A Psychologist Can Help When You Can't Do It On Your Own

Sometimes you may face overwhelming feelings or serious illness. A psychologist can help. Psychology has been shown to successfully treat depression, anxiety and other emotional health issues. And heart patients have been shown to live longer when their treatment included psychotherapy.
When you reach a point in your life when you want professional help, you want to talk to someone you trust and feel comfortable with. A good friend can listen, but a psychologist has the skills and professional training to help you learn to manage when you're overwhelmed.

• Psychologists have doctoral degrees and are licensed by the state in which they practice.
• They receive one of the highest levels of education of all health care professionals - in fact, psychologists spend an average of seven years in education and training after they receive their undergraduate degree.
• Psychologists study human experience and behavior.
• Psychologists are trained to help people cope more effectively with life problems, using techniques based on best available research and their clinical skills and experience, and taking into account the person's unique values, goals and circumstances.

A psychologist can help you to identify your problems and then figure out ways to best cope with them; to change contributing behaviors or habits; or to find constructive ways to deal with a situation that is beyond your control. In other words, a psychologist can improve both your physical and mental well-being.
It's time to talk to a psychologist when...

• you want to prevent life's stressors from threatening your physical health.
• you want to build your confidence and resilience to meet challenges head-on.
• you want to gain a mental edge to be your best at your job and with your family.
• you or someone in your family has been diagnosed with a chronic illness.
• you're overwhelmed and can't handle the problem yourself.