Psychology is the science that studies the individual, his behavior and his experiences, as you can see, this is a very broad and extensive field of study, which requires a very specific and specialized training, so being a good psychologist, regardless of your specialty, must have a number of fundamental characteristics and skills.
According to the Code of Professional Ethics of Psychologists, this professional must at all times be respectful, responsible, honest, sincere, prudent, competent and ensure the “solidity of the objective and scientific basis of his interventions”. But on all this skills, a good psychologist is more than that.
- It is important that the psychologist knows how to put himself in the shoes of the patients he is treating.
- It is necessary to rely on mental mechanisms and strategies to understand the fears.
- Needs and particularities of the situation of each patient.
- It is only when this understanding comes to the professional understands how to address the case and how it can help.
Many people regard empathy as a kind of mysticism, and psychologists have reached such a level of understanding of the human mind that they are able to adapt their ideas to those of the patient.
In this way, they understand any way of thinking, even if it is radically different from yours, which allows them to know how to give equal importance to the ideas of others and themselves.
Being a good psychologist means being free from prejudice, stereotypes, beliefs and prejudices means being open to new ideas, different ideas and the unknown.
This quality, in addition to allowing anyone to live more fully, is fundamental for these professionals, you never know who will go to the consultation. Therefore, we must always be open to knowledge of the essence of the person, his own culture, his interests and his ideas.
To acquire this level of tolerance it is necessary that the psychologist has first come out of his comfort zone, the one in which we feel protected and supported by the known, it is necessary to question, discover, question and assimilate that what surrounds us can serve as a true source of inspiration.
A feature closely related to the openness of the mind is the security that the psychologist has in himself and in his vocational training, if he cannot show confidence in his own words he will hardly be able to convey that feeling to anyone who asks for help. .
This is not to say that it is peedant, very direct or that it says things without tact, it is a question of transmitting the patterns of action in a clear, concise and reliable way, that is, hesitating, saying ambiguities, transmitting conflicting messages or considering. themselves inferior to the patient are actions that hinder the therapeutic relationship.
To achieve this level of mental openness it is necessary that the psychologist previously perform a very important work of introspection, that is, observing, analyzing and understanding, only knowing himself can obtain this better knowledge in relation to the behavior and control of the mental states themselves.
This quality is halfway between convenience and understanding. It is convenient for the patient to feel comfortable with the professional so that they can talk and tell their case, their problems, their intentions or their greatest secrets.
On the other hand, there is the empathy that we consider one of the main skills you need to be a good psychologist, the convergence between the two translates into accessibility: the ease and naturalness of being able to share your concerns with the professional. .
To act, the professional must be able to interpret what the patient is telling him, since we do not have to interrupt the flow of the conversation, his ability to select the fundamentals, that is, know how to separate the important. , the thread that needs to be removed.
This skill also allows you to apply the most appropriate meditation techniques, ensuring the success of therapy. In addition, it is crucial to develop an intervention plan and evaluate the results.
This is perhaps one of the biggest challenges psychologists face in daily practice, especially if they don’t have years of baggage. Transferring all theoretical knowledge to real-world cases is not always easy.
Therefore, it is essential to master certain communicative and social skills to be a good psychologist, develop this gift and know how to interact and interact with people are fundamental qualities.
For example, during a session it is good to know how to ask questions, as well as detect in advance what can be the main trigger of a disorder or pathology, in the same way the professional must have the ability to organize the time of the session, effectively distributing the minutes.
If the consultation takes place in a relaxed environment, the professional will be halfway, if a climate of complicity is created, the other will be able to speak with tranquility and sincerity, know how to listen is to have an active and open attitude at all times, in addition to being interested in what the other person says.
In other words, be a good listener and show it. It is recommended that the patient is not interrupted so that he can express himself freely, in this way he can answer his own rhetorical questions that are raised aloud.
Leaving room for silence is also very positive. The professional should observe the patient’s behavior during these breaks, what is the movement of the hands, posture or gestures, everything is communication
As we see, to be a good psychologist you have to not only have certain skills, but also know how to use them, in addition, when practicing the profession, it is necessary to maintain an appropriate, committed and rigorous attitude.