The truth is that clients come from many backgrounds and are motivated by various reasons—sometimes with serious issues, other times simply for their own development. It’s important that we break down stereotypes around seeking psychological help and understand that anyone can become a client.

Ending Stigmatization
Many still believe that only people with mental illnesses see a psychologist, but this myth needs to be dispelled. Indeed, a client might be mentally distressed or ill and need professional help to recover or achieve an acceptable level of mental wellness. However, many who seek psychological counseling are perfectly healthy mentally but are looking for support to solve situational or general issues. It's also common for someone to attend psychological consultations without any specific problem—just for personal growth, improving self-awareness. This is an increasingly common trend, showing that supporting mental health isn’t just for tough times; it can be part of continuous self-development.

How Does One Become a Client?
There are many paths to becoming a client. Let’s see how this process can start:

• By Personal Initiative: In most cases, clients reach out to psychologists on their own because they feel the need for support in dealing with a specific issue or life situation.

• Due to Relationship Issues: Sometimes, someone sees a psychologist because of relationship problems, initiated by their partner. Often, couple therapy situations or relationship difficulties justify seeking help.

• On Medical Advice: It’s common for people to see a psychologist on medical advice. For instance, a cardiologist might suggest psychological consultation for panic disorder, or a gynecologist for vaginismus.

• As an Adjunct Therapy: In some cases, psychological counseling occurs as part of or in addition to psychiatric treatment. Together, these treatments can help the client better understand and manage their issues.

Anyone Can Be a Client – Even the Psychologist Themselves
It's essential to understand that even those who work as psychologists might go to therapy—and should. Completing certain training courses requires that the professional participates in counseling or therapy individually or in groups for self-awareness purposes. Along with self-awareness, processing their own traumas and difficulties is essential to maintain a stable personality and provide reliable care to clients. This doesn’t mean psychologists struggle with mental health issues; it’s more about them constantly working on their own development and maintaining their professional skills. This is a natural process that helps maintain inner balance and high-quality professional work, even though, of course, we psychologists know the myths surrounding us. One of the most common myths is that someone becomes a psychologist because they themselves struggle with major issues and want to solve them by essentially “healing” themselves. Undoubtedly, there are no lives without struggles, which includes psychologists, but it’s unnecessary to draw conclusions about why someone chooses this field. ☺️

Minor Clients and the Role of Legal Representative
In the case of minors, the situation is special. For underage clients, the consent of the legal guardian is always needed. This is usually the parent or guardian who decides if the child can participate in therapy. It’s important to note that when it comes to children, special attention is paid during therapy to ensure that the client, i.e., the child’s needs and feelings are respected, while continuously cooperating with the parent to achieve therapeutic goals.

Participating in psychological counseling isn’t solely for treating mental illnesses; it’s a broadly applicable tool for personal development, handling life’s difficulties, and increasing self-awareness. Anyone can be a client, whether they are facing a specific issue, relationship difficulty, or simply focusing on their own development. It’s important to dismantle prejudices related to seeking psychological help and recognize that mental health requires just as much attention as physical health. Visiting a psychologist is a conscious step for oneself, which can be beneficial anytime, whether for problem-solving or personal growth.