FAQ’s
All your questions answered
Section 1
What is psychology?
Psychology is the study of human behavior, mental processes, and how they are affected and/or affect an individuals or group’s physical state, mental state, and external environment.
What does it mean to be a psychologist?
What are the major fields (specialties) of psychology?
What are the most common problems for which people seek psychological help?
What are your areas of specialty?
We specialize in clinical psychology , we provide psychotherapy, counseling, and coaching with a concentration on areas including:
- Combating stress as well as depression and anxiety
- Overcoming panic attacks and other emotional problems
- Handling male sexual concerns and female sexual concerns as well as fetishes
- Dealing with addictions
- Resolving fears and phobias and obsessive-compulsive behavior
- Providing communication skills
- Resolving co-dependent and marriage and family conflict
- Behavioral and adjustment problems
- Eating and food problems and weight concerns
- Improving self-confidence
- Relationship issues
- Infertility and adoption
What else do you specialize in?
We also have the holistic healing and alternate healing modalities available with us. We help people to get over their issues by understanding the core of the problem and heal it rather than fixing it.
What is the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist?
Are you a Psychologist or a Psychiatrist?
How do I go about finding a competent psychologist?
Who can I contact to check on a therapist's reputation?
How do you determine my diagnosis (problem)?
How is mental illness different from a psychological problem?
Some people have a false impression that psychologists only treat mentally ill individuals, and if you just have a problem with anxiety, an addiction, or “everyday problems” you should see someone else. As a consequence, some people may contact counselors, with much less training than a licensed psychologist, when they need help to resolve a psychological problem.
Rather than being concerned about the label, ask yourself if you have a problem that you are not able to deal with effectively. A psychologist can help you identify the thoughts, feelings and behaviors that are creating problems in your life and can help you resolve these problems.
How are counseling and psychotherapy different?
How often are therapy appointments scheduled?
How many treatment sessions will be needed?
Section 2
Is the information discussed in psychotherapy confidential?
Do you have evening and weekend appointments?
What is the difference between psychological therapy and coaching?
Psychological therapy is aimed at solving psychological problems and treating mental disorders. The professional who performs these tasks of diagnosis, prevention and psychological treatment must be registered and qualified to be a mental health professional, as in the case of Spain, is the figure of the General Health Psychologist.
Typical cases for a psychologist are related to the loss of a loved one, breakup of a relationship, work stress, anxiety disorders, obsessions, depression, addictions, emotional dependence, etc.
Coaching, unlike psychotherapy, focuses exclusively on achieving personal or professional goals, without applying any treatment associated with mental illness. Therefore, the coach does not need to be a psychologist or a health professional. However, the coach must have specific skills to accompany his client (coachee) in the process of personal change and decision-making.
The coach does not give advice, but rather establishes an optimal mental context so that his client can discover his own resources, make his own decisions and achieve his goals.
Typical cases in coaching have to do with professional challenges, seeking a new job or professional change, personal, family and work conciliation, communication problems at work, team management, leadership, etc.
What is the difference between a health psychologist and a psychiatrist?
A psychiatrist is a specialist medical doctor who is responsible for diagnosing and treating mental illnesses, mainly from a physiological perspective, which is why he/she relies heavily on the use of drugs, such as antidepressants, anxiolytics and antipsychotics. Medical intervention through drugs aims to correct a biochemical imbalance in the patient’s brain, but without forgetting the psychological variables that also play a fundamental role.
There are a number of mental illnesses whose treatment usually requires the intervention of a psychiatrist and the use of drugs, such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or serious eating disorders. This type of diseases may also require periods of hospitalization.
The health psychologist also focuses his work on mental health, but usually does not do so in a hospital setting (unlike the clinical psychologist) and, although he has knowledge of psychopharmacology due to his training, in Spain he cannot prescribe any medication.
The job of the health psychologist is to diagnose, evaluate and treat psychological problems. In order to do this, he/she uses therapeutic tools for the management and adaptation of thoughts, emotions and behaviors. Through multiple techniques and tools, the psychologist trains his client to modify dysfunctional behaviors, thoughts or emotions that are generating suffering.
As mental problems usually have a psychobiosocial explanation (that is, they have causes that involve the interaction of biological, psychological and social factors), it is common for psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, educators and other socio-health professionals to have to work as a team for the integral treatment of some cases.
Is online psychological therapy effective?
Online psychological therapy, or tele-psychology, is effective as long as it is conducted by an accredited professional in psychology and the appropriate techniques are applied in each case.
To obtain results, equivalent to those obtained in the face-to-face modality, it is necessary to carry out sessions in real time using a videoconference system, which allows fluent communication and the good establishment of the therapeutic rapport.
The online therapy based on videoconference has different characteristics compared with face-to-face sessions, including, inevitably, advantages and disadvantages. The main disadvantage is that there may be a decrease in verbal and non-verbal communication, which requires that the psychotherapist have specific skills handling the technological environment. The main advantages are the convenience of being able to access from home, the greater accessibility independent of the location and mobility of the client, lower cost and greater privacy.
Does online therapy work for any disorder?
No. Online therapy is not recommended to treat psychiatric psychopathology or serious disorders. However, it can be totally effective for psychological problems related to stress, self-esteem, anxiety, depression, grief, phobias, psychosomatic disorders, relationships, etc.
For the treatment of serious disorders, such as substance abuse and serious eating disorders, we recommend asking for help to specialized treatment centers.
Is online therapy safe? How is privacy and confidentiality protected?
How long do the sessions last?
In the case of coaching sessions, the duration can be very variable. Our proposal is to do 90-minute sessions, since the emotional intensity is much lower than in psychotherapy and the frequency of the sessions is also lower.
How often do sessions take place?
Although the weekly frequency is the most recommended during a psychological treatment, it is possible to adjust the therapy to other options, such as having two sessions per week or one session every two weeks. This type of frequency change in the sessions is made according to the specific needs of each case, prior agreement with the client.
In the case of coaching processes, the frequency of the sessions is much more variable, with appointments being established every two or three weeks. Coaching is aimed at achieving objectives and implementing specific changes, so it is usually necessary to leave enough time between sessions for the client (coachee) to make these changes.
What happens between one session and the next?
Depending on each case, we will assess together if there is a need to carry out an extra session, advance the next appointment or take any other measure regarding the therapeutic or coaching process.
In the case of coaching processes, the frequency of the sessions is much more variable, with appointments being established every two or three weeks. Coaching is aimed at achieving objectives and implementing specific changes, so it is usually necessary to leave enough time between sessions for the client (coachee) to make these changes.
How long does the whole process take?
Section 3
What are the technical requirements for online sessions?
The video conferencing platform we use for sessions works on any device without the need to install any program. You only need to access, through the Internet browser, the online therapy platform and enter the username and password that we will send you in advance.
To ensure good image and audio quality, you must have a broadband Internet connection, like your home WiFi connection or access through a mobile device with a 3G or better network.
You can use a mobile (Android and iOS), a tablet, a laptop or a desktop computer. You simply need to give permission for the internet browser to use the device’s camera and microphone.
We recommend using headphones to enjoy better audio quality and greater privacy.
Do you need any technical knowledge?
No specific technical knowledge is needed to conduct the sessions online, you just need to properly configure the camera, headphones and microphone to be used on the device.
During the first session we will help you to make the necessary adjustments to ensure the good quality of communication.
From where can I connect to the session?
The benefit of online sessions is that they can be done from the comfort and privacy of your home, without having to go to a consultation. Any place with a good internet connection, quiet and no noise or distractions is suitable.
If we share the space with other people, it is important that we notify them before each session so that they respect our privacy and make sure there are no interruptions or disturbances.
How much do online sessions cost? How are they paid?
What do I do if I cannot afford the sessions?
Can an individual and therapist have a relationship outside of therapy?
Does therapy involve physical touch?
Is it okay for therapists and patients to date?
Will my therapist be angry if I switch to another practitioner?
Section 4
Which is better, therapy or medication?
Both medication and therapy have been shown to be effective in treating mental illness. The type of treatment used depends on the nature of the problem. Generally, medication is often prescribed for conditions known to have strong biological components, such as major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or panic disorder.
Research suggests that use of medication and psychotherapy together may be the best approach, especially for more severe conditions. The medication offers relief from symptoms, and psychotherapy enables the individual to gain knowledge about her condition and how to handle it. This combined approach offers the fastest, longest-lasting treatment.
Should I see a male or female therapist?
Individuals often wonder if they would do better with a male or female therapist. Research on therapist traits and therapy outcome has failed to identify any relationship between the two. Factors such as warmth and empathy are much more related to outcome than therapist gender. However, the nature of your particular problem as well as your own preferences may lead you to seek out a male or female therapist.
I’ve never talked to anyone. I’m used to handling things on my own. Aren’t people who go to therapy weak?
Not at all. People who ask for help know when they need it and have the ability to reach out. Everyone needs help now and then. You already have some strengths that you’ve used before, that for whatever reason isn’t working right now. Perhaps this problem feels overwhelming and is making it difficult to access your past strengths. In our work together, I’ll help you identify what those strengths are and how to implement them again in what is happening now.
What’s the difference between talking to you or my best friend or family?
The difference is between someone who can do something, and someone who has the training and experience to do that same thing professionally. A mental health professional can help you approach your situation in a new way– teach you new skills, gain different perspectives, listen to you without judgment or expectations, and help you listen to yourself. Furthermore, therapy is completely confidential. You won’t have to worry about others “knowing my business.” Lastly, if your situation provokes a great deal of negative emotion, if you’ve been confiding in a friend or family member, there is the risk that once you are feeling better you could start avoiding that person so you aren’t reminded of this difficult time in your life.