A brief intro to Psychologists
Who is a Psychologist?
Psychologists (ماہر نفسیات) are experts who study mind and behavior. They understand how the mental health determines the condition of a person and thus help to reset these problematic thought processes. Mental health specialists talk to their patients, carry out assessments and tests to diagnose the problem ailing their patients, and devise a treatment plan accordingly.
Psychologists work in several capacities. Alongside the confines of the clinics and hospitals, they are found in schools, industries, research centers, as the comprehension of human behavior is relevant to many industries.
When should you see a Psychologist?
Psychologists are very helpful for anyone who is suffering from a drained emotional health. Lack of emotional stability leads to problem with anger management (جذباتی عدم توازن) and mood problems. Mental health experts also help people with personality (شخصیت) issues.
Specialist psychologists also help couples get through rough patches in their married life, through marriage counselling. Certain people also have performance anxiety, that leads to sexual dysfunction, which too has a negative impact on their relationship. Psychologists can help people overcome their aversion and problems with sexual intercourse as well. Likewise, they also assist patients in getting over their addictions.
Many people who have suffered from loss, whether it be the loss of a loved one or a relationship like is the case with divorce or breakups, have a hard time reconciling with the reality. Heartache can then take a toll on their mental and physical health. Grief counseling (غم سے نجات) is an important tool for such people, as it enables them to come to terms with the loss and accept it.
Similarly, stress and anxiety (پریشانی و گبھراہٹ) have also become common. While it’s okay to be apprehensive before a big event like a presentation or exam etc., if the state of worry is perpetual, you need to visit a psychologist (سیکولوجسٹ) as it is not normal to be continuously stressed. It also has implications for your physical health as well; from heart disease to sexual dysfunction, chronic stress affects all facets of life.
People who suffer from depression (ڈپریشن), marked by perpetual sadness and hopelessness also need help from a mental health expert. They also treat mental problems like obsessive compulsive disorder (او سی ڈی), bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) etc.
Psychologists (ماہر نفسیات) also help with self-improvement. They counsel people over how to overcome their fears and phobias, get rid of their addictions, and gain mental clarity. Psychologists are also an excellent resource for those looking for performance enhancement. Experts then train people who to improve themselves before a life changing event.
What are a Psychologist’s main areas of concern?
Psychologists are concerned with the mental wellbeing of their patients. They work to understand the contexts behind the problems their patients face and then provide them with a roadmap to recovery
Unlike psychiatrists, psychologists (نفسیاتی ماہر) cannot prescribe medication. They treat their patients using psycho –talk—therapy.
What are the most common psychological diseases in Lahore?
Mental health, in Pakistan, is a woefully neglected field. Not only are the treatment opportunities very limited, but there is lack of awareness about mental health in general as well. Many people do not realize that extent of their disease, but rather, take things in stride. Others go to faith healers and quacks rather than consulting a specialist doctor.
Moreover, the stigma attached with mental health is a big one. The people suffering from mental health issues are discriminated against, are name-called and made fun of and are even ostracized in extreme cases.
According to WHO, following are the common mental issues in cities with mental health facilities, including Karachi.
| Disease |
Percentage of Patients |
| Mood Disorder |
30% |
| Personality Disorder |
25% |
| Neurotic Disorder |
33% |
| Schizophrenia |
1% |
| Substance Abuse |
2% |
How to become a Psychologist?
Becoming a psychologist entails getting into an HEC recognized University that offers bachelor’s program psychology. It is also recommended to get a masters degree in the respective domain as well, in order to get a better grasp on the material.
After this, it is important to specialize and train in the field of your choice and many people opt for the field they studied in their post-grad. Once training is completed, a person is qualified to practice as a psychologist.
What kinds of Psychologists are there?
Psychology is a vast field, with several specializations. Some are:
- Clinical psychologists: These experts diagnose, treat and manage the different diseases experienced by people.
- Cognitive Psychologists: Experts of this field study decision making and problem-solving skills in people. By understanding how cognition works, many are able to treat learning disabilities as well.
- Counseling Psychologists: These experts perform psychotherapy on patients to help them overcome mental disorders and problems.
- Development Psychologists: This field entails studying human development. But as meeting milestones is more important in children, they often deal with developmental problems in children.
- Forensic Psychologists: These experts work in the legal setting, where they evaluate criminals, devise laws, play role in custody issues etc.
- Health Psychologists: They study the impact of the mind, lifestyle choices and biology on the health of the person.
- School Psychologists: School-going children are less comfortable in their skin. Peer pressure, anxiety about grades and pressure from their family to perform leads to several students succumbing to stress. School psychologists help students by advice and therapy.
- Neuropsychologists: These experts deal with understanding the relationship between brain and mind. They also study the impact of different brain disorders on the behaviors of people
.
What are Psychologists called in Pakistan?
Psychologists are also referred to as:
- Psychotherapist
- Mental health expert
- Counsellor
- Mahir-nafsiat
- سیکولوجسٹ
- ماہر نفسیات
- ذہنی بیماری کے ڈاکٹر
- نفسیاتی ماہر
