Many people, at some time in their life, need professional help with
their personal problems. The role of a psychologist is to help you
find solutions to the problems and challenges you may be facing
at home, school, or work. It is often difficult to recognize when
help is needed. Listed below are some of the reasons why people
see a psychologist. If you or someone you care about is experiencing
problems like these, think about consulting a psychologist.
- You have been a victim of abuse or violence
- You have been involved in a traumatic incident, such as a
life-threatening accident
- You are addicted to alcohol or other drugs, or to compulsive
gambling
- You have an eating disorder (anorexia, bulimia, compulsive
over-eating)
- You are chronically anxious, depressed or suicidal
- You suffer from phobias
- You suffer from chronic pain or chronic illness
- You suspect you have a learning disability and need an assessment
- You have had a brain injury and have been unable to fully recover
- You or someone you love has become chronically ill or disabled
- You are suffering from a complicated grief reaction
- You have difficulty getting along with your partner, family or
co-workers
- You are faced with a major life change
- You are overwhelmed or "burned out" by workplace stress
- You are having problems with parenting
- Your child is having school problems and needs assessment
- You need an assessment regarding child custody and/or access
- You require documentation to support litigation claiming for
personal injury
- You are faced with a career change and need vocational advice
and assessment
This is by no means an exhaustive list of the reasons why a person
might consult a psychologist. If you simply feel like you need someone
to talk to, either to unburden yourself or to provide support
not available from other people in your life, a psychologist may
be able to help you. Your problem does not have to be overwhelmingly
serious to benefit from psychological help. Delays in seeking
help may cause you needless suffering and may cause your problem
to become worse in the long run, if untreated.
British Columbia Psychological Association