Psychology in Alajuela

As a general rule, when there is a suffering (emotional and/or physical) that prevents you from controlling your emotions and affects you in any of your areas: personal (quality of life and health), social, work, family, etc.

The duration of a psychological treatment will depend on a great number of factors: characteristics of the problem, circumstances of the person's life, environmental changes, possibility of help from the family, and others, but above all it will depend on you, on your motivation, on the time and effort you dedicate to work for the therapy. However, on average it can last between 4 and 6 months. Usually the frequency of the sessions will be weekly. As the problem is resolved the sessions will be fortnightly, monthly, etc., including agreed telephone assistance. Your psychologist will inform you specifically about these aspects.

One of the most frequently asked questions about psychologists is whether the psychologist is qualified or licensed to practice. This is not only verifiable, but necessary, because mental health is not a game. Normally the most direct way to know if a psychologist is licensed and has the permits to practice, is by validating in the College of Psychology Professionals of the country where you are. In the particular case of Costa Rica, to find out if a psychologist is verified and has permission to provide psychological therapy, is to validate in the page of the College of Psychology Professionals of Costa Rica, in the search category of professionals, where you can search by name, member code or location.

Usually, the first thing a psychologist will ask you is your reason for consulting, why you are attending therapy, and from there, the conversation will develop around this topic, expanding the information, with data such as: How long have you been feeling this way, has it ever happened to you before, how often do you experience this, how often do you experience this?

You should not drink fluids by suctioning for a few days after the procedure. If you do, you may dislodge the blood clot from the gums, resulting in a painful condition called dry socket. You may gargle gently with salt water and eat soft foods that do not require chewing. Take painkillers as prescribed.

Although times are moving forward and the role of the psychologist has gained special prominence in society, there are still many myths surrounding the profession. Some believe that everyone who goes to a psychologist is crazy, that they are weak people or that they have some mental disorder. However, going to psychological therapy is the first sign of wanting to take care of ourselves or our loved ones. Children, Adolescents, Adults, Adults, Seniors, Couples and Families go to the Psychologist. Anyone who has emotional or psychological symptoms that alter their daily life, or who is going through situations that overcome them, can and should attend a therapeutic treatment.

A psychologist is empowered to treat all those conditions that may generate emotional or psychological discomfort. Thus, he/she usually treats cases of mood disorders such as depression, and also works with other personality conditions such as shyness, social phobia or self-esteem problems. In the same way, a psychologist can also be of great help in cases of addictions, relationship problems, work stress situations, or simply in those moments when we feel that life has no sense and we do not know how to find a north.

Both professionals are dedicated to treating mental health problems, but there are subtle differences in their approaches:

Psychologist: Emotional and behavioral problems, personal crises, anxiety disorders, depression, among others. They often use cognitive-behavioral therapy and other therapeutic modalities.

Psychiatrist: Mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, among others. They are trained to determine if mental symptoms are caused by an underlying physical condition.