When they ask me about my profession and hear in response that I am a psychologist, I often encounter a special reaction... This reaction is difficult to define in one word, this is a mixture... A mixture of anxiety, interest, respect, caution and, of course, fear... And all this is connected, in my opinion, with a not very clear understanding of psychology as a profession. For a long time in Russia only: - theoretical psychology, which is often divorced from the problems of a real person, and psychiatry, which deals with mental illnesses... While psychoanalysis was actively developing in the West, various areas of applied psychotherapy arose, helping people solve a variety of problems - from alcohol and drug addictions to depression and rehabilitation after violence, divorce, etc. Today, psychology in Russia is developing by leaps and bounds, however, in order to achieve a high level of trust in psychologists, in my opinion, more than one year must pass, and perhaps not ten..., since it is firmly in the minds of Russians there is a stereotype of thinking and behavior called: “What if someone thinks that I’m weak, I can handle it myself!” or “I’ll go to my friend and cry into my vest!”, or “I’m not sick enough to go to psychologists!” And while some are stewing in the cauldron of their insoluble problems, feelings and emotions, others take a step towards solving these problems and come to consultation with a professional psychologist! A psychologist is not a doctor who will give you a magic pill and everything will be resolved by itself. This is not a psychic who sees right through you. This is not God who will part the clouds above your head with his hands. This is a PERSON with special knowledge, skills and abilities who will accompany you on the path of change. This is a person capable of: - supporting you in difficult times, - helping you overcome difficult life situations, - figuring out why what is happening to you, - helping you change your life and become happier. A psychologist is the support necessary to do step into a happy life. Your psychologist - Elena Nikolaeva