Clinical Psychologist in Bellevue WA: Equipping Others to Lead Better Lives

A clinical psychologist in Bellevue, Washington knows that life is never a constant. It is a continuous journey across peaks and valleys, through highs and lows of circumstances both expected and unexpected. And sometimes, it can all seem too much to deal with…

A young woman becomes a mother for the first time, and finds herself dealing with burdens she had never anticipated. A soldier comes home, haunted by the memories of a far-flung battlefield. A just-unemployed husband is wracked with doubts about his purpose in life… or even if he had a purpose at all. Addiction to alcohol ensnares a student, while another struggles to break free from the bonds of mental illness. The promises of happy marriage for a lifetime are shattered by the heartbreak of divorce.

Many times during the journey through life, people find that they would benefit from help beyond their circle of friends and family. They find themselves in need of the understanding and an encouraging ear of a caring clinical psychologist. A professional with training, knowledge and a sympathetic presence who can assist men and women from all walks navigate their lives with confidence and satisfaction.

Helping Others to Help Themselves

Often a person is hesitant, even timid, about seeking the aid of a clinical psychologist. They fear that doing so is a mark of weakness. But there is nothing weak about looking and asking for help.  It takes strength for one to realize that there is a problem, whatever that problem may be. And there should be no shame in looking for help from a therapist, either. A clinical psychologist is a person who does not judge a person by their emotions or their experiences. It isn’t about where a person is coming from: it’s about helping that person get to where they want, and need, to be.

The clinical psychologist is a person who strives to help others overcome their weakness by finding and stimulating their own strengths. Seeking the aid of a clinical psychologist is a true one-on-one working relationship. A clinical psychologist does not and cannot do all that is required of a client. A person who comes to a clinical psychologist should expect to work, and work hard, toward their goal. A clinical psychologist can only assist a person in finding and seeing the path, it is up to the client to choose to walk the path. But those who invest themselves in their therapy often find the rewards are well worth it. Those whom meet their problems head-on discover that they have the strength to survive and overcome, and are able to move on to find even greater challenges and rewards in their lives.

Help is Available, No Matter the Problem

The scope of a clinical psychologist is a wide one. Countless individuals, couples and families have found a listening ear and comforting voice in a professional therapist. They confront matters ranging from emotional problems such as depression, anxiety and anger management, to those of life-changing events such as intimacy issues, divorce and the loss of a loved one. 

If you have any additional questions about seeing a clinical psychologist in Bellevue WA, click on the             

provided link, or give us a call at (425) 451-2116 today!

Clinical Psychologist in Bellevue WA: Setting Up For Success

A clinical psychologist in Bellevue, Washington can help you enhance your relationships and work to resolve multiple types of problems. With therapeutic programs such as couple’s counseling and anger resolution, a qualified clinician can identify potentially problematic behavior or communication patterns and construct a treatment strategy to help you utilize your strengths and identify new skills. But before you make your first appointment with a clinical psychologist, there are a few things you can do to get the most out of your sessions. Listed below are a few items you may want to try prior to scheduling your initial consultation.

Write, Write, Write

One of the best things you can do is to identify the key events and primary stressors in your life. Instead of going into your first appointment with a local clinician with general complaints, having a targeted list of problems that you would like to address will guide your chosen clinical psychologist to the issues that you find burdensome. Always keep a small notebook handy so that you can write your feelings down in the moment. Relying on memory alone will leave out the majority of the critical details that may—or may not—be of consequence during therapy sessions. Try to be as detailed as you can in your written assessment by using these tips:

·       Pay close attention to your physical feelings when your emotional responses are high. Sometimes strong emotions such as anger and stress will cause autonomic responses throughout your body that your therapist may need to be aware of.

·       Try to describe the situation right after an incident that triggers you as completely as you can. Then after a few hours, re-evaluate the event with a cooler head.

·       Explore as much of the situation as you can from as many different viewpoints as possible. Include any lead up events that you can identify; however, this should be done objectively. Try writing down just the order of events without any emotions tied to them.

·       Honesty is the only policy when it comes to therapy. The clinical psychologist you select will need the unadulterated truth, no matter how unflattering it is to anyone in a given situation. The more upfront you can be with your therapist, the easier it will be to suggest coping mechanisms and alternative ways of dealing with certain situations.

Additionally, if you are interested in couple’s counseling, you will want to encourage your partner to use these same steps to prepare for an initial session.

Information Gathering

Another helpful activity you can do ahead of time is make sure you have all pertinent information for billing purposes gathered up and in one place for your first appointment. Make sure that if you have insurance that covers mental health treatment, the clinical psychologist in Bellevue, Washington that you have chosen accepts that type of coverage you have.

You can also request to fill out the new patient questionnaire and any other materials ahead of time by speaking with a clinical psychologist’s office staff members. If you complete the financial forms and assessment paperwork before your appointment, you can be certain that your needs will be met and that your insurance carrier will cover your visit.

For more information about getting the most out of a treatment path with a qualified clinical psychologist in Bellevue WA, please click on the provided link to review one of the local industry experts. You can also call (425) 451-2116 with any questions you may have about couple’s counseling or individual therapy.