Personal qualities of a psychologist. What should be a professional psychologist

08.02.2011

To be a good psychologist, it is not enough to go through a quality school on theoretical and practical psychology. A person who decides to devote himself to this science must have certain personality traits. Some of them can be acquired during studies, and some - you need to have from the moment you determine your future profession.
If we turn to practicing psychologists, the results of the survey will show that the most necessary qualities just a few. And all the rest can be acquired in the process of studying the chosen specialization and obtaining practical experience.

So, the most important quality of a future psychologist should be respect for the person and genuine interest. Students should show a sincere desire to understand the inner world of a person, the characteristics of his psyche, the motivation of his actions and way of thinking. This interest cannot be instilled: it either exists or it does not exist at all.

Among the others important qualities good psychologist and tolerance- manifestation of tolerance for other people, the desire to perceive other people's manifestations without irritation and aggression. This quality can be developed, but it is quite difficult and long, and is also fraught with the appearance of hidden aggression in the psychologist. Therefore, it is important that tolerance has already been developed a priori.
The next important quality is flexibility and adaptability. This means that you must be able to quickly admit your mistakes, change your behavior according to the situation, easily get used to new conditions - life and work. If you have such a quality, then there is every chance of becoming an excellent psychologist.

Like any liberal arts requires the student to be sensitive, or sensitivity. The person whose problems you will need to consider, ideally, you should be able to feel, guess about his anxieties. This quality can be developed, but at least in some form it must be present in you.

Here are the main personality traits that distinguish a professional psychologist from a beginner. Among the important ones, it is also worth noting the ability of a psychologist to clearly express his thoughts; the ability to understand another person, as well as manage their feelings and their manifestations. All this can be developed if desired.

It is important that the psychologist should not get tired of abundant communication with other people. If you find it difficult to have intense conversations with people who have problems, you risk quickly "burning out" at work. You do not need to contact other people to understand how suitable you are for a job as a psychologist and do you have all of the above qualities? This is a big plus, because the psychologist must first of all know himself and his capabilities.

The profession of a psychologist is similar to the profession of a doctor, but the psychologist treats not the body, but the soul. We turn to a psychologist when we understand that some of the areas of life are not developing at all the way we want.

Psychologists, like doctors, work in different fields. If you want to do family relationships warmer, you can come to the consultation of a family psychologist. If you want to get more pleasure from communicating with your child, contact a child psychologist.

Or choose an individual consultation with a psychologist to understand yourself, realize your potential more fully, and enjoy your work. But how to find "your" psychologist? To do this, you need to approach the issue seriously and thoroughly.

Ask friends or acquaintances. Perhaps they have already used the services of a specialist and can recommend the right psychologist. But it is important to remember that each person evaluates a specialist in his own way, makes his own demands. What is good for one is not always desirable for another.
Take advantage of information resources. Read on the Internet the reviews of people who were at the psychologist's appointment, saw his presentations. Or read the articles of a specialist, his interviews with journalists, which can be found in newspapers or magazines.
Find out through the psychologist himself. The field of psychology is vast. One specialist cannot treat everything. He works in a specific area professional activity.

Psychologists belonging to different psychological societies communicate with colleagues, exchange experiences, and improve their skills. And, if necessary, they can advise their colleagues dealing with this or that issue.

The choice of a psychologist

Now you have the necessary contacts and data of psychologists. How to understand which one is right for you?

Take an interest in the education of a specialist. Psychology is a field of traditional medicine that has been studied for years. Therefore, your future practicing psychologist must have a higher specialized education and, preferably, a stationary one. It is good if it is supplemented with courses, trainings, seminars.

But the best way to assess the professionalism and competence of a psychologist will help a personal meeting.

If it is pleasant and comfortable for you to communicate with a psychologist, there will be a desire to sincerely talk about your problems and experiences, and after the consultation you will feel an improvement, then there is an effect. You have found your specialist.

When communicating with a psychologist, it is important to remember that such work is collaborative. The important thing is how carefully you will treat the recommendations of a specialist. It is also important how the psychologist conducts the conversation.

What qualities should a real psychologist have?

Almaty (Kazakhstan)

There must be a desire to help a person and pleasure from this.

There must be the ability to engage in activities related to communications, just like, for example, an accountant or an economist understands, feels numbers, formulas.

Almaty (Kazakhstan)

What qualities should a real psychologist have? In order to understand a person and not harm him. And what qualities are not acceptable for this profession?

In order to understand another, you need the desire and interest to do this - to peer into the world of another person. Sincere, open interest. In my opinion.

Unacceptable, I think, are not the qualities, but the attitudes. Some experienced traumas with which a person is not familiar with himself are very disturbing.

For example, a desire to "be God" can lead to a person's profession.

The desire of the psychologist to save him by taking responsibility for his life is wrong and harmful for the client.

Somehow, I think.

Psychologist, Psychoanalyst Training Analyst

to understand a person and not harm him

personal therapy and supervisor.

personal therapy and supervisor

What qualities should a practicing psychologist have?

The article deals with personal and professional quality For example practical psychologist, however, in our deep conviction, these qualities are simply necessary for all specialists in the field state of mind and human health - psychiatrists, narcologists, sexologists, psychotherapists and others.

First block professionally important qualities of a psychologist include the focus and motives of professional activity. This is, first of all, the humanistic orientation of the personality, a specific professional orientation and a flexible “I am a concept”.

Second block - these are requirements that relate to the socio-perceptual qualities of a person, the ability to correctly display social objects, in particular - psychological observation.

Third block - requirements for personality traits associated with the process of processing and comprehension social information. These are the requirements for social thinking, its criticality, professional reflection.

Fourth block - requirements for the qualities associated with the transfer of information, communication.

Let's look at these requirements in more detail. Note that the boundaries between the outlined complexes of qualities that form blocks are rather arbitrary.

In the work of a psychologist great importance have emotional and volitional properties. Endurance, self-control, initiative, courage in communication and other qualities have a significant impact on the success of work in conditions of time pressure, in conflict situations, as well as in daily activities in "optimal mode". Desirable characteristics are also: reliability, restraint, warmth, optimism, openness, ease, energy, adaptability. The presence of opposite qualities in a candidate for the profession of a practical psychologist - unpredictability, impulsiveness, hostility, pessimism, stiffness, lethargy, unsuitability - can be a serious argument in favor of this person's professional unsuitability.

It is imperative to define one more serious requirement for a psychologist - he must bear a personal responsibility for his judgments, assessments, recommendations, requirements and actions.

Consequently, the requirements for practical psychologists are very high. So high that the question arises: can there be a person who is able to fully meet these requirements? The answer is quite predictable - most likely, it is very difficult to meet such professionals.

But we deliberately give an ideal portrait of a practical psychologist in order to expand the limits of a specialist’s self-improvement as much as possible, and in view of the fact that professional and personal growth continues throughout a person’s conscious life, the desire to match the described portrait is the path to outstanding professionalism.

A source:
What qualities should a psychologist have?
The article discusses personal and professional qualities on the example of a practical psychologist.
http://psihoanalitik.net/library/articles/kachestvapsichologa

What qualities should a psychologist have?

First of all, the work of a psychologist requires not only professional knowledge and possession of techniques, but also special personal qualities, a non-judgmental attitude towards the client, the ability to show a person his capabilities and help unlock his potential. Without this, it is difficult to imagine a successful specialist who advises and helps to navigate in a complex life situation. In general, personal characteristics are the basis for the development of the professionalism of a counseling psychologist.

The presence of certain qualities is one of the main indicators of competence. Therefore, to begin with, I want to focus on this factor. So, let's take a closer look at what personal qualities a practicing psychologist should have.

According to most professionals, and I completely agree with them, the following personality traits are important for the work of a practicing psychologist:

— Empathy and reflection;
- benevolence and altruism - the desire to help;
- respect and tact;
- the desire for development and self-knowledge;
- self-confidence, purposefulness, adequate self-esteem;
- tolerance and patience;
— erudition, versatile development;
- propensity for analysis - analytical mindset;
- intuition, insight;
- emotional stability, self-control, stress resistance;
— fast adaptation to various conditions;
- observation and openness;
— positive thinking, creativity;

Now let's consider in more detail all of the listed qualities in order to understand why a psychologist needs them and how they affect his professional activities.

One of the most important abilities is empathy, i.e. deep understanding of a person, his real problems and awareness of his state of mind. empathy is an emotional response, empathy and the ability to immerse yourself in inner world client, and communicate at this level during the entire consultation, if the situation requires it. However, this feature of the perception of the interlocutor has nothing to do with compassion and pity. A professional psychologist must put himself in the place of another, feel his emotions, feelings, and at the same time be able to look at the situation from the outside.

So, for example, if a client addresses a problem related to conflict situation, the specialist must first listen and feel his emotions. Only under this condition will a person receive moral satisfaction and prepare for further work. The task of the psychologist is to look at the situation through the eyes of the client, make it clear that he is on his side, and then offer to consider the conflict with different points vision.

If the practitioner is abstracted from the problems of the person and his personality, the work will not be effective and useful. Firstly, the client will feel that he is not interested in the specialist he has contacted. Secondly, such an approach is incompetent, because a person will not receive even elementary emotional support. In general, I believe that a consultant who does not have such qualities and does not develop them will not be able to help solve psychological problems.

Concerning benevolence, altruism, tact, respect to people in general, it is difficult to imagine a psychologist who does not want to help, shows disrespect and aggression towards the client. Without an elementary respectful attitude, dialogue is generally impossible, and even more so the communication of a consultant who is called upon to provide psychological help. Naturally, these or those qualities relate to the characteristics of the individual and were originally laid down. The desire and ability to help people develop, find solutions, realize their potential, teach them constructive and effective communication, etc. is the first step from which the path of a real psychologist begins.

One more personal quality psychotherapist associated with professional activity is positive thinking, which consists in perceiving failure as a stepping stone for new achievements, not regretting what cannot be returned, looking to the future, and not looking back. In a word, this is the ability to draw positive moments from the most unpleasant situations, and perceive the presence of problems as a driving force for personal growth and progress. This is what an experienced specialist should teach his clients who want to develop, to solve the difficulties that have arisen as effectively as possible. Reasonable optimism, positive and creative approach allow us to see events in the best options and create appropriate conditions for their development in the right direction.

The desire for self-knowledge and development, interest in people- same conditions professional growth, like the previous qualities. Before helping others, an experienced psychologist must understand own problems, to understand what abilities he has more developed, which are less, what are his strengths and weaknesses. After such introspection, the specialist will be able to use his advantages more effectively, and work on those qualities that are less developed. Only constant development, self-knowledge and introspection will allow the psychotherapist to improve and grow personally and professionally. After all, work on oneself is the same indicator of competence as, for example, theoretical knowledge or possession of methods, and perhaps even more important.

Thus, tolerance is important for an adequate perception of other people's views and worldviews. This is the basis of respect, understanding, openness, development and empowerment. That is why given quality is of such great importance in the work of a psychotherapist. In addition, I would call tolerance one of the ways of cognition that makes a person multifaceted, versatile and more erudite. And these features, in turn, are also necessary conditions professional development and work of a psychologist.

Analytical mind- another personal feature associated with the successful activities and competence of a psychologist-consultant. The ability to analyze the situation, prioritize, think broadly and positively are fundamental skills that make work effective. The tendency to analyze is manifested in the fact that a specialist can put the situation on the shelves, and then, like a puzzle, put it back together, consider it from different points of view, without connecting emotions.

Of course, the work of a psychologist does not involve complete shutdown emotional perception, but conclusions and reasoning should be based on objective facts. At the same time, it is also important psychological intuition or, in other words, insight. This ability should rather be called a kind of talent, a gift, but it can and should also be developed. Being insightful means understanding more than the client says, seeing the hidden causes of their problems, summarizing all available information about the person and reading it. This is enough difficult task requiring experience and work on oneself. It must be said that insight- a rare talent, and not all psychologists manage to develop it to the fullest. In my view, this ability is not just an indicator of competence and experience, but the highest achievement in professional development.

With all these features and qualities, communication skills, empathy and inclusion during communication with the client, the psychologist must have emotional stability and stress resistance. Emotional overload often leads to burnout, stress, depression. For a professional, this is not excluded, but it is better if the professional's self-control is on high level, and he calculates his strength and capabilities. Emotional stability is manifested in calmness, in the ability to overcome strong feelings, and this, in a way, is a warning of nervous breakdowns and psychological burnout. Also, such qualities contribute to rapid adaptation to changing working conditions and rapid switching from one person to another.

Observation and openness- qualities without which the work of a psychologist is simply impossible. Interest in people, the ability to notice seemingly insignificant details, attentiveness, ease, naturalness in communication and a willingness to learn, to learn, the desire to see what others do not see. Without this, it is difficult to imagine a successful specialist who helps people find solutions in difficult situations. The psychologist's answers to the questions are indicated in another section.

In general, personal characteristics very clearly intersect with the professional activities of an experienced psychologist. Only under the condition of spiritual search, the desire for self-improvement, goodwill, a specialist is able to maximize his potential and help others in this.

1. The ability to empathy, empathy, sympathy. This ability is understood as the ability to deeply psychologically penetrate into the inner world of another person - the client, to understand him, to see what is happening from his own positions, to perceive the world through his eyes, to accept his point of view as acceptable and correct.

2. Openness. Trying to understand the client, to penetrate into his inner world, the psychologist-consultant frankly tells him about his own feelings, causing an empathic reaction on his part and thereby making him open to himself.

3. Expression of personal concern for the client with the help of empathy, sympathy for him, as well as gestures, facial expressions, pantomime.

4. Goodwill. Kind, emotionally positive attitude towards the client, personal interest and participation in solving his problems.

5. An invaluable attitude towards the client, including the observance on his part of those moral, ethical standards that he adheres to in his behavior, even if the consultant himself does not like this behavior.

6. Refusal of moralizing, imposing your advice on the client.

7. Trust in the client, faith in his ability and ability to cope with his problem on his own.

8. Readiness and aspiration of the consultant not so much to save the client from his experiences, but to direct his experiences in a constructive direction.

9. The ability to keep the optimal psychological distance between yourself and the client.

10. The ability to inspire confidence in the client and the desire to remake himself.

Besides general requirements There are also a number of special special requirements relating to the practice of conducting psychological counseling and, in particular, conducting psychological counseling on business matters. Here, as in all other cases of psychological counseling, the psychologist, in order to be able to give reasonable and effective recommendations client, he himself must know well the matter on which he advises the client.

As for the issues of professional counseling, a psychologist should know well the psychology of work, the forms and methods of career guidance and selection of persons on the basis of a professiogram and a psychogram.

If the psychologist-consultant does not have his own life experience of participating in the relevant case, then such experience must be acquired before proceeding with psychological counseling.

Sometimes, however, this condition cannot be fully met, since it is almost impossible for one person to be a good connoisseur of all possible professions and cases in connection with which clients can turn to psychological counseling. In this case, in order not to be an amateur in the relevant case, the counseling psychologist is recommended to first ask the client in detail about what types of activities or professions he is interested in, well, and if he is already working, then what he does professionally; learn about the nature of his work and the problems that arise in its process. This should be done without embarrassment and openly, from the very beginning of the consultation honestly admitting to the client that the psychologist-consultant does not understand his profession well enough, and therefore is not able to immediately give the most effective and useful advice.

For business consulting, the business environment in which the psychologist-consultant works with the client is most suitable, as well as the business nature of the relationship between them. This, in particular, means the following.

Firstly, such counseling is best done directly at the client's workplace and in his usual business environment. Then it will be easier for him to understand and practically implement the recommendations received from the psychologist-consultant. For the consultant himself, being in a normal business atmosphere together with the client will help him better understand the essence of the problem that worries the client and find the most correct solution.

Secondly, in the practice of conducting business consulting, the psychologist-consultant himself must behave like a business person. Then the client will be able to learn a lot from his personal example.

Thirdly, the business behavior of a psychologist-consultant will undoubtedly increase the client's confidence in him, who himself is a business person and appreciates the corresponding qualities in other people.

Finally, fourthly, a business-like approach to conducting psychological counseling means that even before the start of a consultation with a client, its conditions must be fully specified: time, place, expected results, cost, etc.

Professional consultation performs a number functions , which, on the one hand, are a reflection of its main goal, and on the other hand, indicate the main directions of its activity. There are three main functions of professional advice:

- information, involving the communication to the student of information about the specific features of the profession, ways and means of realizing their professional plans;

- diagnostic– examination of the state of health and degree of development psychological characteristics personality in accordance with the requirements of the profession. V psychological counseling psychodiagnostics at the beginning of work with a client should be kept to a minimum and should mainly be based on the results of the consultant's direct observation of the client's behavior when the consultant communicates with him in a psychological consultation. Psychodiagnostics includes the analysis and generalization of data received directly from the client without the use of special psychological tests.

- correctional which consists in recommending to the optant (a person choosing a profession) the relevant field of professional activity and specific professions in it, as well as correcting professional plans in case of mismatch between the requirements of the profession and personality characteristics.

Faced with the need to provide a child with professional assistance, whether it is the help of a doctor, teacher, coach or psychologist, the parent first of all faces the question: “How and where to find a good specialist?”. At first glance, everything seems very complicated and uncertain, but if you follow some rules, then finding a good child psychologist is not so difficult.

Of course, it's good when there is someone to turn to on the recommendation of friends, but you should not completely rely on the impressions of other people. It is more correct to analyze (as you see it from the outside) how much the life of those who advise a specialist has changed in one direction or another after visiting a psychologist. If you see positive changes in behavior or emotional state child after working with a psychologist, improving child-parent relationships, then you can safely turn to this psychologist yourself. If there are no such changes, or if you do not have acquaintances who can recommend a child psychologist, then you can follow several criteria by which you can distinguish a good psychologist from a bad one:

1. A good child psychologist should have a higher profile education. This is a necessary but not sufficient condition quality work, however, it is very important to pay attention to the profile higher education. This is especially true in the case of a child psychologist, because it is not uncommon for a teacher or marketer with a basic education to start working as a child psychologist because he “successfully raised two (three, four ...) children” or “passed advanced training courses.” Believe me, this is far from enough!
2. Also, a good child psychologist is simply obliged to take additional courses. vocational education in the field of child and family psychology, preferably permanently and in different training profiles. It is desirable that these courses be taught by experienced and reputable child psychotherapists. A good specialist constantly improves his level of knowledge and skills by taking courses, seminars, trainings. In addition, a good child psychologist must have knowledge in related areas, especially in neurology, psychiatry and pedagogy.
3. Important experience, moreover, both quantitative (1, 3, 5 or 10 years?) and qualitative. For example, the experience of working as an educator or teacher, a psychologist in a recruitment agency or a large organization does not count - this is a completely different profile of work, so take into account the experience of working as a practical child psychologist. Impossible to be a good specialist without good practical experience in this area.
4. Remember that if a psychologist works successfully with adults, then it is not at all necessary that he will also work successfully with children. By the way, this also applies to child psychiatry. The chief child psychiatrist of Russia, Igor Makarov, once said that a child psychiatrist, if necessary, can work with adult patients, but not vice versa. Child psychology is a special area of psychology that requires highly specialized knowledge and work skills.

5. Before the first appointment, find out what tools, methods and techniques the specialist owns. A good child psychologist should be able to work in different approaches ( play therapy, art therapy, sand therapy, systemic family therapy, body therapy, neuro- and fairy tale therapy, etc.), since each child needs to choose his own individual approach. Someone, for example, does not really like to draw, and someone does not like fairy tales; sand therapy is suitable for solving some problems, and bodily therapy for others, and so on.
6. And of course Your personal impression after the first consultation is very importance . If a specialist inspires confidence, sympathy, a desire to tell you about the situation without hiding anything, if the psychologist himself is sincere, shows empathy, does not condemn you in anything, then this is a good child psychologist. It happens that a well-known specialist, with extensive experience, good reviews cannot find an approach to an individual child or adult - this is a normal situation. Moving away from all formal criteria about education, work experience, and so on, we can say that a psychologist is a person who works with his personality. And if something in a personal relationship causes you doubts, it is better to honestly admit it to yourself and the psychologist and together find another specialist (by the way, in this case good psychologist will help you in your search, and will not insist on therapy with him).
7. The last thing I would like to mention is the fact that a professional child psychologist should know his colleagues with higher qualifications and, if necessary, resort to their help in a timely manner. A professional always knows the level of his competence and never takes on something in which he lacks qualifications.