Psychology

About Psychology

Psychology is the science, discipline and study of the functioning and workings of the mind and of behaviors. The study of psychology has been applied in observation of nature to discover how animals and people respond, learn and function when alone as well as when together with others. These studies have brought vast amounts of information about perception cognition, attention, concentration, memory, motivation, sleep, wakefulness, language, social, mental and emotional activities and their development and changes throughout the life cycle. Modern scientific equipment has aided in the detailed study of specific areas of the brain involved in speech, learning, recall, memory and emotion. The field of neuropsychology concerns itself with this area of assessment and study. Among others the study of psychology has been applied to many settings and recipients such as the environment (environmental psychology), industry (industrial and organizational psychology), media (media psychology), social settings (social psychology), the legal system (legal and forensic psychology), schools (school psychology), sports (sports psychology), hospitals (medical psychology), healthcare and wellness (health psychology) and people (clinical psychology, developmental psychology, child psychology, geriatric psychology).

In accordance with the study of each field, many theories have been developed and refined in service of understanding how individuals think, feel and act as well as how groups of people function, adjust and cope with situations of all types in different settings and under diverse circumstances. Numerous ways to understand and treat a person have been developed in the clinical psychology arena. These include personality theory, psychoanalytic, psycho- dynamic, client centered, cognitive and behavioral, rational emotive, transactional, gestalt and existential theories and treatment approaches. Each approach offers a frame-work to conceptualize how an imbalance occurred and how to assist a client in returning to balance through therapeutic interaction, dialogue or specific strategies.

Among the many ways to understand a person’s situation, the bio-psychosocial theory provides an integrative theory. According to the bio-psychosocial model a person is always regarded in a context. This context includes the state of his/her mind, thoughts, feelings, body, health, spirit, beliefs, preferences, behaviors, family, social life, work or school, and his/her external environment, the neighborhood, city, state, country, the air breathed and food and water consumed, the historical and seasonal effects impinging. The person exists in dynamic interaction with all these components within and around him/herself . Wellness originates from balance of these diverse factors. Illness occurs when stressors overcome the balance. This illness may manifest mentally, emotionally, physically or interpersonally. Acknowledging the mind- body relationship, clinical or health psychologists may use the bio-psychosocial theory. Patients can be assisted with life style changes and in treatment of health, stress and pain related conditions, anxiety, depression, and relationship problems. Patients acquire insight, understanding and develop skills in taking a greater role in management of their circumstances and wellbeing.

About Psychologists

Psychologists provide services to many populations in different fields and settings. They may be involved in performing research, in academia, teaching, writing, and in evaluation, assessment and clinical service. In order to become licensed in the state of CT to provide clinical services to patients, a psychologist must have completed their doctoral training and national board exams.

Psychologists may follow specific frames of treatment or be eclectic in their use of  treatment tools. They may treat individuals, couples, families or groups, serving people in all life stages. Psychologists may use tools of supportive listening, conversational interaction, cognitive and behavioral strategies, art and music therapies, education, patient self-hypnosis, guided imagery, relaxation and stress management training, role play, interpretation of meanings of events or dreams, promotion of insight into personality features, family and interpersonal dynamics, perceptions and coping styles.
Psychologists often assist individuals in crises and at times of change when available existing coping strategies are insufficient for a person to manage their circumstance. At these times more support, strategies and coping tools can be a beneficial addition to a person’s existing repertoire of skills.