Many times we have heard the phrase “I do not believe in psychology” or “I do not believe in psychologists”. An idea that reflects the lack of confidence that, sometimes, is had towards Psychology, because in many occasions the image that we have of what a psychologist or a psychologist does is somewhat distorted. It is not a matter of getting angry because there are people who have that conception, but rather you have to reflect on why it can happen , and clarify why Psychology is a science to trust.

Psychology is basically the science that studies human behavior. Classically it was a discipline associated with Philosophy and Medicine (Psychiatry, Neurology, Physiology …), and today it continues to maintain contact with them. Moreover, until a few years ago, to graduate in Psychology in Spain, you had to study a few years prior to the Philosophy career. Today it is more related to Medicine, and both areas of knowledge are grouped in the field of Health Sciences.

Why are there people who do not “believe” in Psychology?

Each person will know what are the reasons that have led them to distrust the actions and knowledge that psychologists and psychologists can carry out . However, it is possible that, in popular ideology , there are the following beliefs that lead to believe that Psychology is a pseudoscience:

– Believe that the psychologist “cures” you by talking.

– Conceive psychological therapy as entertainment for people with money.

– To think that the work of a psychologist or psychologist can be carried out by any friend or family member, or even the parish priest of your church .

– Confuse Psychology with alternative therapies (reiki, meditation, energies …).

– Believe that a psychologist or psychologist intends to decipher how you are inside, even just by looking at you.

– Believe that psychological therapy consists of talking about childhood.

– Believe that mental disorders are comparable to daily emotional discomfort.

– Believe that you have to tell the psychologist about your intimacies even if you don’t want to.

– Think that each person knows what to do when faced with a problem.

– Consider that going to the psychologist is for weak people who do not have “real” problems.

– Having gone to psychological therapy with a therapist who, in reality, was not a psychologist or psychiatrist.

– Believe that psychiatrists really do the treatment , because they are the ones who treat people with real “diseases”.

Sure, there are many more statements or beliefs that can be associated with a lack of trust in psychologists. But, in truth, all of them are false.

What does a psychologist actually do?

Psychology, at present, is far removed from the television idea that exists of this profession: the patient lying on a couch or sitting on a sofa, telling his problems to the psychologist, who asks him questions and questions, or simply waits for him to the person speaks up and says everything they have to say, without leading the conversation.

On the one hand, people with a university degree in Psychology (Bachelor’s or Degree), can work in many areas (education, business, neurosciences, social intervention, etc.), although we will focus on the work of the clinical psychologist, the classic that does psychological therapy to help people who have a behavioral or emotional problem.

On the other hand, any type of psychological intervention is carried out based on current research, and according to the criteria of official bodies (the American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association, the Official Colleges of Psychologists , etc.). The person who performs this type of therapy is supported by scientific proof of the operation of the therapies, which are generally cognitive-behavioral in nature. This means that therapy does not consist in talking, but in knowing the problem and acting to change everything that is causing us discomfort

To understand in a somewhat general and simplified way what therapy consists of, we will say that the psychologist will first interview you to find out what happens, why it happens and how it happens (for example, anxiety attacks , a problem of depression, the inability to communicate well in the work environment, a phobia, etc.). From there, and in collaboration with the patient, the intervention plan will be designed, which will be carried out little by little, according to the needs of the patient, and following up to progress in the most successful way possible. .

All the methods of clinical intervention used by the psychologist or psychologist have a long history of scientific research. The psychologist rejects all kinds of pseudoscientific interventions, based on alternative therapies of a mystical nature, which only damage the idea that people have about human behavior. For example, we also explain in Bekia Psicología how mystical theories such as Yin and Yang, or even the horoscope, are used to describe the human personality, and they are totally false. Psychology is totally isolated from all kinds of fictional and magical explanations of human behavior.

How to “believe” in Psychology again

In our day to day, we may think that Psychology has nothing to do with us and we do not need to trust it. But Psychology is, as we said, beyond the clinical consultation, and its contribution is useful both in work in companies, as in work with society in general, as well as in the educational environment.

It can also happen that at some point in your life you need the help of a psychologist and you reject it, an attitude that can harm you a lot. We will not say that all psychologists are excellent professionals, and we may even have a bad experience with one because a good relationship between therapist and patient is not established , but that does not mean that science is false.

He also thinks that alternative therapies, and all those of doubtful efficacy, are always in constant struggle against medical disciplines, while Psychology is fully integrated in universities, in official degrees, in hospitals, large companies, ministries, etc.

Finally, the best way to find out what Psychology is and why it is a useful scientific discipline is to read and learn about it . The best is to use the path of the College of Psychologists or through informative books.