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SO, you are a psychologist! You can read one’s mind, isn’t it? I implore, please tell me what is passing through my mind now?” This is the first reaction when people get to know if one is a psychologist. Some others would tend to be a little paranoid when they will challenge, “Okay, I’m not going to speak a word now since you should be analysing me!” Still others won’t take it lying down and would seek more and share less.
The first category is of the ones who would want you to tell them about their personality and thought process. For them psychology is fun, or some interactive game, or a mysterious science like astrology, or tarot reading. They also believe that a psychologist is a mind-reader, who can surprise them with some fascinating information. The poor psychologist will then have to eat a humble pie.
The second category is of the tight-lipped ones, but they are a more anxious tribe. They feel suspicious about the psychologist knowing everything and investigating one’s behaviour all the time. Therefore, they try to avoid any conversation with them. They don’t realise that the non-verbal communication is more pertinent to be analysed — a fact known only to the psychologist.
Another type of people are the most nagging ones and should be best avoided. They want to tell you all about their problems and want you to provide solutions too. That’s true for every person whether it is someone you meet at a party, a fellow traveller, or someone a psychologist encounters elsewhere. When people know that you are a psychologist, they assume that you are the know-all. They will come up with varied problems, ranging from normal anxiety, phobia, obsessions to schizophrenia.
A senior colleague of mine, who is a counselling psychologist, travels far and wide frequently. She often encounters such inquisitive fellow travellers or seatmates. She tells me, “Once they know you are a counsellor, they begin seeking advice on a solution to child abuse, marital adjustments, infidelity or a breakup. They would not realise that what you need then is a short nap; or maybe you would like to refresh your presentation to be made at your destination.” She now does not reveal her identity. If people ask her what she does, she talks of weird professions about which they are usually not too eager to know.
Another friend informed me that whenever she went to parties, friends would discuss how to tackle their children who do not listen to them; why they were not serious about their studies; what could be done so that they started studying seriously and methodically. The buck stops at seeking advice on motivating children on not making boyfriends or girlfriends “at that tender age and in those formative years”.
Heartbreak and depression are other favourite topics of discussion to be taken up with a psychologist. As if this was not enough, the seekers would also like to know what medicines/treatment should be given for an autistic child or a schizophrenic adult. And if you tell them that this is not your area of expertise but that of a psychiatrist, they consider you not so knowledgeable.
The worst part is that being a psychologist, you are yourself under the scanner of the hoi polloi who would dub you as one of those suffering from some mental ailment since you couldn’t help but being on a slippery ground tackling “insane” things all your life.
