A psychologist is a person with an unusual destiny. This profession is difficult to correlate with others close to it. Even with such people, where help to people - doctors, teachers, is also at the forefront. A psychologist must penetrate into the very depths of a person's personality, if he sincerely wants to help him, to understand the subtlest nuances of motivation. What else is special about this profession?
Let's see if every person is interested in the origins of behavior, hidden and not always realized for the person himself motivation for any actions? Of course not. This interest is very specific and not very common. And this suggests that not every person can and should be a psychologist. Usually, this interest, so necessary for this profession, is manifested from childhood. It is hardly possible to implant it artificially.
Does everyone have a desire to help others, is interested in the other's life to change for the better? Again, no. Everyone has their own goals, their own focus. The desire to help another person, which is so necessary in the profession of a psychologist, implies the giving of one's strength and personal resources. Not everyone can afford it.
Let's ask ourselves a question: does the desire to help others appear as a result of one's own efforts or does it appear in the process of life, living through various experiences that happen to a person? This question is not easy to answer. The appearance or absence of this desire is influenced by both the external circumstances of life and family traditions, a person's own search, the closest environment, etc. However, it is hardly possible to imagine a situation that a person who does not have a desire to help other people will diligently cultivate him. What for? Have you met such people? Will such a person do something that will interest him and meet the already formed interests and desires? Much more often, a person's life path is formed under the influence of a desire to help others and ultimately leads a person to the sphere of activity where he can realize his aspirations.
So far, it turns out that the profession of a psychologist is more of a vocation than a profession in its traditional understanding - as the ability to perform a certain type of activity qualitatively. But let's see if this is really so.
In addition to such necessary personal qualities as an interest in the depths of the human psyche and a desire to help other people, in the profession of a psychologist it is necessary to have the ability and means to realize these qualities. Otherwise, we get an interested, kind, compassionate, but completely helpless, powerless and incapable of changing anything. And, of course, understanding the full depth of human suffering, but not being able to do anything, such a specialist will feel his inadequacy and uselessness. This situation can lead to emotional burnout and poses a great danger to a person who has chosen such a profession.
And here such quality as professionalism begins to play a role precisely in the understanding of the ability to clearly, efficiently and effectively carry out their activities, to provide assistance.
Unlike the previous qualities we are considering, professionalism can only be cultivated by our own labor. He comes with experience, through training, practical work with people, overcoming himself. And this is where our conscious efforts are most important. Professionalism is forged for a long time, with constant efforts and striving, but from a certain moment it turns out to be one of the most valuable tools of a psychologist's personality.
So, it turns out that a psychologist is more likely not a vocation or profession, but a harmonious fusion of vocation and profession at the same time. And how this alloy will be depends only on a particular person.
