What Does a Psychologist Do?

A psychologist is a mental health professional trained to help you improve your emotional well-being. They do more than just listen – psychologists use proven techniques to help you understand your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and find healthier ways to cope. In this post, we’ll explain what psychologists do and how they work with you to support your mental health.

A psychologist’s job is to support you in understanding and improving your mental health. In practice, that can mean a lot of things. Psychologists are trained to assess, diagnose, and treat a range of mental health issues, but they also help people without any diagnosed condition who just want to feel better or more in control of their lives. Here’s what a psychologist typically does:

• Provides Therapy and Counseling: Psychologists talk with you about whatever is bothering you – whether it’s anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, relationship issues, or any other concern. Through regular therapy sessions, they help you explore your feelings and thoughts in a safe, confidential environment. Sometimes just having someone truly listen and understand is incredibly helpful in itself.

• Teaches Coping Skills: It’s not just talk – a psychologist will equip you with practical tools and strategies to cope better. For example, they might teach you relaxation techniques for anxiety, help you challenge negative thoughts that lead to depression, or practice communication skills for relationship problems. These techniques often come from well-researched therapy methods like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), or mindfulness-based approaches.

• Helps You Understand Yourself: A key part of a psychologist’s job is to help you make sense of what you’re going through. They might point out patterns in your thinking or behavior that you haven’t noticed. By building insight, you can start to understand why you feel or act in certain ways. This self-awareness is an important step toward making positive changes. For instance, you might realize with their help that a lot of your stress comes from trying to please everyone – and then work on setting healthier boundaries.

• Collaborates on Goals: Psychologists don’t dictate what you should do. Instead, they work with you to set goals for therapy based on what you want to achieve. For one person, the goal might be to reduce panic attacks; for another, it might be to navigate a big life change like divorce or job loss. Your psychologist will check in regularly about how you’re finding the process and adjust their approach based on your feedback. It’s a partnership – you’ll decide together what success in therapy looks like for you.

• Conducts Assessments if Needed: Particularly in the case of clinical psychologists, they are qualified to administer psychological assessments or questionnaires when appropriate. These can help identify specific issues or clarify diagnoses (for example, a questionnaire for depression severity, or a screening for ADHD, etc.) so that you get the right kind of help. If you’re wondering whether what you’re experiencing has a specific name (like an anxiety disorder or PTSD), a psychologist can assess this and let you know, then guide you on the next steps.

• Maintains Confidentiality and Professionalism: Everything you discuss with a registered psychologist stays private (with a few rare exceptions for safety that they will explain). Psychologists follow strict ethical guidelines. You can feel safe opening up about personal issues — they’ve heard it all before and are there to help, not to judge or gossip. Professionalism also means they’ll be punctual, respectful, and focused on you during sessions.

Working Together for Your Well-being

It’s important to know that seeing a psychologist is a collaborative process. A good psychologist doesn’t just lecture or hand out advice from a high pedestal. Instead, they’ll ask questions, listen carefully, and perhaps gently challenge you to consider new perspectives. The best therapy often feels like a conversation with someone who “gets you” and is helping you see things differently.

As Erin often tells her clients, the idea is to “help you help yourself.” That means you remain in the driver’s seat; the psychologist is like a knowledgeable co-pilot. They bring expertise in human behavior and therapeutic techniques, but you bring the expertise about your own life. Together, you’ll work as a team to help you feel better, overcome challenges, and build a healthier mind.

Psychologists can also work alongside other healthcare professionals. For example, if you’re also seeing a GP or psychiatrist, your psychologist (with your permission) can coordinate with them to ensure you get well-rounded care. But you don’t need a referral or any medical approval to see a psychologist – you can simply reach out and book an appointment to get the process started (more on referrals in a later post).

In summary, a psychologist does a lot: they listen, guide, teach, encourage, and support. Whether you’re dealing with a diagnosed mental health condition or just going through a tough time, a psychologist’s role is to help you navigate your feelings and challenges so you can lead a more fulfilling and balanced life.