Change begins
when you decide to take care of yourself

At some point in our lives, we may all need help. We go through different stages of development, experiencing constant changes as well as situations that cause us distress (problems at home, with our partner, at work, etc.). We may also sometimes have thoughts, emotions or behaviours that interfere negatively with our daily lives. In many cases, distress can subside after a while, either because the person has sufficient skills to cope, or because they just needed time to adapt. However, sometimes people find it hard to manage on their own or feel they need support — in which case it is advisable to seek professional help. A psychologist is a trained professional who can help with a wide range of problems: low self-esteem, communication and social skills difficulties, family or relationship problems, sexual issues, emotional management, anxiety, depression, work-related stress, bereavement, among others.

Psychological therapy is a process that develops through the following phases: Assessment phase: The psychologist needs to understand the reason for consultation and all the variables that may have influenced the cause and maintenance of the problem. Information is gathered through different techniques, exploring behaviours, emotions and thoughts, as well as the person's life history. Feedback phase: The professional provides feedback on the assessment sessions and determines the most appropriate treatment plan for the specific case, specifying the objectives and working methodology. Treatment phase: The therapist and patient work on acquiring skills and coping strategies. It is common for homework tasks to be set to foster the patient's autonomy. The therapist evaluates progress and adjusts the approach as necessary. Follow-up phase: As the person progresses in therapy and objectives are met, sessions are gradually spaced out.

Before choosing a psychology professional it is important to consider: — Level of training: whether the professional has specialist training in your specific area of concern, in addition to their basic qualification. — Previous experience with similar problems. — Therapeutic orientation: there are different schools or models of psychology, although not all have the same scientific foundation. At Aglaia we work within the Cognitive-Behavioural model, which has demonstrated the scientific guarantees necessary to address different problems effectively. — Methodology: how sessions will be conducted and what techniques the psychologist will use. — That the professional is registered and practises in an authorised healthcare centre.

The number of sessions depends on various factors: the reason for consultation, the nature and severity of the problem, treatment objectives, patient involvement, frequency of sessions, progress of the case and the psychologist's therapeutic approach, among others. It is therefore difficult to determine a specific duration. Before starting the treatment phase it is important to discuss your expectations with the psychologist and clearly establish the objectives and treatment plan. Evidence-based treatments are increasingly efficient, with the aim of equipping people with the necessary skills to face their problems in as short a time as possible.