Psychological support aims to help anyone in need, whether children, adolescents, adults, or older people, and can target individuals or couples.
The paths and approaches indicated and used by professionals differ from person to person and depend on the type of distress and the goal of the individuals asking for help.
Child and Adolescent Psychologist
Developmental psychologists deal with children and adolescents up to 18 years of age. They evaluate and treat emotional and behavioral issues and difficulties encountered in relationships with peers and the school area.
They conduct evaluations to identify and treat specific learning disorders; they can support and intervene in particularly stressful and/or traumatic situations, adopting strategies that facilitate the reprocessing of events.
They also carry out fundamental work with families, who are almost always involved because they represent children’s first and most important context of life and because parents are the first “therapists” for their children.
When Does an Adolescent Need to See a Psychologist?
Adolescence is a critical period for many boys and girls, who sometimes manifest sufferings that had not occurred before for many reasons or that had not aroused particular attention and/or concern. Psychologists can be a valuable help when adolescents experience suffering for a long time or need to talk about what makes them uncomfortable.
In general, teens may experience outbursts of impulsivity, anxiety, and distress but also ask important questions and go through difficult periods searching for answers about their identity and future.
How to Tell Parents That You Want to See a Psychologist
What you can do is explain that you feel the need to talk with an experienced professional outside the family regarding yourself and your relationship with the world, friends, classmates, and teachers, but also with your emotions and the way you react to what is happening.
It is constructive to make this request in a peaceful moment. Of course, the reaction may change depending on the relationship with your parents and the parents themselves: Sometimes, they fear being judged or held responsible for emotional suffering in their children.
Psychological Examination for the Elderly
Psychologists can be extremely important for older people, as this stage of life is often filled with significant changes: Retirement, new births, illnesses, and deaths that affect those around them.
These moments can bring stress and emotional destabilization and even impact what had once guaranteed a certain balance.
Experienced psychologists can also provide support to family members of the person with dementia or cognitive impairment.
When Should a Couple Consult a Psychologist?
A couple should consult a psychologist when discomfort cannot be resolved and may be due to one or both partners.
Usually, the causes of discomfort within the couple involve life changes due to external and internal events. External events that affect the couple’s balance may be the birth of a child, an illness, or job termination; causes related to factors considered “internal” are beliefs, values, and life habits learned in the old family. Conflict may arise when these are introduced to the new family without trying to reshape them as a new couple and new family.
Couples therapy aims to provide a space for listening, reflection, and reworking that aims toward a resolution. Indeed, with the help of a professional, new balances and new ways of dealing with problems within the couple can be sought. It is important to emphasize that going through a couple’s journey does not necessarily mean finding a solution that involves continuing to be together. For some, it might mean opting for a separation after recognizing the value of the time spent together and the importance of each continuing on their own path differently.
