The decision to go to therapy is usually caused by the patient's need to address a problem they have in their life. Surely, if he has been slow to do so, it is because of his initial reluctance to open up and relate aspects of his private life to a mental health professional. However, psychotherapists themselves are trained to extract certain information from their patients based on their behaviors and non-verbal language, which can even help them develop the treatment that best suits each subject.
Next, we explain all the things that a psychologist is able to conclude just by observing your appearance and your movements, according to the testimonies of several American therapists collected in an article by the specialized media The Healthy. But be careful! For professionals, a first impression is not enough, which is still based on prejudices: for therapy to be successful, sooner or later you will have to verbalize your ideas.
There is no doubt that the first thing the therapist will notice when you enter his office will be your appearance and your clothes. Just by observing your level of dressing and hygiene, psychologists can get an idea of your emotional state. For example, wrinkled clothing may indicate that the patient has been in a delicate situation. Likewise, dark circles under your eyes are a symptom of insomnia, while noticeable weight fluctuations could warn of a change in diet motivated by stress.
People usually form barriers, more or less visible, to protect ourselves from others. Therefore, holding a bag or jacket is an obvious sign of tension. On the other hand, experts agree that when patients rub a certain part of their body, play with their hands or kick their feet, they most likely cannot hide their nervous state.
By the way you look at them, the therapist can interpret how comfortable you feel. Thus, if the patient maintains eye contact that is too direct and deep, it means that he feels insecure and is trying to intimidate his interlocutor. On the contrary, incessant blinking and difficulty making eye contact denote annoyance and a deep lack of desire to interact.
The patient's facial expressions give clues to the professional about the emotional state of that person. Specifically, the lack or limitation of these expressions, in short, the demonstration of indifference is related to problems such as depression.
Body language as a whole is an inexhaustible source of information for psychologists. Each position has a meaning about the degree of compliance of people. For example, if patients cross their arms or legs, it means that they do not feel comfortable verbalizing the topic being discussed in the session.
