I often hear this phrase from people who know absolutely nothing about psychology and what a practicing psychologist does. And such a picture appears in my imagination... I have a day off. I comfortably lay down on a sun lounger, bask in the sun, drink freshly squeezed orange juice through a straw, and chat with a friend. Well, I’m completely relaxed and feel at ease, I can even blurt out some nonsense - I’m relaxing! And then my friend suddenly responds to my next phrase: “You’re a psychologist! How can you say that!" And I turn my head in bewilderment, slightly lifting my sunglasses: “Yes, and what follows from this?” - I’m interested, sincerely wondering what the said phrase means. I feel like I forgot to turn off my alarm and it suddenly goes off on a day off. For a minute I wake up, remember that I don’t have to go to work, and with a clear conscience I continue to sleep. I still wonder what kind of content people put into this phrase. “You are a psychologist, you must” ... and further down the list. The answers from “those to whom I supposedly owe money” surprise me in that people confidently and categorically speak about my profession, knowing absolutely nothing about it. I am also amazed by a person’s confidence that I should work here and now for free, although I did not promise anything to anyone. I am tempted to be some kind of Messiah who came down from heaven just to make all humanity happy. But I tell myself in time: “Stop, delusions of grandeur!” It is much more interesting to listen to what the interlocutor expects from me. And he says that psychologists should do this. “Always be ready to listen and help” “Work conscientiously and cheaply, or better yet for free” “Be able to establish relationships with any person.” “Always speak in a low, calm voice.” “Always be polite and correct.” “Always be balanced, calm and enjoy life.” "Do what you are asked to do." My answer to these statements is this. I earn my living by my profession and for this I have working hours. I take on my responsibilities myself, guided by the ethical and professional standards accepted in my professional community. The rest of my time is free and I spend it the way I want. I owe a person only if I borrowed something from him. I fulfill only those obligations that I agreed on with the person. I have my personal life and personal time, which I free from professional activities. I am not always ready to communicate, and I may refuse to talk to a person, because I like solitude. I consider it pointless to establish relationships with any person, especially if he does not need a relationship with me. Sometimes I consider it possible for myself to raise my voice, yell and swear. Moreover, not a single guide to psychological counseling prohibits this. It is unlikely that I will remain calm and balanced if one of my friends or relatives gets sick. I can do what is asked of me, but I can also refuse. I am a free person and I value freedom: my own and that of others. I have my own life experience and my own system of life values, based on which I perceive and evaluate the events of the world around me. My interlocutor has his own value system and it may be very different from mine. Interest in each other is possible when one person is ready to listen to another person and recognize his right to live and think the way he wants. "I'm a psychologist!" - and therefore I allow myself to be a real living person both in the profession and in life.