Psychologist

You’re struggling with an issue and want someone objective to talk to about it. Should you see a psychologist or a counsellor? While a psychologist and counsellor might seem similar in many regards, there are some fundamental differences between the two professions. If you’re seeking to improve your mental health, it will help you to become familiar with these differences to assess which professional may be able to help you best. Time spent studying/ training Counsellors typically study for a lot shorter period than psychologists and can have done anywhere from a 3-day course to a master’s level degree. However,…

When you’ve been through a traumatic and frightening event, it’s normal to feel shocked and anxious for a couple of weeks afterwards. You may even have trouble sleeping and be more irritable than usual. But if time passes and several months later, you still can’t shake the depression, anxiety and insomnia, are having flashbacks to the event, and are unable to live a normal life, you may have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The only way to find out if you have PTSD is to talk to a qualified mental health professional. Of course, you can also talk to a trusted…

More and more people are relying on the services of life coaches to help them manage their lives and succeed in their goals. This is because people want to be more – and do more – than ever before. If you’re struggling to accomplish your goals, need new insights on a particular situation, find balance in your life or believe that you’re stuck in a career that’s going nowhere, you need a life coach. A life coach is professionally trained to assist you in managing your life and career, helping you to move forward and to overcome challenges that come…

The digital age has added to the responsibilities of good parenting. There is no doubt that the internet has improved the way we live, but it is also unwise to ignore the potential dangers it poses – especially for children. There are numerous approaches to solving this problem, with some parents going as far as banning their children from going online. But this extreme approach is not always practical as we don’t live in a vacuum and your kids will be exposed to the internet through friends or other family members. There is no way to avoid the online sphere.…

What is a Forensic Psychologist? Well, it is the practice of scientific methods to help those within the justice system and to assist in civil matters. A forensic psychologist is known as a scientist-practitioner who applies psychological knowledge and skill to the understanding of legal and criminal systems. Let’s delve into the profession a little bit more: What a Forensic Psychologist Does: A forensic psychologist often works within criminal, civil and family law, and extends their services to litigants, perpetrators, victims and government. For example, they would assist lawyers and attorneys with a violence risk assessment or an examination regarding…

Most of us have a friend or loved one that has experienced the loss of someone close to them. In situations like these, it’s only normal to try and do as much as we can to help them in this time of need, but we can end up feeling that we’re not actually contributing to their wellbeing. Here are some things to think about when you’re helping a loved one through a time of grief. Don’t take over This may seem like something strange to mention, but when we’re helping someone go through grief, the lines between helping, and telling…

If you’re suffering from low self-esteem, or know of someone suffering from this condition, you will know that the constant feelings of inadequacy, incompetence and inferiority, among others, can be overwhelming. While there is no instant cure to low self-esteem, there are very effective tools you can use, like mindfulness, to help you see yourself more objectively. Here are some mindfulness considerations you can start making today: Live in the moment Mindfulness is all about living in the moment. Don’t focus on what happened in the past, or put something off for tomorrow. Instead, focus on today, and take action…

If you know of someone who has suffered a traumatic experience, there is a chance that symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) will be present in their everyday life. In the interest of helping these individuals, we’ve provided some information that can help you identify the symptoms of PTSD in yourself, or others, and find the necessary professional help. What is PTSD? PTSD is a trauma and stress-related disorder that affects a person’s thoughts, behaviours and emotions. PTSD often presents itself after exposure to a variety of events, such as vehicle accidents, deaths, sexual assault, experiences during war, terrorist attacks,…