychologist has to study the behaviour and brain function by observing, interviewing and surveying individuals. They aim to provide treatment through sessions like CBT, often termed as cognitive behavioural therapy and other humanistic approach depending on the condition of the patient.
On the other side, a therapist is oriented to help patients with emotional and psychological needs. Therapy is where we now talk of dealing with patients going through personal struggles like family and marriage. As compared to a psychologist, therapists go through a specific training that makes it easier for them to handle emotional issues presented to them. The scope of this job also requires them being loyal by taking a hold of their patients burdens and not disclosing any information to anyone. A psychologist may understand the psychological phenomena, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll always understand and provide solutions to one’s emotional needs. At times boundaries have to be set, don’t you think?
We all know familiarity breeds contempt, imagine a psychologist who’s always obsessed with their patient, utmost the patients will get tired eventually.
Setting boundaries
Patients want to openly express themselves without any fear of being contradicted or judged. The issue about being a psychologist is you’re likely to hear lots of stories, probably more than you should. At times, if not careful, a psychologist might overstep on their role by getting deeply involved in a client’s personal issues, hence posing a great risk to their mental health. This is why setting up boundaries is important, as it helps the psychologists take up on their role effectively.
For boundaries to be set, it’s essential for psychologists to foster a healthy client relationship. Some distance isn’t that bad, in keywords I’d love to call it professional distance, this helps to foster trust and respect. We all know familiarity breeds contempt, imagine a psychologist who’s always obsessed with their patient, utmost the patients will get tired eventually. Remember, In establishing boundaries, the focus will solely remain on the client’s needs and not external factor.
According to an abstract in the journal of clinical psychology, most mental health providers face mental health problems, distress, and lots of burnouts as a result of absorbing the patients’ needs as their own.
Prioritizing off days can be a good way of maintaining some distance, furthermore, this will go a long way in preventing burnouts. According to an abstract in the journal of clinical psychology, most mental health providers face mental health concerns, distress, and lots of burnouts as a result of absorbing the patients’ needs as their own. Due to the fear of being viewed as professionally incompetent or looked down upon by clients, colleagues and other faculty members, most of them are left with no choice but to swallow the bitter pill of remaining silent.
Final remark
In conclusion being a psychologist doesn’t mean one is a therapist; a psychologist may identify your triggers as a patient and probably help you in managing those triggers, however therapy involves more than just identifying; it takes work, it requires trust, patience, understanding, and some bit of affection, unfortunately these are traits not all psychologists have.
