Psychological support

Each of these three specialists provides psychological help, but their therapy methods differ. A psychologist and a psychotherapist work with mentally healthy individuals, while a psychiatrist works with people who have certain mental illnesses and problems that require, among other things, medication treatment.

A psychologist has higher education in psychology and conducts short-term psychological counseling or correction.

A psychotherapist can have either a medical or a psychological education, and has additionally trained in one or more methods of psychotherapy. For example: cognitive-behavioral therapy, gestalt therapy, psychoanalysis, client-centered therapy, etc. Treatment is carried out purely through psychological methods.

A psychiatrist has a higher medical education and has completed an internship in psychiatry. Only a psychiatrist can establish a diagnosis, prescribe medications, and treat mental illnesses with medication.

There are no age restrictions regarding seeking help from a psychologist. Parents can contact specialists as soon as they notice the need for help or consultation. However, parents need to understand that the younger the child, the more work is done directly with the parents and through them. Work with the child is possible from about three years old, when the child can communicate directly with the psychologist through words, drawings, and play.

Yes, these two services can be provided simultaneously. Sometimes people come to mediation on the recommendation of a psychologist. At times, a mediator may suggest consulting a psychologist or psychotherapist during the mediation process. Since these two specialists work on different issues (a mediator mainly works on the future, while a psychotherapist addresses the past) and have different goals (a mediator primarily works on restoring positive communication, dialogue skills, and agreement), the combination of both types of support can be complementary and beneficial.

The result of psychotherapy, like mediation, depends on many factors, and most importantly, on the willingness of the parties to work towards resolving the issue they have come for. It is always a process of collaboration between the specialist and the individual. If the person has no desire to achieve a result, no psychotherapist, psychologist, or mediator will do it for them.

In short, psychological counseling is a process that helps to understand the problem and find a way out of a specific situation, while psychotherapy is a process aimed at understanding how to stop getting into such situations, how to change your mindset, and thereby change your life. Although therapy may begin with a specific request, it is not limited to it, as deep exploration of the personality takes into account that requests will change over time.

In practice, psychological help is a very important mechanism and element of support not only for adults but also for children, especially during times of change in the family. It serves as a temporary support that allows one to move forward and resolve issues that arise within the family system and for each individual member at different stages of relationship.

Both counseling and therapy can be provided in individual (one-on-one with a psychologist/psychotherapist), family (with a couple or other family members), or group (with strangers who have similar issues) formats.

Life has taught us that almost everything can be done online. First, the pandemic, then the war... children learn online, play online, and adults work online... psychologists are no exception; they also work online.