Why do I need a psychologist? People are faced with this question when thinking about the possibility and necessity of visiting a psychologist. And the answer is not obvious. Because in our society it is customary to solve your problems on your own, it is customary to be strong, to conform to social norms. “Girls should be good” and “boys shouldn’t cry.” And in these educational settings there is a lot of impossibility of seeking help from specialists in helping professions. The reality is that girls aren't always "nice" and boys sometimes really want to cry. And discovering this in front of a stranger, entrusting him with something that causes shame, can be very difficult. As a rule, this is the reason for “home psychotherapy” - “crying into your vest” for those in whom you trust - relatives, friends. Although such actions cause temporary relief, they do not in any way affect the causes of the developing problems. In fact, what does a psychologist do that friends and acquaintances cannot? Or, for starters, who is a psychologist? A psychologist is a person with special education. As part of this education, a psychologist studies human nature through the prism of various theories. That is, the first thing that distinguishes a psychologist from numerous acquaintances and friends is expanded knowledge about the nature of man and his relationships, about the causes of universal human problems, about existing life scenarios. A good psychological education gives a systematic understanding of personality, of the interconnection of different, from an everyday point of view, things that are in no way connected with each other. It turns out that by coming to a psychologist, a person can, at a minimum, learn about the connection of existing problems with each other, about how habits are formed from actions, from habits - character, and from character - destiny. But this may not be enough to solve the problem. Therefore, a psychologist can be effective where “smart” books cannot help. Even very good ones. The point is that solving a problem requires action. Sometimes the actions are frightening, often new, unmastered. After all, it would be madness to do the same things and expect a different result. It turns out that the second difference between a psychologist and acquaintances and friends is the ability to guide and stimulate a person to change. Don't change it! Don't take responsibility for his life! But to provide support in the birth of new forms of behavior, new attitudes to problems, new forms of interaction with people. Probably, these things make a psychologist “good” - a professional level of knowledge about the individual and the art of participating in the creation of something new. In fact, around the question “why do I need a psychologist?” there are a lot of fears in the air. Even those that a person does not admit to himself. “Well, how will this psychologist begin to change me, as he pleases?” “What if he hypnotizes me”? “What if he starts telling me how to live, and I will have to live according to his orders?” People share these and many other fears with a psychologist when they come to see him. Often with relief, laughing at what scared them. In fact, the fact that a psychologist changes people is just an illusion. People change. If they want it, if they have lived to see the real need for change. There is a proverb that one man can lead a horse to water, but not even forty can make him drink. A person is smarter than a horse, more cunning, more stable in his beliefs. Therefore, neither forty, nor how many more psychologists will force him to change. This is the opportunity to get rid of the fear of influence, fear of violent change, everything that threatens the security of the individual. And this is also the disappointment of those people who come to a psychologist in a passive role, not actually being ready for real changes, with the offer “I’ll give you money, and you change me.” It’s as if personality changes are a product that you can pick up on a supermarket shelf and buy at a reasonable price, or maybe even with a discount. Probably the question “why do I need a psychologist?” - this is a question to which each person has his own,.