The famous psychologist Abraham Maslow once stated, “I suppose it is tempting, if the only tool you have is a hammer, to treat everything as if it were a nail.” This is a great insight into how we humans often go about coping with our problems. We use the same approaches over and over again, expecting them to work every time. But they don’t. And that’s where great psychologists come into play.
At your first meeting with a psychologist, they might ask you questions about what you hope to get out of your sessions. You may talk about the following:
- Your goals and motivations
- What’s holding you back
- Your family’s mental health history
- Your own history
- Your questions for the psychologist
Remember, psychologists aren’t there to judge you. Their job is to help you navigate complicated terrain. The more honest you can be, the better. Psychologists will be able to make the best treatment plan for you if they have the most accurate information about your life, your stumbling blocks, and your emotions. That doesn’t mean you have to arrive at your first session with everything mapped out! A great psychologist is skilled at asking you the right questions, prompting you to offer information that can help guide treatment.
What Does a Psychologist Do?
Psychologists are trained professionals who have a wide range of tools at their disposal to help you understand and/or modify your emotions, behavior, and communication skills. A psychologist listens to your stories and helps you find a path out of mental ruts like:
- Depression, both major and mild
- Obsessions and compulsions
- Anxiety
- Substance abuse
- Eating disorders
- ADHD/ADD
And it’s okay if you don’t know what’s wrong! It’s okay if you make an appointment because you just feel like something is “off.” Clients can arrive for their first session with no idea what their behavioral or emotional symptoms might signify. They might not know what’s “normal” or not. A Thriveworks psychologist in Minneapolis, MN, can help unravel these issues—and diagnose a disorder if you have one.
When Brandy scheduled her first session ever with a psychologist, she didn’t know what to expect. She’d been biting her fingernails more and more from nervousness. Was she obsessive-compulsive? Did she have anxiety? She’d been feeling sad and insecure about her work performance and her love life. Was she depressed?
But Brandy’s psychologist reassured her that his foremost concern wasn’t assigning her a label. He just wanted to talk about what thoughts and behaviors were working or not working for Brandy. Was she making the same decisions—perhaps maladaptive ones—over and over again like in the hammer and nail analogy quoted above? Together, Brandy and her psychologist developed a manageable treatment plan that included some new, practical approaches to old problems that Brandy could try out in real life.
What’s the Difference Between a Psychologist and a Psychiatrist?
People ask this question all the time! The main practical difference between psychologists and psychiatrists, whose professions often overlap, is that psychiatrists can write prescriptions and psychologists can’t. That’s oversimplifying matters a bit, but it’s a helpful rule of thumb.
- Psychiatrists are doctors who went to medical school to understand the brain and all its mysterious workings.
- Psychologists earned doctorate degrees in Psychology to understand the brain and all its mysterious workings.
So, not so different except for that prescription pad. But a psychiatrist can always refer you to a Thriveworks psychologist in Minneapolis, MN, and vice versa. These types of clinicians collaborate all the time on improving their clients’ mental health. They do not have to be mutually exclusive.
Where Do I Find a Psychologist Near Me?
The beauty of today’s therapy field is that anyone can access a psychologist from anywhere through the wonders of telehealth. You can schedule an online session with a Thriveworks psychologist in Minneapolis, MN, and talk from your couch at home at your convenience.
If you’d prefer to meet in-person, the Thriveworks office can schedule you for a brick and mortar appointment. We have over 240 office locations. Our offices open early and stay open late, for your convenience. Call Thriveworks in Minneapolis to find a quick placement with a psychologist appropriate for you. Then you can start exploring a wide range of roadblocks and life static. We’re all just human, and we can all use a little help sometimes.
Experience the Benefits at Thriveworks in Minneapolis, MN Today
Enrollment at Thriveworks in Minneapolis, MN, comes with added perks like email and phone access to your psychologist and an ultra-flexible cancellation policy. Enrolling with Thriveworks in Minneapolis also means that you get exclusive video content about mental health issues and a free e-copy of the book Leaving Depression Behind. Finally, Thriveworks has a 100-percent satisfaction guarantee that shows our powerful faith in our counselors’ efficacy.
If you’re ready to schedule your first session, you can use our online booking system to find a day and time that works with your schedule – or, you can give our office a call. Our scheduling team will be more than happy to assist you. We look forward to hearing from you soon!