Frequently Asked Questions

Psychiatrists complete their specialization in psychiatry after graduating from a 6-year medical school. Since they are physicians, they have the authority and competence to treat mental disorders with medication.

Psychologists, on the other hand, graduate from the 4-year science and literature departments of universities. Optionally, they complete their specialization in sub-fields of psychology for 2 years after undergraduate education. Clinical psychologists are involved in the treatment of mental disorders. People who have not completed their specialization in Clinical Psychology after undergraduate education are not qualified to perform psychotherapy. Psychologists are not authorized to prescribe medication. However, they manage psychotherapy processes based on various theoretical and scientific foundations.

How Should I Make My Choice When Deciding on Professional Help?

Deciding to get professional support for your problems is the most important step. However, where you take this step is also of great importance. Instead of acting on hearsay information, after a thorough research, you should choose a mental health specialist who is an expert in his field, has authority and adheres to ethical principles.

When Should I Consult a Specialist?

You do not need to wait for a problem in your life or experience a 'major' problem confirmed by everyone to consult a specialist and get support. Just as the success of treatment is lower after gangrene or advanced diseases, treatment becomes more complicated when you postpone the application psychologically, when the problems become chronic and your defenses collapse. For example, not after deciding to divorce; When problems arise in a marriage, the help received is much more effective. For this reason, it would be useful to consult a mental health specialist when you notice symptoms of psychiatric disorders or when you experience distress and have difficulty coping, even if they do not fit any diagnosis.

Why is Medication Necessary?

Psychiatric drug treatment may be necessary depending on the nature of the mental disorder you are experiencing and the existing clinical picture. For example, let's think of an individual who has the potential to harm himself or those around him, or a person who cannot step out of the house due to intense anxiety. In such cases, drug therapy forms a very important part of the treatment by both reducing risks and preparing the person for the therapy process. Contrary to popular belief, when the treatment protocol is designed correctly, medications will not numb you or turn you into an emotionless robot.

Although it is true that some drug groups have the potential to cause addiction, these drugs are not preferred for treatment unless necessary. If preferred, treatment is carried out under meticulous observation. Since the mechanisms of action of drugs differ from each other, it would not be correct to evaluate all drugs in the same category. Contrary to popular belief, many psychiatric medications do not cause excessive weight gain. In addition, the effects of medications may vary between individuals. For this reason, it is quite wrong to refuse treatment with the belief that "a relative of mine used that medicine and it did not work."

What is Psychotherapy?

Psychotherapy is administered individually or in groups; This is the process popularly known as 'talking therapy'. However, psychotherapy is never a conversation in which the client talks constantly and the specialist is a passive listener. First and foremost, psychotherapy is about establishing relationships. A relationship of mutual trust, respect, empathy and acceptance must be established between the specialist and the client. Regardless of the technique used or the experience of the specialist, the lack of a qualified relationship negatively affects the success of the treatment. Therefore, it is very important that you feel comfortable in the therapy room and share your negative emotions with your therapist.

First meetings may cause you to have difficulty opening up. This is natural. Eventually, you will reveal information that you are reluctant to admit to someone you have never met, perhaps even to yourself. However, you should give yourself a chance by thinking that the person in front of you is not a judge, but an expert who is ready to understand you and hold a mirror to you.

The therapy process is based on mutual cooperation and is personalized. You create a road map by working with your therapist in line with your needs and review the effectiveness of the process at intervals. Psychotherapy is actually a process of discovery, a journey into the self. Your therapist is there to guide you on this journey.

Another thing is that you should have realistic expectations for therapy. No one will touch you with a magic wand in that room, or no one will take decisions and responsibilities on your behalf. You realize and internalize these yourself with the support of your therapist. This is how you grow and integrate. And finally, psychotherapy takes work. You have to invest your time, financial resources and mental energy. However, considering that the best investment in life is the investment in oneself, it will definitely be worth it.

How Do I Trust the Expert?

Trust relationships develop and mature over time. Of course, at first you may have questions about trust and privacy. Mental health professionals cannot share your information with third parties in accordance with ethical principles. Even your relatives cannot be informed without your consent and knowledge. However, there are exceptional cases. When there is a risk of harming oneself or someone else, or in children and adolescents, especially in criminal cases, informing the necessary people and institutions is both necessary for the well-being of the client and one of the duties of the specialist.