Psychologist: Everything you need to know about the profession and treatment

A psychologist is a mental health professional trained in the study of mental processes and human behavior. In Norway, "psychologist» a protected title that can only be obtained by completing a six-year university education. A psychologist can work in many different fields, including clinical, counseling, educational, forensic, or organizational psychology. Clinical psychologists specialize in individual mental health and have special expertise in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of a range of conditions.

What is the difference between a psychologist, psychiatrist and psychotherapist?

These three terms are often confused, but there are important differences between them. We have already defined what a psychologist is, so what is the difference between a psychologist, psychiatrist and psychotherapist?

A psychiatrist is also a mental health professional, but their basic training is medical, not psychological: a psychiatrist is always a doctor. This means that they sometimes have a more physical approach to mental health than a psychologist. Nevertheless, this will vary depending on the individual psychiatrist's understanding of the psyche. Like psychologists, psychiatrists work to diagnose and treat mental disorders, but they can also prescribe medication. Psychologists, on the other hand, do not have the right to prescribe medication to their patients.

Finally, a psychotherapist is a more general term used for anyone who offers therapy. A psychotherapist can be a psychologist or psychiatrist, but can also be a nurse, a social worker or another type of therapist with education outside of a scientific university education.

What are different psychotherapeutic approaches?

According to some estimates, there are at least 500 different forms of psychotherapy! However, some are much more widespread than others, so we focus on a few of them here. Research indicates that the unique relationship between each client and therapist is often more important than the type of psychotherapy practiced. This means that it is important to find a therapist with whom you feel comfortable and safe. It's a good idea to try a few different psychologists to see how you feel before committing to a longer treatment plan. With that in mind, here is an introduction to some of the most common forms of therapy.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

One of the most widespread forms of psychotherapy today is cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT. Many studies have confirmed the effectiveness of CBT in a research context. CBT is based on the idea that thoughts, feelings and behavior are interconnected. If we can change negative or inappropriate thoughts, we can also change our behavior and our feelings. CBT is a highly structured approach to therapy that includes techniques, strategies and homework. It has been used to treat a variety of problems such as depression, anxiety disorders and PTSD. CBT is a short-term treatment that usually lasts between 5-20 sessions.

Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT)

Emotion-focused therapy, or EFT, is also a common approach in psychotherapy. EFT is based on the observation that our feelings and behavior are influenced by our need for secure attachment. It focuses on understanding and expressing emotions to improve our relationships. EFT is a structured approach with specific techniques. It was originally developed for couples therapy, but has since been adapted for use with individuals and families. EFT is an effective treatment for relationship problems, including marital difficulties, conflict, infidelity and emotional distance. The treatments usually consist of around 8-10 sessions.

Intensive short-term therapy (ISTDP)

Intensive short-term therapy, or ISTDP, is a psychotherapeutic approach focused on the rapid detection and resolution of emotional conflicts. ISTDP is based on the principle that our unconscious self and our early attachment experiences influence our current functioning. The goal is to identify and overcome our defense mechanisms so that we can experience and integrate unconscious emotions. ISTDP is known to produce rapid and profound therapeutic change, and typically consists of around 20-40 sessions.

Other approaches

Other forms of therapy practiced by our psychologists include prolonged exposure, EMDR, body-oriented psychotherapy, internal family systems therapy, MDMA-assisted psychotherapy, narrative exposure therapy and neuroaffective psychotherapy.

Couples Therapy

Couples Therapy is a meeting between a psychologist and two clients. Often the couple is in a romantic relationship, but couples therapy can also help close friends or people in other types of relationships. The goal of couples therapy is to improve the quality of the relationship. Specific focus areas include communication issues, conflict resolution and intimacy issues. Couples therapy has evolved from marriage counseling in the 1920s, and today it involves different approaches. As mentioned above, emotion-focused therapy (EFT) has been used successfully in couple therapy since the 1980s. Another approach to couples therapy is the Gottman method, which helps couples focus on the process in conflicts in a relationship rather than just the content.

Family therapy

In family therapy, several family members participate in psychotherapy sessions at the same time. As in couples therapy, the therapeutic goals are to improve communication and resolve conflicts within the family. Family therapists help families address systemic issues by examining relationships and clarifying roles, responsibilities and boundaries. Different approaches to family therapy are based on different ways of looking at difficulties. Some focus on adjusting and strengthening family structures or use strategies aimed at specific problems. Others explore family issues in a broader social and cultural context, or encourage family members to explore and reframe their narratives of family experiences.

Online or offline therapy

In recent years, there has been a society-wide transition to more online communication. This change has also affected psychotherapy, but what does it mean? Here are some considerations to help you decide whether online or offline therapy is best for you.

Online therapy

Online therapy is most often carried out via video call, but some people prefer to talk only over the phone. The advantages of online therapy are greater accessibility and convenience: you don't have to live near your therapist to be able to see them regularly. Even if you live nearby, you can participate in therapy from the comfort of your own home. For some people, the added security of attending the sessions from home is very valuable. Many find that online therapy is just as effective as face-to-face therapy, and perhaps even more so if practical challenges prevent them from attending physical sessions often.

Offline therapy

Offline therapy takes place in the therapist's office. Compared to online sessions, it is less convenient and requires extra time to travel to and from the sessions. For some people, meeting the therapist face-to-face helps create a more direct personal connection. This connection can make it easier to feel safe and open up in the therapy session. For serious or more complex mental health problems, offline therapy is still the best choice.

Public or private

One of the biggest considerations when seeking help for mental health problems is whether you should seek help in the public or private healthcare system. Public health services are offered through the state and are free in Norway. However, wait times can be long and, due to limited resources, treatment may be limited to those with more serious problems.

Private therapy is offered by private practitioners and clinics such as Psykologvirke. Treatment is more expensive, but typically offers more flexibility in choosing psychologists and scheduling sessions. Compared to the public sector, our waiting times are short or non-existent and our psychologists have more flexibility to offer the personalized care you need.

Why choose Psykologvirke?

Our psychologists are highly trained and have many years of experience working with the entire spectrum of mental health challenges. At Psykologvirke, we place particular emphasis on continuous learning and professional growth. All our psychologists are chosen both for their professional competence and their commitment to personal development.

We offer tailored treatment plans specific to each client's individual challenges. Our goal is to help our clients achieve lasting positive change. Central to each course of treatment is the prioritization of client satisfaction through a process of continuous feedback and adjustment.

For those who want offline sessions, our offices are centrally located with easy access to public transport. Our psychologists also offer flexible scheduling options, both during the day and in the evening, to better adapt to your lifestyle.