Faqs

In the first session with a psychologist, you can expect an introduction where the psychologist will explain the process of therapy, confidentiality, and what to expect in future sessions. They may ask about your background, reasons for seeking therapy, and any specific challenges you’re facing. The first session is an opportunity to get to know each other and to set goals for your work together. It’s normal to feel a bit nervous, but rest assured, the psychologist is there to support you and create a comfortable environment for open communication.

Signs of abuse can include:

1. Physical Abuse: Unexplained injuries, being hit or restrained.
2. Emotional Abuse: Constant criticism, belittling, or making you feel worthless.
3. Verbal Abuse: Name-calling, insults, or threats.
4. Control and Manipulation: Isolation from friends, excessive jealousy, controlling behavior.
5. Sexual Abuse: Forcing or pressuring you into sexual acts without consent.
6. Threats: Threatening harm to you or loved ones if you leave or speak up.
7. Isolation: When you feel dependent on them, they isolate you from your social circle or/and you fear to reach out for help.

Psychologist: Has studied psychology and is concerned with understanding human behavior, emotions and thoughts. Provides counseling and support, but does not prescribe medication.
Psychiatrist: Is a doctor specializing in psychiatry. Can diagnose mental disorders and prescribe medication, while often combining psychotherapeutic interventions.
Psychotherapist: Is a professional (psychologist or psychiatrist) who has specialized in a particular method of psychotherapy. For example, in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), the emphasis is on understanding and changing the thoughts and behaviors that maintain the individual’s difficulties, in order to achieve substantial improvement in everyday life. Of course, there are other recognized approaches (such as psychoanalytic, systemic, existential, etc.), with different tools and ways of working.

It is completely normal. Most people feel awkward or anxious before meeting their psychologist for the first time. It  issomething new, and it often involves personal issues that we are not used to sharing. Usually, after the first few meetings, the anxiety decreases and is replaced by a sense of safety and relief, which strengthens the therapeutic relationship and the effectiveness of the therapeutic intervention.

Setting boundaries is not always easy. You may have difficulties because:
• you are afraid that others will get angry or reject you,
• you have learned from a young age to put others’ needs above your own,
• you have not practiced in saying “no” and for other reasons that emerge through the psychotherapy process. In psychotherapy, you may learn to recognize your own needs and find ways to defend them with respect, both towards yourself and towards others.

Many people believe that they should go to a psychologist when they can not take it anymore.In fact, psychological support can be useful at many different stages of life. Someone may visit  a psychologist when:
-they are experiencing anxiety, sadness or difficulties that make everyday life difficult,
-they are facing problems in relationships, work or self-esteem,
-they need support during a difficult period of change (e.g. loss, separation, new beginning),
-they want to understand themselves better and develop healthier ways of thinking and behaving.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)  is particularly effective because it focuses on connecting thoughts, feelings and behaviors. We work together to identify the patterns that make your life difficult and then we replace them with more functional ways of thinking and acting, in order to improve the quality of your life.