"You mean...

...that pychologists can read people's minds? You know what I'm thinking now?" quips my client.
"No" (!!!!)

People always think that psychologists read people's mind. Noooo! It's not like that at all. I therefore take opportunity of this online mode of communication to explain that it is not like that at all. Hah!

Firstly, psychology is a science and an art at the same time. It's science because there's a method and structure to studying the human mind and emotions, and what have you. It's art because emotions and such stuff are artsy and not sciency. So, in short, it's a methodological study of the human mind, emotions, behaviour and etcetera.

Our work, therefore, involves seeing clients, and making a (hopefully) thorough assessment of the person, and then work from there together with the client to come up with solutions and ways of improving the situation/problem that the client first came in with, in the context of the background of the client. So, psychologists have training in observing non-verbal behaviour, body language, voice pitch and tone, seating arrangements (when in family or organizational settings), etc etc etc and lots more etc.

This is where people mistake psychologists for reading people's mind because we observe and therefore come up with hypotheses as to why certain behaviours are performed. When the hypotheses are confirmed, people are then amazed as to how psychologists are soooo adept at mind-reading.

So, no. I can't read your mind. That must be a relief! =)