If you have a good friend, why would you see a Psychologist?

Is it the same to see a Psychologist as talking to a close, trustworthy friend?

Having a friend is having a treasure, there is no doubt about that.

Having good friends and a strong and close social support system is an important protective factor for a person during difficult times, helping to avoid emotional disorders or imbalances. Actually, there are scientific studies that support the importance of friendships on positive moods and life satisfaction in adolescents and the adult population, respectively.

But the differences between this and a psychologist range from the nature of the relationship to the knowledge and tools each possesses:

• The nature of the relationship

• Perspective and analysis of the problem

• Knowledge about personality development, psychological assessment, how to analyze the context, communication, and behavior patterns

• Tools to help you identify and overcome all the factors preventing you from living life wholly.

• Emotional implications

• Personal judgments or opinions

Let's see this in more detail:

Your good friend can give you advice, and probably a very good one. Similarly, they will provide you with all the love and support you need. A psychologist also gives you support, emotional stability, and understanding, within the framework of a completely new and defined type of relationship.

A psychologist knows the genesis and functioning of behavior, attachment and relationship styles, cognitive functioning and its biological bases, and psychosocial development, among other things. They are trained to help you identify the "whys" and "whats" of your problem, to make you step out of your frame and look at it from the outside.

This is achieved, first of all, by offering a welcoming place, a protected environment with an atmosphere that is not permeated by the problem and knows nothing about it. Freed from the roles and labels one brings, the person can talk about themselves and introspect without suggestions and emotional implications with the other person.

Moreover, the psychologist objectively analyzes the areas in which you have difficulties. Without judgment or personal opinions about the situation, they will partner with you to establish treatment goals and will use a number of strategies and techniques to progressively reach them while helping you develop a deeper knowledge about yourself.

Bibliography:

• Rodríguez-Fernández, A., Ramos-Díaz, E., Ros, I., Fernández-Zabala, A., & Revuelta, L. (2016). Bienestar subjetivo en la adolescencia: el papel de la resiliencia, el autoconcepto y el apoyo social percibido. Suma psicológica, 23(1), 60-69.

• Arias, C. J. (2015). Red de apoyo social y bienestar psicológico en personas de edad (Doctoral dissertation).

• Novoa, C., & Barra, E. (2015). Influencia del apoyo social percibido y los factores de personalidad en la satisfacción vital de estudiantes universitarios. Terapia psicológica, 33(3), 239-245.