About

Goodmancoaching.nl is an educational project, an encyclopedia of practical psychology that is created by professionals for general use.

Here is everything you need to know about psychology to change your life for the better. Everything is short and to the point.

About the methods used in psychology

At the beginning of the 21st century, there are 600 to 1,000 psychotherapeutic approaches. However, not all of them have been tested by time and experiments. At goodmancoaching.nl we only advocate those approaches whose effectiveness has been confirmed by research or that are recognized by the international professional community.

And it is in these areas that we decided to compile a detailed guide so that you understand what to expect from the sessions and how to work with a therapist in this or that approach.

About psychologists

There are a few of the most important criteria which, when met, give you the assurance that you have come to see a professional psychologist. The first thing that is important is professional education. A practicing psychologist must have completed a lengthy therapeutic education (after a basic university/institute), which usually takes at least two years. It is very important that the psychologist undergo long term personal therapy so that he/she does not transfer his/her problems to the client. The psychologist should be regularly supervised, that is, discussing client cases with more experienced colleagues in order to get feedback and be sure they are working correctly. And lastly, the psychologist must adhere to professional ethics. It is very important that the psychologist has undergone long-term personal therapy.

Can it be that a professional psychologist will not help me?

For effective work with a psychologist it is not only the professional level of the specialist that is important. It is important that the specialist fits the client’s specialization and the method of psychotherapy within which he works.

But there is still a necessary personal match; it is important that you feel comfortable enough with the specialist, that you feel comfortable enough with him to tell deeply personal things. Also important is the motivation of the client himself, his willingness to change, to listen to the specialist’s recommendations, to do his homework and, indeed, to work with the psychologist, not just to go for a chat. And, of course, unfortunately, sometimes there are very difficult cases (in clinical psychology) in which it is impossible to help.

What should I tell the psychologist at the first meeting?

There is no need to worry about this – it is the psychologist’s job to understand you, to create a comfortable environment for you, to establish contact. It is normal not to know how to start. The psychologist himself will ask all the questions, if necessary, and direct the conversation.

Your task is just to come and do/say what is comfortable. The psychologist will do the rest for you – this is also what you pay money for.

Is what I say to the psychologist confidential?

The psychologist may not reveal your identity as a client or anything you tell to anyone under any circumstances, unless the psychologist might suspect that you are a threat to the life or health of yourself or another person.