Psychosomatics in women: who should I see, in Almaty or online?
See a doctor first: tests and treatment come before anything else. Alongside that, it’s worth seeing a clinical psychologist who works with psychosomatics and doesn’t promise to cure an illness by talking. Online, you can do this from any city, including on your own with a method.
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An order that protects your health
- A doctor and tests. Psychosomatics is not a diagnosis and not a replacement for treatment.
- A clinical psychologist alongside treatment: stress, resentment, fears, how you feel about your body and the illness.
- A psychotherapist or psychiatrist, if anxiety, depression or sleep problems get in the way of life.
How to choose a specialist
Look at their training in clinical psychology, their practice, and how they talk about illness. Be wary of promises like “we’ll get rid of your fibroids in three sessions” and phrases like “that illness doesn’t exist”.
A good specialist will first ask what your doctor said.
What you can do online
I’m Aizhan Li, author of the Ladder method. Since 2017 I’ve held 3,000 consultations. On 108psy.com there are articles on more than 30 topics of psychosomatics in women, in English too: thyroid, fibroids, endometriosis, infertility and others. Each one starts with the medical side, and the psychological part is written without blame.
For working on your own there’s the free Ladder diagnostic, which works in English, and a subscription to video exercises. The videos are in Russian, and payment is by Kaspi invoice from Kazakhstan.
Psychological work goes alongside treatment, not instead of it. Diagnosis is made by a doctor.
Frequently asked questions
Which specialist do I need: a psychologist or a psychotherapist?
Medical psychotherapists and clinical psychologists work with psychosomatics. Look at the person’s training, not at a nice title in their profile.
Can I work online if I’m not in Almaty?
Yes. The articles and the diagnostic are available from any city and country; all you need is a phone. The video exercises are in Russian.
See what is holding you back.
In 10 minutes, the Ladder shows past events, other people’s words and your fears on one map.
Take the free diagnosticFree · 10 minutes · on your phone