This is where many psychological problems come from.

Therefore, parents need someone who will give answers to questions of spiritual direction in raising children. At school this is a psychologist. Who needs us at school and why? The fact that the school needs a psychologist is accepted as a postulate.

At the same time, meetings and conversations with colleagues, the turnover of psychological personnel in education force us to ask two simple questions: “Why do we need a psychologist at school?” and “Who needs him there?” The topic is not new. IN different time there were articles by Bityanova, Beglova, Sartan, Stepanova and other authors.

Let's start with the fact that, although psychological services in schools appeared almost twenty years ago, to this day there are no clear ideas about its tasks and goals. This is well illustrated by the answers of students of the psychology department of one of the Moscow universities to the question of why there is a psychologist at school. The most common of them - “the child’s lawyer”, “well, what to help” - who to “help” - do not exactly answer, it seems, to children.

I draw your attention - these are the future ones talking school psychologists who will start working in a year or two, but whose school experience is still fresh.

School directors and head teachers also have a vague idea of ​​what kind of order can be formulated for the psychological service. Those who are ashamed to admit it are quoted phrases about psychological support, but when the request is clarified, you are usually faced with the fact that they expect a miracle from you: either you know which button to press so that Vasya becomes an ideal tomboy, or you can give an indulgence to pedagogical failure.

At the same time, relationships with parents develop adequately if the initiator of contact with a psychologist is the family. And although in content such communication is not much different from advisory communication (both in genre and in the sense of an advisory center), but, in the case of mutual understanding between the interlocutors, it is possible to predict good result, since the psychologist has expanded capabilities - the child is always before his eyes. It should be noted that psychologists themselves also have a poor understanding of their role. How the psychological service in the school will develop depends entirely on what the psychologist is like as a person, what ideas about psychology the school administration has, and how the psychologist and the administration will come to an agreement.

A subject teacher has the right to teach from any existing textbook in his subject, having agreed with the administration, but everyone knows what to expect from him, what it might look like, what should be the result.

A school psychologist can also choose one of the accepted concepts: scientific and methodological guidance of the educational process, providing assistance to children experiencing difficulties, or psychological and pedagogical support for the child. So - absolute freedom. And this would be wonderful if it did not give rise to unjustified hopes among others. So, let’s assume that a child needs a psychologist at school. What can we offer? Our diagnostic tools allow us to identify the emotional, personal, and intellectual characteristics of each student and offer recommendations for the optimal development of each student, maximum disclosure, and use of his potential.

It’s just that adults – teachers, parents – need to know what to do.

The child needs more respect, he needs to be accepted for who he is, and not pry into his soul without asking.

The examination situation at school is not always safe for the child and is almost always alarming. If testing is planned, it is almost impossible to refuse it. Children also do not always know to whom and how the results will be reported (this fully applies to services that comply with all confidentiality requirements - test takers do not always know the fate of the result). In the process of developmental classes, trainings, and psychology lessons, we can help students learn more about their inner world, about the characteristics of people, about relationships between people and learn to use this knowledge. I think that psychological knowledge, the opportunity to develop cognitive qualities, communication skills are indeed what we can give to children.

Just how would it turn out to be “Demyan’s fish soup” - this is additional lessons with a fairly large teaching load Do teachers need us? As noted above, school psychologists are often viewed as some kind of wizards who know “where the button is.” And this expectation is ours Trojan horse. It flatters the professional ego of the psychologist, creates the trap of realizing one's usefulness, and can give a sense of power or hope for cooperation. In such a situation, the teacher unjustifiably takes a childish position, and, like a child, expects the psychologist to do everything now, to solve all the problems. And - just like a child, he gets offended if he doesn’t see the desired result. If, nevertheless, the result was achieved, then sometimes, like a child, he attributes all the credit to himself. A situation in which cooperation is impossible.

At the same time, a psychologist can be useful to a teacher in many ways.

The teacher achieves the result, the psychologist examines the process.

It is the psychologist who can identify points of interruption in the teacher’s contact with the class or individual students, analyze the reasons and help restore productive relationships. No matter how true all of the above is, it describes only private areas of psychological activity.

The problem seems to be that there is still no understanding in the educational community about the mission of a school psychologist.

That is why it is not clear what time to take a child for examination, when to conduct training with the class, when to engage in developmental activities, when to provide psychotherapeutic assistance.

That is why we catch him in the hallway, ask the head teacher, negotiate with the teachers to appoint him, to let him go, to give him a loan, etc. The very beautiful and fair task of ensuring psychological health sounds vague, it is difficult to rely on it, because there are no boundaries in sight.

That is why each specialist in his place agrees with the administration what he will do and why. In addition, the specifics of our work require “following the client,” and the need to take into account the specific needs of specific children's and teaching teams will leave room for freedom. We need to discuss this problem with colleagues: what they see as their mission.

Now that enough material has been accumulated, there is great technology and it’s clear what to do and how, it would be good to return to the question “why?” Determine our place (or his possible options) in the structure of education. Probably, each of the Russian school psychologists felt their dual (at least) position. On the one hand, there is an almost explicitly formulated mission: to help every child become the author of his own life.

Therefore, everyone who is engaged in psychological support must first of all be aware of the ultimate goal of their work. And this is closely related to understanding the mission of a school psychologist. We see it in the organization of an educational environment aimed at the fullest development of students' potential. To do this, you need very little - to accept the child as he is, with all his originality and developmental characteristics. This position of the psychologist opens up the possibility individual approach to the development of the personality of each student. This fundamentally contradicts the established idea that the task of a psychologist is to find shortcomings in the development of children and, with the help of correction, “adjust” them to a certain standard of a “normal student.” Indeed, belonging to a certain (often near-criminal) subculture leaves a greater imprint on the formation of a child’s personality than the influence of even the best psychologist.

Challenging this opinion, we especially note that the task of the accompanying psychologist is to open to the child “various facets of existence”, to show that life values may be more vivid and significant than children can imagine, being within a particular subculture. But in any case, responsibility for your future life and the right to choose your own life path remains with the child.

To summarize, we note the significance of such disputes, as a result of which the content of the concepts themselves is clarified. It is worth recognizing that they have a right to exist various models psychological support.

The main thing is that the psychologist is constantly aware of the goals of his activities.

Should school psychologists take part in education? A psychologist, of course, should be involved in education, but he should not blindly believe in his power and omnipotence. It seems to me that many representatives psychological science They believe that with its help they can solve all problems and, as it were, rise above the rest.

The responsibility of psychologists for what happens at school is very high.

Of course, it is good that over the past fifteen years there has been a psychologization of education: this can only be applauded. But psychologists have their own mission. At the beginning of the century, the outstanding Russian philosopher and teacher S.I. Hesse determined that there are four spheres of human existence.

The first sphere is biological.

The second is social.

The third covers the sphere of culture.

The fourth considers man as a member of a “society of spiritual beings.” A psychologist can influence the first two areas to a greater extent. The other two areas require deep knowledge of culture, philosophy, and sociology. Not every psychologist has such knowledge. And if there is inept intervention in these areas, there is a considerable risk. A certain level of personal development is required from the teacher.

Many famous psychologists and psychiatrists, at the height of their creativity, turned to problems of spirituality.

However, I also know modern psychologists who are wonderful educators.

Principles in a variety of ways The professional community of educational psychologists is still discussing the question that can be considered the main one: why is there a psychologist at school? About a year and a half ago, I already provided a list of possible answers to this question. Since then, no fundamentally new versions have appeared, but the previous ones have not diminished either.

Let's look at them again in the same order.

Or rather, on the contrary, in the same disorder, since there can be no strict sequence here.

Ensuring the psychological health and psychological comfort of the child and all participants in the educational process Of course, nice idea, but the very concept of “mental health” is still under discussion, which makes practical implementation difficult.

Monitoring the educational process to ensure literate management decisions- a common view of managers, fully realized, for example, in the Samara region.

The principle is good because of the clarity of the division of responsibilities and the logical integration of psychological services into the education system. But him reverse side is the removal of psychologists from decision making. And this creates the danger of “deadening” the monitoring data. Roughly speaking, it’s easy to slip into a situation: “we try and measure, but nothing changes.” Helping a child make independent responsible decisions when choosing his own life path is the ideology of psychological support. This position assumes that the psychologist has a mission (to help the child find himself), and therefore is easily shared by true enthusiasts.

Assistance educational institution in building social situation development - official wording from the Service Regulations practical psychology education. For several years I have never met a person who would understand her, much less be guided by her.

Comprehensive assistance from various specialists in prevention and overcoming difficulties - the St. Petersburg model of support.

It is painfully trying to outgrow the framework of the method of organizational construction and become precisely an ideology, aware not only of its goals, but also of its purpose.

Protecting the interests of the child, his uniqueness and individuality is the embodiment of the thesis about the psychologist as a specialist in diversity. Here the situation is the opposite: the mission has been stated, but the organizational techniques that make it possible to implement it in practice have not yet been developed.

The return to school of the educational process is a nostalgic relic, voiced by a variety of specialists.

Many people still treat the profession of “psychologist” with a little wariness, because they have little idea of ​​who psychologists are and how they work.

This profession is still surrounded by various myths that sometimes prevent people from seeking help in a timely manner and resolving their life problems.

Here are some of the most common myths and misconceptions about psychologists.

Myth 1. Psychologists and psychotherapists only work with crazy people.

Today many people need psychological help, but due to established stereotypes, people do not seek help from a specialist. And the point here has nothing to do with limited financial possibilities, how much is in the very perception of the profession of a psychologist. Conversations that a person went to a psychologist or consulted a psychotherapist often cause ridicule or rejection, and pictures of straitjackets, couches, and pills flash through our person’s mind; if he went to a psychologist, it means he is mentally ill.

And the whole point is that many do not see the differences between the work of a psychiatrist and a psychologist or psychotherapist. While it's perfect different professions, and their work goals are different.

Most people who have psychological problems, in fact, are mentally healthy people. These people turn to psychologists and psychotherapists who, by definition, work with mentally healthy people facing Everyday life with certain difficulties or engaged in self-development.

A psychiatrist is a doctor who works with mentally ill people who have serious mental disorders and abnormalities. This is a medical field of work that deals primarily with pharmacological treatment. This doctor diagnoses a mental disorder and prescribes specific medications for the patient (not the client). Such treatment can be outpatient or in a hospital setting. Example mental disorders There may be schizophrenia, paranoia, etc.

The difference between a psychologist and a psychotherapist is not so obvious.

The main goal of the psychologist is to expand the client’s perception to the level at which the client understands the causes of his problems, myself finds solutions, rethinks his actions and determines a strategy for the future. The areas of work of a psychologist are consulting, coaching, goal setting, etc.

The psychotherapist works more deeply and thoroughly, with difficult situations, deep psychological traumas and personal problems. In the process of psychotherapeutic work, the client’s inner world can change significantly, which means that new behavior appears, a new attitude towards something, a new understanding of the life of oneself and others.

The main goal of a psychotherapist is to change the client’s mental settings. This can be working with sensations, feelings and thoughts such as hatred, phobias, shame, fear, self-doubt and much more. And in this case, it’s not enough to understand what the problem is; it’s also important to change these settings in yourself.

Psychotherapists also work with psychotechnologies (methods, techniques) that allow one to work through childhood traumatic experiences or, for example, problems with the intrauterine period of development, problems of codependency with other people, techniques for changing limiting beliefs, and many others are also included in the arsenal of a psychotherapist’s work.

Psychological counseling and psychotherapy mutually intertwined. Nowadays it is difficult to find a psychologist without knowledge of psychotherapeutic techniques, as well as a psychotherapist without a theoretical psychological basis and counseling skills.

Sometimes, work that begins as a consultation often develops into serious psychotherapy with deep personal transformation.

Myth 2. The main task of a psychologist is to give advice.

Psychologists and psychotherapists are not in the business of giving advice. The main goal of a specialist’s work is to assist clients in resolving issues that concern them, as well as creating conditions so that a person can independently find a way out.

After all, it has long been known that deep in the unconscious a person already knows the solution to his problem. Therefore, a specialist, working with a client, helps him find a way out within himself and take responsibility for his life, remove all obstacles on the way to what he wants.

Myth 3. A psychologist cannot have his own problems, and if he has problems, is he really a specialist?

Psychotherapists are no different from other people: they may have their own life troubles, problems and requests for self-development. Assuming that psychologists never have problems is like saying that a traumatologist is insured for life against a fracture due to a fall, or that a dentist will never have caries since receiving his diploma. We are all living people, and psychologists are no exception.

Only, unlike his clients, the psychologist has more relevant knowledge and experience that allows him to cope with difficulties most effectively. A person who has psychological knowledge, much faster and easier to understand where the causes of the problem lie.

Myth 4. A psychologist and a psychoanalyst are one and the same.

Conscious modern man, the image of a Hollywood psychoanalyst from films has stuck very firmly. Such a specialist from films listens sympathetically to the client’s complaints, nods with understanding and writes something in his diary. And the client, without wasting a minute, sitting comfortably on the couch, pours out everything that hurts.

In fact, psychologist and psychoanalyst are not synonymous words.

Psychoanalysis is only one of the areas (albeit a very broad one) in psychology that allows you to advise people.

Meanwhile, for example, in the Russian Psychotherapeutic League today there are more than 40 officially recognized areas of psychological counseling.

This could be Gestalt psychology, transactional analysis, integral neuroprogramming, nlp etc. Each direction has its own specifics and its own principles on which the work is based. And each person will have their own method of work.

Myth 5. “Psychologists help solve only psychological problems.”

The well-established belief that the field of psychology is only about mental anguish and mental pathologies of a person, closes the possibility for people to solve money problems, regain your health, climb the career ladder, change your future and much more.

For example, a psychologist or psychotherapist will easily explain to you that it is not enough money, but your internal resources are lacking (for example, an understanding of your goal, an adequate attitude towards money, the courage to open your own business, self-esteem to qualify for a higher salary). And most importantly, it will not only explain, but also help to work through or minimize the impact of internal and external restrictions.

Myth 6. Psychologists seeing T interlocutors through and through.

There is an opinion that psychologists instantly read information about a person based on his appearance and can instantly draw it psychological picture literally from the first minutes of communication, as if they see right through a person and know everything about him.

But this is also one of the common myths. Yes, over the years, specialists rely more and more on their intuition, develop the empathy (sensitivity) of a professional, and “read” the client better and better. But this is rather an additional tool, and a professional will not rely only on his feelings, his understanding.

It often happens that over the years of work, professionals collect sufficient quantity material based on client requests, which are essentially similar for many. For example, topics such as divorce, raising children, health problems or career quite common.

But this cannot be a decisive factor, because each case is individual, and the truth will be revealed only in the process of working with the person.

Subjective assessment of what is happening, labeling a client, defining a person as one or another type of personality, classification are not actually a solution to problems.

Myth 7. In the past, a psychologist himself should have experienced the problem with which the client came to him.

This myth is most common among people who have experienced some form of psychological trauma. And in this regard, such people believe that only a specialist who has himself experienced something similar can help them.

If you imagine for a moment, the very request for such a specialist is a little absurd, as if lying on the operating table with acute appendicitis, you were worried about the question of whether your operating doctor had the same diagnosis in the past. Or another example: as if only women were obstetricians and there were no men in this profession who, by default, cannot bear and give birth to a child.

Most likely, in these situations, only one thing is truly concerning - timely assistance from a professional. The same applies to psychological assistance.

Here, most likely, the question is trust in a specific specialist, a specific method of work, or a real desire to solve your problems.

Myth 8. Psychologists are the softest and most tactful people who always support, encourage and approve of everything.

Undoubtedly, one of the tasks of a psychologist is to help and support the client. But along with other myths about his work, there is an opinion that psychologists and psychotherapists are specialists who simply by default do not hurt, as if they should only “stroking” the client (agree, nod, indulge).

And if a client suddenly begins to experience any mental discomfort during therapy or counseling, then this psychologist is somehow different, not soft, not kind, tough, “offending” the client.

But in fact, for a real shift in problem solving to occur, the client often needs to experience various emotions that often indicate resistance to work and change, such as fear, bodily discomfort, loss and aggression.

In the work of a psychotherapist, not only so-called “strokes” are used. The ability to speak painful truths and the ability to provoke bring an essential quality, helping to identify hidden resistance, making the work more fruitful.

You don’t become competent psychologists in a minute. It takes years to learn a profession; in addition, specialists are constantly engaged in professional self-improvement, studying new methods, undergoing supervision and individual psychotherapy.

Site audience - psychologists, psychotherapists, business trainers, training organizers. And also all those who are looking for the information and services they provide, are interested in personal development, training and educational programs.

Articles on psychology, blogs, videos, forum.

On the website you can sign up for a personal meeting with a psychologist or for an online consultation.

There is a schedule of trainings and webinars on psychology.

Like other people, among psychologists there are some who are wise and some who are not, but that’s not what we’re talking about. We are talking about another temptation by “superhumanity” - the temptation to play the role of the Great Teacher, messiah, shepherd, guru - a temptation that is all the more tempting because many who come for help are ready to recognize such a psychologist in a psychologist. Of course, there are psychologists who aspire to such a role - as in general, there are enough people who believe that they are the ones who know the main truths of life and call (or even drag) along with them, believing that they are the ones who “know how to do it.” But if anyone knows the truth, it is only the One who is Higher, and self-deification is probably only a manifestation of petty pride and unsatisfied pride. A psychologist is not a priest and has no right to speak on God’s behalf; he does not have the right to impose his own path and his worldview, he can only try to help another see his own - the other's - path or its possibility.

6. A psychologist deals with “abnormal” people. A normal, healthy person will not go to a psychologist. One of the most popular myths. First of all, a psychologist most often deals with healthy people who have certain difficulties or problems. A doctor or a psychiatrist deals with mental disorders. The psychologist has no medical education and does not even have the right to treat. Regarding the division psychologist and psychotherapist, then it is not so obvious. However, we can say that the psychotherapist deals with more complex cases, deeper psychological trauma, and personal problems. Psychotherapy involves deeper and longer-term work, during which the client’s inner world can change quite significantly. A psychologist, on the other hand, rather consults, deals with individual cases, gives recommendations (for example, a psychologist together with a client can develop a list of techniques that help them relax or, conversely, concentrate, etc.). However, for now this division is rather arbitrary. And work that began as a consultation can develop into serious and long-term psychotherapy.

7. “Psychoanalyst” and “psychologist” are one and the same thing. In fact these words are not synonyms. Psychoanalysis is just one of the areas in psychology, with its own principles and specifics of work. It is the work of a psychoanalyst that you observe when you see a person lie down on a couch and begin to talk about himself. By the way, although the couch is traditionally considered an attribute of psychoanalysis, modern psychoanalysts no longer always use it. In addition to psychoanalysis, there are several other areas (approaches) in psychology within which psychologists can work: Gestalt psychology, cognitive psychology, existential psychology, etc. Each approach has its own principles, ways of working, etc.

8. A psychologist should not have problems, otherwise what kind of psychologist is he and how can he help others?! A psychologist is not God. He can and does have problems. The only thing that is required of a good specialist is to be aware of his problems, keep them under control in order to track them in time if his problems begin to interfere with effective work with the client. To do this, in an amicable way, the psychologist himself must periodically undergo personal psychotherapy.

As experience shows, people who come to psychology departments, as a rule, are, to one degree or another, guided by one or more of the mentioned myths behind the way they formulate the reasons for their professional choice. Most often it sounds like this:

“I want to understand myself better.” The motive is humanly very worthy, but, you see, understanding yourself is not a profession.

“I want to help people.” Very worthy and beautiful - if said honestly. Really, practical psychologist- one of those (but not the only one) who helps others. But what is behind this? Why did you choose psychology? After all, a priest, a teacher, a social worker, a philanthropist, a policeman, and many others help others.

“I want to learn to control myself.”

“I want to learn how to communicate better.”

"Interesting science."

Generally speaking, behind each of these myths there is some reality, they have some basis; but this reality is perceived in an exaggerated way, acquires false shades, which is why it becomes illusory and “tempting”, leading along a path that is sometimes dangerous not only for oneself, but also for others (which will be discussed later).

Myths about psychology and psychologists:

1. Psychology is a science that knows everything about a person and his soul, a psychologist is a person who “sees through people.”

2. A psychologist is a person who is naturally endowed with special abilities to communicate with others and understand others.

3. Psychologist is a person who knows how to control the behavior, feelings, thoughts of others, specially trained for this and mastering the appropriate techniques (for example, hypnosis).

4. A psychologist is a person who knows himself thoroughly and controls himself in any circumstances.

5. A psychologist is a sage who knows more about life than others, and his mission is to indicate true path to suffering, confused people with advice and guidance.

Behind each of these myths there is some reality, they have some basis; but this reality is perceived exaggeratedly, takes on false shades,

For the same reasons, future psychologists voice the motives for their professional choice as follows:

- “I want to understand myself better”;

- “I want to help people”;

- “I want to learn to control myself”;

- “I want to learn how to communicate better”;

- “Interesting science.”

Professional choice- a central component of the formation of a life plan. The life plan is a phenomenon of both social and ethical order. It arises when the subject of reflection becomes not only the final result, but also the ways to achieve it, the path that a person intends to follow, and the objective and subjective resources that he will need for this (I.S. Kon).

The choice of a particular profession by a young person, in addition to his own interest in it, the need for self-actualization and self-expression, is often determined by its social prestige, educational level, parents’ professions, family well-being, and the level of expected salary. Any choice must be conscious, especially a professional choice. Each person should have a good idea of ​​how the chosen field corresponds to his inclinations, abilities, interests, and vocation.

Professional self-determination is complex, multidimensional and multi-step process, which includes awareness of society’s demands for this type of professional activity, optimization of the balance of one’s preferences, interests, inclinations and decision-making at the personal level and the process of forming an individual life style, of which the chosen profession will be a part.

In any case, the profession should arouse curiosity, please, be romantic, exciting, evoke positive emotions, bring satisfaction, stimulate continuous cognitive and practical interest and enrich spiritual life.

Fundamental differences professional psychologist from an “amateur psychologist”

1. Availability theoretical basis from a specialist, where the main thing is systematized, generalized ideas about the psyche and psychology. An “amateur” may have quite extensive psychological knowledge.

2. The specialist’s reliance on the method scientific knowledge, allowing him not only to navigate various scientific problems, but also to be able to find them for himself where the average person is not able to see them. "Task higher education is not to make a person smarter..., but also to make his mind more cultured, to ennoble him by instilling in him the method of scientific knowledge, to teach him to pose scientific questions and direct him on the path leading to their solution,” S. I. Hessen (1995). The method of scientific knowledge can be used by a specialist in relation to himself and to his scientific and practical activities, which forms the basis for his professional reflection, that is, “seeing himself from the outside.”

3. The specialist’s use of special tools developed in psychology - techniques, that is, scientifically based and proven in practice specific ways activities aimed at achieving a specific goal - scientific, diagnostic and formative. The essence of the technique is that it expands the capabilities of the researcher and practitioner. The specialist selects methods that are adequate to the assigned tasks.

4. Special responsibility of a professional psychologist. The task of a professional is to gradually develop a sense of responsibility among those being advised by a client, and not to take all responsibility upon himself (as an “amateur” does).

5. The professional psychologist maintains contact with his colleagues. This allows the specialist to keep abreast of events, exchange experiences thanks to the activities of psychological professional communities and through informal contacts simply receive moral, emotional and meaningful professional support.

6. A professional psychologist has a document on psychological education.

7. A professional psychologist has special professional tact and adherence to professional and ethical standards. The task of a psychologist is to create conditions for the client to independently solve his life difficulties, and ideally, to teach him to do without a psychologist. This shows respect for the client’s personality, based on faith in his own abilities to be the subject of solving his problems.

8. Ability to professional development and self-development.

9. Developed professional psychohygiene at work by a specialist psychologist. The “amateur” does not face the problem of maintaining his health while providing psychological assistance to other people; as a rule, he does not become emotionally and mentally exhausted. The psychologist should pay Special attention maintaining your mental and physical health. This makes him more efficient and resistant to various stressful situations.

10. Be cautious and critical of existing and emerging methods. Professional psychology must maintain its scientific subject and scientific criteria of analysis.

Even not all actually working specialist psychologists can fully meet all the characteristics of a real professional psychologist. And some amateur psychologists can still come close to real professionals. These differences are highlighted conditionally and are rather a guideline for the self-development of a psychologist seeking to add experience of psychological science and practice to his everyday psychological experience.

Professionalization in general, and in relation to the development of a professional psychologist in particular, is a long and even contradictory process.

Speaking about professionalization, they highlight the development professional knowledge and professional skills, between which there are quite interesting relationships. Knowledge is more often of a conscious nature (and therefore it is acquired much faster). But skills are less conscious and are acquired in a longer process. First, skills are mastered at the level of consciousness (although a novice specialist does not yet have a real skill, but he already knows how to work), then as the skill is mastered, it becomes less and less conscious, more and more “automated”, because it is impossible to think about all of your skills every time. actions and specific operations. Therefore very often good specialist can hardly tell you how and why it works so well. But sometimes you still need to think about your work (for example, in order to improve it) and then the problem arises of combining conscious knowledge with unconscious skill, which requires a new understanding of what has already been mastered. Constant reflection on yourself and your activities is the basis professional reflection and largely determines the level of creativity and self-development of a professional psychologist.

Professional reflection- this is a correlation of oneself, the capabilities of one’s “I” with what the chosen (elected) profession requires; including with existing ideas about it.

As you know, this problem is best solved when a professional himself begins to explain to someone how best to work, that is, he engages in teaching or “mentoring.” Apparently, this is why E. A. Klimov believes highest level development of a professional, the level of “mentoring”, when a specialist not only works well himself, but is also able to convey his best experience other specialists ( Klimov, 1996). But at the same time, the specialist himself continues his development (his professionalization continues), because by explaining something to others, he begins to understand it better - this is the “paradox” of professionalization.

A professional psychologist must be prepared not only for the difficulties of building relationships with clients (as well as colleagues, administration, “customers,” etc.), but also for internal difficulties associated with their own professional development and overcoming the so-called "crises of professional growth." Only by overcoming some kind of difficulty can you count on genuine development of yourself not only as a professional, but also as an individual. The only problem is to realize this “chance” of development, because crises, unfortunately, sometimes “break” a person. Therefore, we must not be afraid of crises, we must prepare for them.

Two looked at one,
One saw the rain and mud,
The other is green elm foliage,
Spring and blue skies,
Two people were looking out the same window.
(Omar Khayyam)

Omar Khayyam is a poet, philosopher and scientist. His bright thoughts and quatrains hooked me at the beginning of my professional career. His words, treatises and quotes are too elegant and precise in depth and form. Isn't that right, my friend!? “Yes, yes,” you will answer, and I will support you in this! I will support, help, see “green leaves, spring and blue skies” in you, my student, colleague, child or client.

My profession is psychologist. I decided so long ago. Even as a child, I wanted to help everyone who was sick and in pain. My friends were surprised how I wasn’t bored by all this: other people’s problems, other people’s quarrels and conflicts. But no!!! I was happy when the world around me became kinder and more beautiful.

Mission... When you hear this word, you begin to think about something lofty and significant. It seems that you, an individual person, cannot carry within yourself everything that is contained in this concept - you cannot. The profession of a psychologist, along with some others - for example, a teacher or a doctor - in the collective consciousness is associated primarily with public service: for example, doctors strive to help their patients, teachers - to give knowledge and instill social skills in students, a psychologist - to help them become human, to see the positive. even where it is... Maybe not? Or maybe it is so hidden away that it will take years to grow it!

Psychology is often perceived as a profession for altruists and is interpreted from the standpoint of a social mission: to be always ready to help, to keep secrets, to treat anyone with care and attention, to act exclusively in their interests, to show the highest respect for the life of a child, and to constantly improve one’s professional skills.

A psychologist meets a child in kindergarten, school, centers early development, clinics,... Parents, grandparents, educators, and teachers turn to him for help. Day after day we fight against Something (indifference, anger, aggression, boredom), save the country, the School and its inhabitants. This determines both the special responsibility of the psychologist profession and the biased attitude towards it of both ordinary people and representatives of the media. The mistakes and errors of psychologists do not go unnoticed.

The art of a psychologist is not only his level vocational training, this and his ability to properly build relationships with children, parents, educators, and teachers. There must be a psychologist kind person, feel someone else's pain, the mood of another.

The profession of a psychologist is a special specialty; it is based on love. Love for a child, love for a person, love even for a “difficult” teenager. The words of Socrates are understandable when he said that treating, teaching and judging are the most difficult tasks in life. Often I return to the words “First love, then educate, first love, then teach.” Why? Apparently the power of these words lies in their deep understanding. After all, I often read in the eyes of children “Love me as I am, help me if you can.”

This profession requires courage, the need to accept the only the right decision, on which children's lives depend. I am infinitely happy when a child says that he likes my classes when he does not want to leave. I walked towards this profession for a very long time, but my ROAD still found me, or I found it, it doesn’t matter anymore, it’s important that I bring benefit to someone and for someone I make the world a little brighter and more magical .

I wish you, my friend, good luck with all my heart. I hope that my letter has helped you at least a little to take a fresh look at some issues related to our difficult, but the most wonderful profession of psychologist in the world!

Galaktionova Yulia Sergeevna- educational psychologist MOU " high school No. 12" Petrozavodsk Galaktionova Yulia Sergeevna.

Who is a psychologist? Who is a psychotherapist?

A practicing psychologist is a person who has received professional training in the field of psychology and received an appropriate state diploma. Psychologist working with normal mental difficulties normal people. The psychologist does not solve his problem for the client, but helps the client himself find a way out of a difficult situation.

A psychotherapist is a doctor who has received professional training in the field of psychiatry and psychotherapy.

Let us give the most general definition of psychotherapy. Psychotherapy (its psychological model) is help with words that is provided to a person suffering from psychological difficulties.

In our country, a psychologist who has received a higher psychological education cannot formally be called a psychotherapist. But, in essence, a psychologist who has been trained in clinical psychology and has completed a long-term training program in psychotherapy (in addition to a university education) has all the necessary skills to practice psychotherapy.

Thus, the significant difference between a psychotherapist and a qualified psychologist is the availability of medical education and the right to prescribe medications. As for professional psychotherapeutic skills, both a psychotherapist and a clinical psychologist who has completed a long-term training program in psychotherapy possess them equally.

A psychotherapist (or psychoneurologist) can use drug therapy together with psychotherapy, or only drug therapy, if the patient has a threat of suicide or has a mental illness. If a psychologist working with a client suspects the presence of these risk factors, then he consults his client with a neuropsychiatrist in order to support psychotherapy with medication. In cases where there is no serious mental illness, medications may not help (or help temporarily) because relieving the symptom by taking pills does not solve the psychological problem. A person’s psychological difficulties can be solved not by medication, but only by psychological methods.

If you still have questions after reading this article, please email me about them. [email protected], I will be happy to answer them.

What are the differences between psychological counseling and psychotherapy?

Psychological counseling differs from psychotherapy in terms of delivery and results. The methods of conducting psychological counseling and psychotherapy are similar: basically, it is a conversation; psychotherapy also uses drawing, playing out life situations, role-playing experiments, working with plasticine, clay, sand and other methods.

The fundamental difference between counseling and psychotherapy is the result of the work. As a result of psychological counseling, the client realizes possible reasons behavior, sees inconsistencies between his behavior and his goals that he had not seen before, the psychologist can give appropriate recommendations. All this remains only at the level of the client’s knowledge about his problem situation.

As a result of psychotherapy, the client receives new abilities and new opportunities to resolve this problematic situation, and, as a rule, during psychotherapy, he changes it for the better and implements the solutions found.

Thus, psychological counseling is only a prologue for further psychotherapy.

How can a psychologist help another person solve his problem?

In post-Soviet society, the services of a psychologist or psychotherapist are still relatively new. Often in difficult life situations, people try to use the advice of friends: “get it all out of your head”, “don’t worry”, “abstract and relax”, and as a rule, such advice does not help much, because it is precisely “forgetting”, suppressing negative experiences leads to their “stagnation”. Only a psychologist can guide the client in such a way that the experience of a traumatic situation is truly completed and not “thrown out of his head.” It is this completeness of a traumatic situation that gives rise to a new meaning for a person. For example: What lessons did I learn from the divorce? What did the difficult experience of experiencing conflict at work teach me? A psychologically competent end to a traumatic situation ensures that a person stops reacting painfully to unpleasant memories and gains the strength to live on, taking into account the lessons learned.

Example: a woman divorces her husband, who has gone to live with another family. This dramatic situation is accompanied by complex feelings of anger at her husband, her own guilt for being a bad wife, fear of how to live alone now, how to build relationships with other men again, despair because she is no longer so young and no one not needed, shame from being abandoned, and so on. Suppressing, “forgetting” these experiences, the desire to “switch”, “throw yourself into work” can lead to prolonged depression, which can last for years. Suppressed experiences will remain in the soul of this woman. What will be the outcome? And ten years later, she will painfully remember her husband’s departure as her greatest misfortune in life, and see this as the reason for her own loneliness, instability, and lack of interest in life.

In this case, working with a psychologist can help a woman fully express these painful experiences, which always leads to a weakening of psychological suffering and a decrease in mental pain. Working with a psychologist, the woman gradually realizes that, despite the fact that this man rejected her, she continues to remain feminine and attractive to other men, she has the opportunity own development, both personally and professionally. She will feel like a self-sufficient person, capable of building her future life regardless of her experiences. psychological trauma. Ex-husband she will remember with gratitude that he was in her life. She will feel grateful that, having gone through this mental test and finally experiencing separation from him, she felt her strength, inner personal integrity, and did not cease to feel like a desirable and attractive woman, capable of starting a family with another man. And the achieved feeling of inner harmony will be one of the most important components of her happiness.

A psychologist, without the client’s knowledge, never uses hypnosis, suggestion, or any other techniques that can influence the client’s psyche. A psychologist helps with conversation, with words, and this is precisely what is the most effective help for a suffering person.

“People benefit only from the truths that they discover for themselves” - these are the words of the wonderful American psychotherapist Irvin Yalom. It is this principle that guides a qualified psychologist who will never advise or decide for a client how to live next. But he will always be with the client in the sometimes painful process of finding a solution. A psychologist can be compared to a climber’s guide in the mountains. The guide never goes through the difficult path to the top instead of the climber, but he suggests an easier and surer path, protects from cracks and steep rocks, and lends a helping hand when he is needed. In the same way, a psychologist will not be able to walk your path for you in the labyrinth of finding the right solution. But, like an obstetrician who helps in childbirth, a psychologist helps a new decision be born with maximum efficiency and speed, and the least painless for the client.

What are the guarantees that the help of a psychologist will be effective and the client will solve his problem?

Imagine that a person comes to see a doctor with a physical illness and asks him if he can give a one hundred percent guarantee of his recovery. What will the doctor answer? Most likely, the answer will be approximately as follows: “I cannot give you a 100% guarantee, since there are diseases from which people, as a rule, are cured, and there are chronic diseases that require constant prevention of exacerbations. Your recovery largely depends on you, on your discipline in performing medical procedures, on your persistence in striving to recover. I, as a doctor, guarantee the creation of those conditions under which recovery is most likely.”

A psychologist, just like a doctor, guarantees the creation of those conditions under which recovery is most likely. And of course, as in the case of medical diseases, when recovery largely depends on the patient himself, success in working with a psychologist depends on the client, on his desire to understand how he lives, on his curiosity about his inner world, on his perseverance.

What do they pay a psychologist for, for talking?

Yes, for the conversation. But this is no ordinary conversation. A psychologist’s conversation has its own characteristics, special warmth and sincerity, warmth and meaningfulness. A psychologist who cannot win over a person during a conversation and instill trust in him can hardly count on success in practical work.

The help provided by a psychologist often comes down to a sincere, frank conversation with the client. Almost always, when talking through or formulating one’s problem in a conversation with a qualified specialist, a person unexpectedly begins to relate to it in a completely new way and understand its essence. Professional psychological help lies in the art of formulating questions in such a way, conducting a conversation in such a way that a person can find a way out of a difficult situation for himself. life situation. Consultation with a psychologist is most effective precisely in this case, because the solution, the solution, is found by the client independently, without external pressure or prompting. Accordingly, a person’s attitude towards the solutions found will be more trusting - after all, these are his own thoughts. The famous American doctor, psychologist, psychotherapist Milton Erickson considered this result for a practicing psychologist best indicator the highest degree of qualification.

To an inexperienced observer, the work of a psychologist may seem easy and does not require special skills. But this is illusory ease. Behind the elegance and ease of a psychologist’s work there are always hidden many years of training and practice, hundreds of hours of work under the supervision of more experienced colleagues, a huge amount of literature read, reflections and discussions with colleagues. When working with a client, the right path is not always found immediately. The work of a psychologist is not limited by the time of his direct communication with the client. Very often, after the end of the consultation, there is a thorough analysis of the past conversation, doubts “was everything done correctly?”, sympathy for the client, concern for him. All this is the work of the soul.

Can a psychologist help in one meeting?

Sometimes yes. If only advisory assistance is required, then two or three meetings are sufficient. If a client, while working with a psychologist, wants to achieve a solution to a problem situation, and not gain knowledge about how this can be done independently (but not all psychological problems can be solved independently, even after receiving appropriate recommendations), then longer work is required. Sometimes a series of weekly consultations over several weeks is required.

A person is not able to quickly change in his personal manifestations. For example, a hot-tempered, emotionally sensitive person cannot quickly become stable and control the manifestations of his emotions, and a person who is not accustomed to being aware of his feelings cannot quickly learn to do this. Any rapid changes are superficial and reversible. Therefore, if an adult wants stable changes in his personal characteristics, then this is usually a long-term job.

In any case, the first meeting with a psychologist is always indicative, when two people take a closer look at each other. The client decides for himself whether he can trust this specialist, and the psychologist decides whether he will take up working with this client or recommend him to a colleague who is more experienced in this area. If an agreement on further work is reached, then, as a rule, the first 8-10 meetings are scheduled, after which preliminary results are summed up: what was achieved, what changes have already occurred in the client, what are the client’s further expectations from working with a psychologist, and so on. If after some time the client decides that he is ready to cope with his difficulties on his own without the help of a specialist, then to complete the work (especially if it was long) another final meeting is required, at which the results of the joint work are summed up and comprehended.

Can a psychologist “see” people through and immediately tell a person what his main problem is and how to solve it?

No, It is Immpossible. You should not trust people who offer this kind of service. A qualified psychologist avoids making any diagnoses, much less giving ready-made tips for all occasions. Despite the fact that there are people with similar character traits and personality types, each person is an individual who cannot be read like an open book. A person will never understand another person 100%. And this is perhaps the most interesting thing in relationships, when there is room for surprise at the unique essence of the other.

Can a psychologist answer a client’s question: “Am I normal?”

Very often people are tormented by a secret question: “Am I normal? Is it normal that I suffer so much from the fact that I often cry over trifles / get irritated / offended / scared and so on? Am I normal if everyone around me seems to be happy with life, and only I suffer in my soul?”

The question of psychological norm and not norm is very complex issue, since the boundaries between conditionally normal person, a person with pronounced personal accentuations and a person with mental disorders are blurred and not clearly defined. Very often, the question of one’s own normality arises among people who are well adapted and socialized in society, are active in their professional activities, and achieve certain success in it. But their personal sphere has a number of features. Firstly, they are emotionally more sensitive than the people around them. This means that they are easily vulnerable, more anxious, and more susceptible to stress. And secondly, their level of intellectual development allows them to notice and analyze their actions and the actions of others, compare themselves with others, think about the reasons for the frequent discrepancy between a person’s external behavior and his internal state. These people often need to believe that they have the right to be more emotional than those around them. And in this, the help of a psychologist is invaluable. Since very often people with such a mental organization become psychologists, but due to the knowledge gained and experience of undergoing their own personal psychotherapy, they are able to provide support to those who are tormented by questions of their own “normality”.

Does a qualified psychologist need to have experience in personal psychotherapy and work with another psychologist as a client?

Yes, for efficient work with a client, a qualified psychologist undergoes his own psychotherapy as a client with more experienced specialist. This is necessary so that the psychologist’s own psychological problems do not interfere with his work with the client. This is necessary for the psychologist’s stability when dealing with various difficult experiences of the client. Completing more than 50 hours of your own psychotherapy (50 hours is a weekly visit to a psychologist for an entire year) is a necessary condition certification of a psychologist upon completion of long-term training programs (usually such programs last from 2 to 3 years) of professional training of a psychotherapist.

Why does a psychologist, when working with a client, pay such great importance to the client’s self-knowledge?

Why is self-knowledge necessary if many people live perfectly well without it, especially without delving into deep reflection about themselves?

Imagine that a person wants to drive a car, but does not know at all which way to approach it. In order to move in the right direction, you first need to know how the car can move, where the energy for movement comes from. In order to effectively achieve the intended goals, a person must know himself, his true needs (which are not always conscious and clear), his ways of establishing contact with the outside world. This is especially important when there is a slippage, something doesn’t work out, when “I want, but I can’t”: I want, but I can’t find it new job, make peace with a friend, get along with a child, get rid of an acute feeling of loneliness, and so on. Then I need to turn to my inner world and explore what is stopping me from achieving what I want? After all, not only an evil boss, a demanding mother, a capricious child, an inattentive friend are to blame for the fact that my relationship with them does not work out? Something also depends on me, right? And even more: a lot in my life depends on me. Only I am the creator of my own life!

The work of a psychologist can often be compared to the work of a doctor. Just like a doctor, a psychologist is, first of all, guided by the principle “do no harm.” Just like in a doctor's office, strict confidentiality is maintained in the work of a psychologist. The path to recovery from a physical illness may be through physical pain (for example, surgery), also recovery from a psychological illness often lies through the pain of sad, painful experiences. The birth of a new personality is not without psychological pain, just as the birth of a person is not without labor pains. Meeting with heartache(sadness, grief, despair, fear, resentment, guilt) - this is a chance to get rid of it, since only expressed and lived feelings weaken and cease to torment a person.

There is another parallel in the work of a psychologist and a doctor. It is reliably known that the vast majority of diseases are of a psychosomatic nature. They arise not when something is disturbed in the human body, but when the harmony in the human body is disturbed. psychological level. So, against the background of a divorce, a person suddenly develops a stomach ulcer, or a headache begins to ache after a “squashed” conflict, or after a breakup in a relationship with a man, a woman suddenly develops inflammation. The lymph nodes(inflammation also suddenly disappears after working with a psychologist aimed at understanding the painful experiences of parting with a once close person). While the disease has not yet become chronic, when the symptoms have just appeared, the psychologist can effectively help the client realize what traumatic influence from his environment the body responds to with pain. When pain from psychological trauma is suppressed (we were all taught in childhood that we should not worry, show our feelings, should not be angry, offended, envious, and so on), then the body responds with pain, because the body and soul are an inextricable unity, the name to whom - a person.