Why do young people see psychologists?
Psychologists help young people with lots of things, but the biggest reason is so that you can start feeling better. Young people see psychologists for all sorts of reasons. You might be feeling sad, angry or anxious a lot of the time. You might have worries that are so strong that they get in the way of other things you’d prefer to think about. You might be having trouble getting along with your friends or finding that you just don’t feel like hanging out with them anymore. You might be fighting more with people in your family, or finding that you get easily irritated at home. You might be having problems with concentrating in class. Your marks may not be as good as they used to be. These are just some of the issues that young people talk about with us.
Sometimes young people see psychologists during really tough times, like if your parents get divorced, or if someone close to you dies. Young people can also be the victims of emotional, physical or sexual abuse. Your psychologist can help you to start to feel better if any of these issues are happening to you.
Fact: At least 1 in 7 young people* have these kinds of worries & problems, so you are not alone!
What happens when you see a psychologist?
During your first visit, your psychologist will want to understand what has been worrying you the most and will want to get to know you. It is also really important for you to get to know them too.
You should always feel safe when you see a psychologist. You won’t have to talk about anything you don't want to talk about. You can have a parent/carer come in with you if this helps you to feel more comfortable. Sometimes young people prefer to come in by themselves, and this is okay too.
At future visits, you and your psychologist will work on solving the problems together to help you to start to feel better. You might have regular appointments over a number of weeks. You might be asked to set goals for yourself or to keep a journal describing your feelings between visits. Reviewing this journal at your appointments can help you track your progress.
Finding the right psychologist is like trying on a pair of jeans - sometimes you have to try a few before you find the right fit. If you don't believe you can work with your MCPC psychologist, tell them so that they can arrange an appointment for you to see someone else. Feeling comfortable to talk to your psychologist is important and at MCPC we want you to find the right fit.
Do you have to tell my parents what we have talked about?
Generally, what you tell your psychologist is between you and them. There are times when your psychologist may need to break this confidentiality agreement. If someone is hurting you, or if you are at risk of hurting yourself or someone else, then your psychologist may need to tell your parents and/or the appropriate authority. Where possible, your psychologist will inform you of this prior to breaking your confidentiality.
I'm worried people will think I am crazy.
Sometimes young people think that getting this kind of help means they are weak or crazy. But this is not the case. If you need help, then seeing a psychologist can be a helpful thing to do. Everyone has problems from time to time, and it's smart to take charge and work them out.
*Sawyer, M. G., Arney, F. M., Baghurst, P. A., Clark, J. J., Graetz, B. W., Kosky, R. J., et al. (2001). The mental health of young people in Australia: Key findings from the child and adolescent component of the National Survey of Mental Health and Well-Being. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 35(6), 806-814.
Information contained on this page was adapted from Kids Health, Going to see a Psychologist, Psychiatrist or Therapist, Reviewed by: W. Douglas Tynan, PhD. http://kidshealth.org/kid/feeling/emotion/going_to_therapist.html#
