How to Know If I Need to Consult a Psychologist
Self help tips
There are a lot of words to express how you are feeling. You are tired, easily irritated, withdrawn or hyperalert. A lot of factors affect your mood and emotions. It is certainly not always a medical condition. In fact, more often than not, there is no psychological or psychiatric disorder at all. Feeling low from time to time or not quite yourself is part of life. And fortunately, many people experience this, so you are not alone. That realization alone is often a great relief.
If you are going through a difficult period, there is often a lot you can do yourself. Here are a few practical tips to get you started:
- Focus on what is going well.
When you get up, or just before going to bed, name three things that went well or things you are looking forward to. It helps to say them out loud, to reaffirm what you are thinking. - Keep a daily rhythm.
Maintain a healthy day–night rhythm and keep structure in your day. Make sure you complete at least one task each day, as tiny as it might seem. This gives a sense of accomplishment and meaning. - Take good care of your body.
Eat and drink healthily and make sure you get enough sleep. Poor sleep is often one of the first body signals when you are experiencing mental health complaints. At the very least, give your body the opportunity to get sufficient rest. - Go outdoors
Make sure you get enough physical activity. Go for a walk outdoors or try a yoga or mindfulness exercise to help you relax and unwind. - Stay connected.
Sharing your emotions can often bring a great sense of relief. Many people go through difficult periods, and sharing these experiences together can help.
Do these tips do not help enough and is your daily functioning affected by your mental health condition? It may be helpful to talk to a psychologist.
What does a psychologist do?
A psychologist has extensive knowledge of human behavior, emotions, and thinking — and how these three are connected.
It is not always necessary to consciously reflect on what you do, think, or feel. However, if you notice that your behavior or emotions are affecting your daily functioning, it can be helpful to explore where this comes from. By recognizing the origins of your behavior or emotions, you can learn to reduce them when needed, or to embrace them, ultimately improving your quality of life.
At iPractice our motto is ‘to cure when possible and to accept when needed’. We help you to reduce your complaints and improve your wellbeing.
Evidence-based methods
It may sometimes seem as if a psychologist mainly listens and occasionally asks a question. Psychologists always work using evidence-based scientific methods and techniques. Some of the treatment approaches our psychologists are trained in include:
- ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)
- CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)
- EMDR
- Mindfulness
- Solution-Focused Therapy
Do you find it difficult to talk about what’s on your mind? Or do you feel ashamed? Please know that the psychologists at iPractice never consider any topic strange or shameful. Of course, they treat all information confidentially. Together with you, they explore where your complaints come from and help you define treatment goals to work on. During treatment, they focus on your personal strengths and build on what is already going well.
Good to know: at iPractice, you will always work with two psychologists — an online psychologist and an in-person psychologist. This is called blended care.
What do I need to arrange to see a psychologist?
Many people find it hard to take the first step in seeing a psychologist. That’s a shame, because a psychologist can often help you best when you discuss and address your concerns at an early stage. Our psychologists will discuss with you whether treatment at iPractice is appropriate for you. They will also discuss whether treatment for your concerns is eligible for reimbursement.
If you would like to start treatment with us, you will always need a referral letter, for example from your general practitioner.
In preparation for your consultation you can ask yourself a few questions:
- If I could change one thing in the way I think or act, what would that be?
- How do I currently tend to deal with my problem, and what would I like to change about this?
- What do I struggle with the most, and what would I do differently if that problem suddenly disappeared?
Help
You probably ended up on this page because you are wondering whether it might be helpful for you to talk to a psychologist. Are you not feeling quite yourself? There is often a lot you can do yourself to improve your mental well-being. Have you already tried many things and still feel that isn’t enough to make you feel better? Explore with your general practitioner whether treatment by a psychologist is the right next step for you.
FAQ
If you want your health insurance to cover the costs of seeing a psychologist, you will need a referral letter from your general practitioner (GP). If you choose to pay for the treatment yourself, no referral letter is required.
The length of treatment with a psychologist depends on several factors. In most cases, treatment at iPractice lasts between 4 and 8 months, during which you will have contact with both a consultation room psychologist and an online psychologist. You can read more about this in our blended care approach.
A psychologist is someone who specializes in how people think and behave, especially the thoughts and behaviors that people struggle with. The goal of a psychologist is to offer appropriate treatment that helps reduce symptoms and improves overall well-being.
All our psychologists are professionally trained and approach every problem accurately and discrete.
Through a combination of personal conversations and practical exercises, you learn new ways of thinking and behaving.
Psychologists and psychiatrists are often mentioned together, but there are important differences between them. A psychologist has studied psychology and focuses on human behavior and the factors that influence it. Examples include worrying, anxiety or obsessive thoughts, and a negative self-image.
A psychiatrist has completed medical training and focuses more on the medical aspects of mental health. Psychiatrists often treat more severe or long-lasting mental health problems and are allowed to prescribe medication.
