I believe psychology is not about an ‘expert’ and a ‘client’. I have skills I’ve trained in, sure. But ultimately I do not know how to run your life. It’s about using my different perspective to help you move forward. It’s as if we’re two climbers on different mountains. I’m on my mountain watching you climb yours. From here, I can see some of the dangers, threats and perhaps opportunities ahead of you that from where you are, are harder to discern.
The whole reason I changed career myself was to become an expert in something I cared about. Career change – your career change – is something I care about.
As a psychologist I am taught to be sceptical of interventions which have little evidence to suggest they work. Take the MBTI for example, or career matching tests. They can be fun, even interesting, but they are no more than (at best) input to a career decision. Like your Gran’s opinion of what you should do (usually Doctor).
I take people through a thinking process which is as rigorous, objective and scientific as possible, but without forgetting that you are a human who can’t be fitted into a box.