What are the "qualities" - abilities - of a good psychologist?

Question

What does it take to be a good psychologist?

Answer 1

They've done extensive research on what helps a person most and what helps a person change during therapy and counseling. They've done research on "common factors", qualities that counselors and psychologists have that help a patient improve.... regardless of a psychologist's technique or theory. Common factors could be aspects a therapist or counselor may possess that encourage improvement. Common factors include warmth, attentiveness, interest, understanding, and respect. Factors such as therapist credibility, skill, empathic understanding, and affirmation of the patient, along with the ability to engage the patient, to focus on the patient's problems, and to direct the patient's attention to the affective experience were also highly related to successful treatment.

Answer 2

A good psychologist must be skilled and well-educated in his or her area of expertise. Of course, that means not every psychologist is good for every patient; I wouldn't need the best child psychologist on the planet. A good psychologist has to know psychology, though. (Sounds obvious, but not all are experts.)

S/he has to be willing to look at an entire situation to work with a patient. If a psychologist isn't willing to work with the family when necessary, for example, or acknowledge that an environment may be a factor, the narrow-mindedness will hurt the patient.

S/he can't be a bigot. If homophobia or racism exist, helping a patient is a lost cause.

S/he must be willing to work with a psychiatrist if necessary and accept the fact that some psychiatric medications help patients.

There are other things, of course, but those are my deal-breakers.

Answer 3

This is a good 1.Most psychologist r clueless.They really have no idea.I think that good qualities r 2 b a good listener.Not 2 judge.&,2 have at leaste some life experiance.4 instance,don't councel NA or AA if u've never had a drink.Or,if u've never did a drug.There's no way u culd possibly understand if u've never been there.Never even had an adiction.

Answer 4

Respect for others
Empathy
Giving
Knowledge
Being human (which means not portraying yourself as flawless)
Willing to do what it takes
Seing outside of societies stereotypes

If you truely care about other people, and you study hard - you should be ok ;)

ah, and by they way - of course you can get emotionally involved - just not in a way that give you or your client problems. You have to get involved to some extent - how else will you truely know and feel what your client is going through? If you don't, you'll just sit there like a cold listener, which does not comfort the client.

Answer 5

Most feel that they are "called" into this profession! You have to have a true caring for all people. You must be a good listener. Keeping your own thoughts perspectives out of it and help the client to make up their own mind what is best for themselves.Even as a child all of the neighborhood children would come to me for talks (NO one likes me) Some people just have that kind of aura about them that sends off signals that say "You can trust me, You can tell me."

Answer 6

First off you definatly have to know how the mind works. Varied life experiences are a good asset. You must be a people person. You can not judge. You must have a good understanding of people. You must treat everyone as unique. And most importantly, you must be able to send people home felling better about themselves.

Answer 7

Being a good listener. Allowing the patient to answer their own questions themselves. Giving them tools to reduce stress in their lives.

Answer 8

to be able to give you realistic solutions instead of over the top politically correct ones like telling you to sit down and take deep breaths when someone is yelling in your face, or to not question authority figures to much (who says they are always right) they need to be able to help you find a way to logically solve your problems while still being true to who you are

Answer 9

having experience with the feelings of patients gives an extraordinary amount of insight and empathy for the patient. being a good observer is good, as well as knowing how to treat one given their cognitive function

Answer 10

to be able to listen, and understand. to be able to put yourself in the position of who you're treating, and genuinely care about them and helping them to recovery.
to see a success story waiting to happen in each individual and to help their patients discover those qualities about themselves and believe in themselves.
psychologist should be upbeat, yet realistic in the manner in which they approach each case.