An expert gave advice on choosing a psychologist

The most difficult thing in therapy is to start it and not to stop the process after the first session. But everything becomes easier if the right professional is chosen. Ekaterina Artemenko, a practicing psychologist, supervisor, Gestalt therapist and community director of the Yasno online psychotherapy service, told Izvestia on February 1 about how to find a psychologist who can help.

"There are several ways to get help from a psychologist - individual meetings, group therapy, family/couple therapy. Now any method can be used both face-to-face and online, and in a mixed format - 10-15 years ago it was almost impossible," the expert noted, specifying that both of these approaches can be seen as equally effective.

According to her, there are situations when the face-to-face format is preferable - this applies to work with clients in a borderline, psychotic state, work with children, with people with acute trauma and with addicts.

"When starting therapy remember that the psychologist does not solve problems, but creates a space in which new experiences can be gained and shared. It is in relying on this experience that you can find a good form for living or resolving your difficult situation - the right specialist will try to bring you to this point," Artemenko added.

She explained that there are many directions in therapy and different approaches emphasize different aspects: childhood exploration, bodily reactions, in-the-moment experiences and so on. But what really works is not the method, but the contact with the therapist. During the sessions, a person should feel that he or she is not being evaluated, listened to attentively, not judged.

The expert advised when choosing a psychologist to find out about his education and qualifications.

"Make sure that he has a diploma and certificates confirming his professional training. There are not so many good universities: the Moscow Gestalt Institute, the Moscow Institute of Psychoanalysis, master's programs at Moscow State University and the Higher School of Economics, advanced training courses at the Serbsky Institute, the East European Institute of Psychoanalysis in St. Petersburg," said the gestalt therapist.

In addition, counseling experience should be taken into account. According to the expert, the necessary minimum is three years. This is enough to gain experience, to learn to avoid the mistakes of beginners and to develop your own style and learn to avoid the mistakes common to beginners. The advantage of a specialist can be the experience of working in public institutions - hospitals, psychological help centers.

In addition, it is worth paying attention to membership in international professional associations.

"The most recognized of the Russian - Moscow Psychoanalytic Society, Society of practicing psychologists Gestalt approach, Society of Family Counselors and Psychotherapists, Union of Psychotherapists and Psychologists. Perhaps the specialist is a member of foreign organizations - for example, IPA (International Psychoanalytical Association), EAGT (The European Association for Gestalt Therapy). Such specialists have a particularly high level, but usually it is very difficult to get an appointment with them - there is a high demand and the same prices", - said the psychologist.

When choosing a specialist, it is important to make sure that he or she attends supervision. These are consultations with a more experienced specialist-colleague about a case. Through them, the therapist gets a fresh perspective and advice on the complexities. It's an important part of the job that everyone, even professionals at the highest level, resort to on a regular basis.

"If the therapist does not have the regalia of a stable position in the professional environment, you can ask them to provide a reference from someone senior colleague - this is fine. In any case, remember that the choice of a psychologist is individual for everyone, and the main thing is to find one who will help you feel confident and safe," - concluded Artemenko.

Earlier, on January 13, neurologist Ekaterina Demyanovskaya told "Izvestia" about factors contributing to the development of depression. In particular, genetic predisposition, chronic stress, poor nutrition, lack of sunlight, and organic lesions of the brain contribute to the development of such a condition.