How an Occupational Psychologist Can Help You

Do you find yourself feeling stressed at work? Are you having difficulty concentrating or getting your work done? Frustrated with an unwanted behaviour or lack of career progression?

We often think of physical risks regarding health and safety in the workplace. However, psychological problems are another potential hazard that's often overlooked.

Fortunately, a specialist in occupational psychology can help.

Occupational psychology is the study of how psychological factors affect work behaviour and performance. Practitioners use knowledge of organisational and human behaviour to help people with work challenges.

Occupational psychologists come from various backgrounds. Some practitioners have a clinical background, transferring skills to the work context. Others will have a non-psychology background (e.g., human resources) that have completed a conversion course to prepare for specialist training.

Some people obtain a first degree in psychology before going on to postgraduate study. In the UK, The British Psychological Society (BPS) hosts a Division of Occupational Psychology to support good practice in the field.

Common Types of Psychological Problems at Work

Psychological problems at work are more common than you might think. Whether you work part time or full time, many different types of issues can occur at work. Some of the most common include:

Stress: Stress is a normal response to challenging or difficult situations. However, it can lead to significant problems (e.g., anxiety) at toxic levels.
Lack of career path clarity: Many professionals struggle to map their career trajectories. Uncertainty and indecision can hamper your progression.
Conflict with co-workers: Disputes with colleagues can make work extremely stressful. Conflict may occur for a variety of reasons. These factors need to be identified and addressed.
Job dissatisfaction: Feeling unhappy or unfulfilled in one's job can lead to apathy, absenteeism, and low productivity.
Procrastination: Many people keep putting off important tasks but don't understand why.
Burnout: This problem is characterised by feelings of exhaustion, cynicism, and detachment from one's job.

These are just some of the many psychological problems that can occur at work.

These issues focus on the individual. But, psychologically healthy work environments address individual, team, and organisational factors in worker wellbeing.

Furthermore, an occupational psychologist can take a positive focus, helping clients develop positive skills in critical areas (e.g., communication).

Techniques Used by Occupational Psychologists

Occupational psychologists work in various private sector and public settings. They are experts in psychological problems at work. They can help identify the cause of the problem and recommend solutions.

The first part of the process is understanding the root causes of your challenges. This involves more than identifying problem causes and should produce a 'formulation' that explains why and how a problem has developed.

We apply psychological science to identify 'mechanisms' (psychological processes) we can target with evidence-based strategies. Theory and practice are combined to achieve desired results.

Next, we select the best strategies for the problem and the person's circumstances. I take techniques from various approaches, including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), structured problem-solving, neuroscience-informed reflective learning, and others.

Finally, there should be some measurement and follow-up to ensure a person's goals are reached.

Summary

While psychological problems at work are fairly common, they don't have to be a long-term feature of your career.

Occupational psychologists can help you identify the root causes of your difficulties and develop strategies to manage them more effectively. Interventions can be woven into a broader program of professional development. You can enhance performance and job satisfaction by addressing various challenges.