psychology Seeking Professional Help To Prevent Divorce

While friends and family can be helpful in advising one on the divorce decision, most people feel the need for professional help in sorting through what has happened and determining what to do about the situation. There are a wide variety of sources for professional help, which include counselors, therapists and psychologists. They have varying degrees of training and ability to deal with this issue. We shall provide some guidelines here, which may be helpful in choosing a counselor and in assessing the progress of the counseling experience. 

You should approach a counselor who has been personally recommended by your friends or relatives and whose opinion is trusted. This recommendation should not be the over-riding determination, of course, but this "personal" impression can provide additional input to consider along with an assessment of the professional qualification. 

Another factor is the gender of the counselor, as some people feel more comfortable with a counselor of the same sex. For couples, theres always the possibility of receiving counseling from a male/female team of professionals, which resolves any issue as to the sex of the counselor. If not, they will need to test their experience with either a male of female counselor and evaluate their feelings about the experience, being open to considering the other alternative. 

In addition, it is important to find a counselor who believes in honesty and encourages honest communication. The first step, of course, is for the couple to determine whether they want to strive for honest communication about all aspects of this issue and to develop an honest relationship. If this is the case, then its crucial to find a counselor who will reinforce this effort. Since many counselors believe theres a danger in too much honesty, this is an issue that will need to be discussed to determine whether an agreement can be reached as to the goals of counseling in this regard. 

Honesty is only one of the issues to be resolved in terms of the goals of counseling. A couple also needs to be clear as possible as to whether their primary goal is to stay together or to achieve the best personal recovery, regardless of whether or not that involves staying together. They should also consider if their goal is to achieve a good understanding of what happened or put it behind them as quickly as possible. They need to communicate their goals to the counselor to determine if the counselor is comfortable in helping them work toward achieving those goals. 

For more information on where to get help after divorce, divorce laws, divorce courts, effects of divorce on the children, divorce procedures or divorce preparation, please visit the following website: http://divorce.mygeneralknowledge.com/divorce-counseling.php.

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psychology Essential Conditions of Successful Change in Therapy

Successful results in therapy have far less to do with the exact intervention used than many health professionals actually suppose. During their university treatments, mental health professionals learn how to dispense specific, empirically validated therapies. However, with thousands of good intervention options available and new approaches regularly vying for attention, it is just not possible for professionals to receive education in each one. Some models reach pre-eminence as a result of the numerous empirical studies supporting their efficacy; for example, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and Interpersonal Process Therapy (IPT) have wide-ranging validation.

Immeasurable scientific studies conducted over decades demonstrate irrefutably that therapy does indeed work; however studies testing the ascendancy of one approach over another are substantially less convincing. In fact the famous "dodo-bird verdict" whereby "Everyone has won and all must have prizes" after Lewis Carroll’s "Alice in Wonderland" was announced in a extensive review of psychological treatment outcome studies (Luborsky et al., 1985). In a ground-breaking review of the research conducted since the early 1970s, Hubble et al. (1999) concluded that there were four common factors of change present in all successful 
therapy outcomes. These common factors are: 

Client Factors (40%)

Client factors are the most powerful force for change in psychotherapy, which account for 40% of improvement. Client factors refer to the strengths and resources that all clients intrinsically possess. These resources encompass a diversity of life domains, both internal and external, for example a keen sense of humour and intelligence can be just as helpful as a supportive network of friends and material possessions. The change process is greatly augmented when the therapist calls attention to and builds on a client’s abundance of strengths. 
Reminders of how resourced clients actually often shocks them as their attention is redirected away from their negative views of themselves and towards their strengths.

Therapeutic Relationship (30%)

At least 30% of all change is accounted for by therapists’ capacity to develop a strong, positive bond with their clients. Doctors know this as a skilled "bedside manner". The characteristics of a first-rate therapeutic relationship are:

=> The aptitude of the therapist for empathy, compassion and caring

=> The amount a therapist can like or love the client

=> Mutual affirmation between client and therapist

=> How much the therapist can encourage the client to take risks and acquire mastery

=> Encouraging the client’s capability for self-responsibility

=> Collaboration with a client instead of advice giving.

Placebo or Expectancy (15%)

Change also to takea place because clients expect it to and this can explain 15% of the observed change. Clients who believe their psychologist to be trustworthy, competent and experienced are more likely to know positive change. 

Model or Technique (15%)

Only 15% of the change observed in therapy is due to the specific treatment modality, yet university education centres around teaching students only one 
or two precise modalities. Therefore many mental health professionals become "technicians" 
covering menu-style treatment manuals over client problems instead of treating the unique and complex, whole human being. Proficiency in particular therapy modalities does not guarantee that therapists are able to tap into the four common factors, thus their ability to facilitate deep change will be inadequate.

Therefore therapy will thrive if the four common factors can be exploited to their total potential. When you are looking for a therapist, make sure they demonstrate the following qualities: attunement to you and the ability to tell you the truth, kindness, compassion, intelligence and experience. It is also vitally important that you like each other!

References
Hubble, M. A., Duncan, B. L., & Miller, S. D. (1999). The Heart And Soul Of Change: What Works In Therapy. Washington, DC: APA
Luborsky, Singer & Luborsky. (1985). Therapist success and its determinants. Archives of General Psychiatry, 42, 602 – 611.

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Psychologists Can Change Your Bad Habits And Your Life

If you are suffering from depression, a mental illness, mood disorder, emotional problem, anger, or anxiety, you can benefit from meeting with a qualified psychologist. It is important to note that psychologists do not prescribe medications to their patients, unlike psychiatrists. Psychiatrists complete extensive residency programs after they graduate from medical school, and psychologists do not. However, psychologists provide therapy and counseling, and they can help you get back on track. 

Psychologists are experts when it comes to human behavior and mental processes. They help their patients change negative behaviors, bad habits, and destructive thought patterns, and they educate people. They can help you function better and improve your relationships with your friends, family members, partner, and other people around you.

Psychologists typically work in hospitals, clinics, and private offices. Some of them work for businesses, the government, and nonprofit organizations.

You can achieve many goals by meeting with a psychologist regularly, but dont waste your money or time on an incompetent therapist. Search for a brilliant therapist in the search engines and meet with several specialists until you find someone who can help you achieve great results. If you do research, you will find a good therapist who meets your needs. In addition, you should find a psychologist who makes you feel comfortable. You will see good results if you trust your counselor. Dont cheat yourself out of making progress. If you do not feel comfortable with your therapist, you owe it to yourself to find someone else. 

Before you choose a therapist, psychologist, psychiatrist, counselor or social worker, think about your situation. Is your condition or problem severe? Do you need medication? Is your problem a result of a chemical imbalance? Whats your budget like? Do you have health insurance? For instance, if you have depression because of your situation, you may benefit from short-term counseling. A psychologist may help you resolve the situation that is causing your depression. 

If you have depression, you may also want to consider visiting a doctor for a checkup. Make sure an illness or medication is not causing your symptoms. If your depression is severe, you will see better results with therapy if you stabilize your mood. Therefore, you may want to consider visiting a psychiatrist for medication and therapy. Your health is very important, so it is worth checking into. A combination of medication and therapy is usually the most effective kind of treatment. Remember that some help is always better than nothing.

When you search for a psychologist, you should look for a Masters Degree, at least. The therapist you choose should also be licensed in your state. Avoid therapists who have little education. If youre in doubt, ask the specialist about his credentials. A good therapist will give you the information you need. Many internet databases provide listings for psychologists and many patients have seen good results by choosing therapists from online directories and internet databases. Just make sure you are open and honest with your therapist. Dont hide anything from your therapist and listen to what he has to say. You can learn a lot from an educated therapist. Good luck!

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