In the era of change and crisis transformation of personality, more and more people need the help of psychologists, which is why the number of the latter is growing by leaps and bounds. But not all of them become real specialists – some initially look at the profession as a type of business, others become infotsyganov. How is it dangerous for them? And what should a professional psychologist be like?
In the market of professions, everything is simple: there is demand and there is supply. In addition to specialised educational institutions where professionals-practitioners teach, there are courses that promise to teach the profession of psychologist or give a quick start for a job with a guarantee of above-average earnings. And sometimes they sell “their” way to quick fame and financial prosperity.
If a beginning specialist wants real results, he will have to determine who he is not exactly, and what understandable for society role he is ready to play, observing the relevant rules. That is, to answer the question: “Am I a show-blogger or a psychologist? Am I a one-day specialist or am I taking a course on mastery and ready to invest in it?”
THE WAY OF THE PSYCHOLOGIST-BUSINESSMAN
The one who tempts people with quick results, blows dust in the eyes with quick effects, promises to train to be “like me” – chooses the path of cheap popularity and big money right now and loses the chance to build a reputation as a master. Can it be done this way? It can. But can you avoid the reputation consequences and build a long-term career?
If money is a priority, sooner or later you can fall into the trap of getting rich quick. A mentoring course costing 300,000 for two months, a profitable business for 250,000, a personal brand and “secrets” in a monthly group for 100,000 roubles – unfortunately, none of this helps you become a real specialist. With a high probability the first personal crisis at one stroke will blow away the air house of such professional confidence, as well as provoke the development of guilt and impostor syndrome.
At the same time, giving all savings, and especially getting into credit, a person loses his footing, feels hopelessness and complete disorientation in life
Sometimes it comes to suicidal thoughts, clinical depression and borderline mental disorders, as not every psyche is able to withstand large losses and recognise that a person has fallen for deception. And it is easy to fall for it – the unstable ego-structure of a novice specialist does not allow him to recognise the boundaries of the professional position of the one who teaches and promises golden mountains at the start.
But there is always payback for lack of ethics. Thus, more and more fraudsters are falling into the hands of real justice – for inflated wish balloons on other people’s money, imaginary super-profitable businesses, spectacular shows for their own enrichment and seducing people by teaching any group “psi-methods”. Often even the unconscious temptation that a client’s life will change quickly can bring harm to the practitioner. The unconscious cannot bear the guilt and shame for what has been done, and the person “pays” with his health and failures in his personal life: the displaced from the conscious manifests itself in the form of symptoms and spills out onto loved ones through anger and anxiety.
THE PATH OF A SPECIALISED PSYCHOLOGIST
The master becomes the one who, in addition to knowledge, owns the ethics of the profession, has the experience of training and personal mentoring from psychologists-professionals with a proven reputation. His confidence in his professional expertise grows through training, personal psychotherapy, regular supervision, and constant practice.
The Master works with people on his own. He may work little, even in groups, rather than in person, but by himself. Or, having already travelled the path of conducting psychotherapy, he writes books, teaches, leads workshops and trains in applied methods.
To develop mastery, expertise and the right skills, you have to work hard and sometimes hard and give people what you can. Giving hours of your work, texts with useful practices, videos with meaning and motivation for change. Sometimes and just to share kind words on the blog to support and cheer up subscribers. Helping and giving is a personal choice of everyone. But the profession of a psychologist is originally a social service.
If a person has chosen the path of a psychologist – it is important to accept that the process of becoming a psychologist will be slow but sure
Experience grows from experience over the years. Finances grow from experience with clients. The more practice – the more results and experience. It is important to look at the experience and education of those you want to learn from. It’s important to know your shores – sleep well and don’t look at others. Then you may suddenly discover that not everything is so slow: you are in demand, you are already recommended as an expert, you can create your own practical course with real benefits and charge acceptable money for it.
The result of a step-by-step development in the profession will definitely be there. At the very least, the very sufficient money for life in your own honest way. Their number can always be increased, understanding what will be enough strength and desire, and what for any money you are not ready to do. Everywhere has its own Hippocratic Oath – in our profession there is an oath of a psychologist. We should always ask: are we helping or tempting?