The many roles a psychologist play

Psychology and therapy are terms that are largely misunderstood in a country like India. We just look at psychiatrists, therapists and psychologists as doctors who treat people with serious mental illnesses and nothing more. The concept of mental wellness does not even occur to us and us as a society need to evolve to the point where we realize the potential of mental health efforts. To this end, let's spend some time exploring the different roles a psychologist plays during their everyday work, be it as a relationship adviser or a therapist. 

The main role of a therapist is not just to be a doctor who cures illnesses but also someone who identifies symptoms long before they develop into medical conditions. In other terms, they need to play the role of a watch guard, somebody who works closely with people undergoing stresses in their lives to help them understand their mental condition and help them from preventing further issues. When it comes to things like group therapy activities and marriage counseling, therapists play the role of a positive enabler. Here, their role is slightly more passive as they observe behavior and then come up with detailed insights into people's state of mind. On the other hand, when it comes to teenage therapy, it is all about being a guide. The idea here is to create a safe space for teenagers so that they can talk about issues that they would never normally discuss with another adult in their lives.

At the end of the day, a therapist's role is to work closely with their patients and form a partnership of sorts. The idea isn't just to be a passive doctor but to almost be a partner to people on their journey towards a happier life. This also implies conviction and sincerity on the part of the patients since they too need to work actively with the therapist. The key lies in finding a therapist that understands you and is someone you are totally comfortable talking to about your problems.