The 5 levels at which psychological suffering (and well-being) emerges

In the context of clinical psychology and psychotherapy approaches, we have become accustomed to thinking of pain, suffering, and well-being as eminently individual phenomena.

Many of the classical and most widespread approaches to this knowledge have focused their studies and approaches around the explanation of the above considering people as if they were independent of their different social spaces and significant interactions.

Some of the great challenges to previous views have come from systemic-relational, interactional, social constructionist and even holistic approaches. The criticisms presented do not consider that the individual level is insufficient or unnecessary to explain the psychological phenomena, but other equally relevant levels that interact with the same.

According to the approaches of Humberto Maturana, these levels are called "domains of existence". The concept comes from the idea that we have different ways of being and characteristics depending on which of those domains we are participating and considering.

In addition to the above and following the approaches of Francisco Varela's Enactive Theory, we could consider that we are not even the same person in the different domains, but we are being and emerging with different characteristics, emotions, actions and ways of seeing things in a continuum of changes permanent. In simple terms, nor we are the same person at work as in our family or partner relationships.

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levels of existence

Next, 5 of those spaces or domains of existence that could be considered the main ones in people's lives will be reviewed. It is important to take into account in advance that these are related and influence each other, in addition to the fact that it is possible to find various subdomains or subsystems within each one.

1. The Single Level

This level, as mentioned at the beginning, is the most widely considered both in psychotherapy approaches and in most societies in general. Many of the approaches of psychoanalysis (although not all), of cognitive and behavioral theories and even humanists, have focused their focus on this point. Undoubtedly, the contribution has been substantive and has served as the basis for the development of a rich knowledge and a space of relief for many people over time.

From a constructivist and narrative point of view, the individual level has to do in simple terms with the relationship we have with ourselves. How we perceive and build identity, act, feel and see things. This identity construction can be an inexhaustible source of both suffering and well-being.

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2. The Work Level

The definition is practically self-explanatory. A large number of people who attend consultations do so in the context of a problem or crisis in the space of their work.

At this point, the specific conditions of the pains are important for the understanding of these pains. themselves, the different expectations, interpersonal relationships and, without a doubt, the possibilities of change existing. Also this level is a place of great fulfillment and generation of personal resources for others. This can deepen and reveal a lot in the therapeutic space and also be used as an element of relief.

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3. The Social Level

This is perhaps the domain of existence most neglected by modern psychotherapy and clinical psychology. Other areas of psychology have taken charge of it, for example, social-community approaches.

It is an extremely complex level and covers different types of abstraction, in which we participate from and towards society in many spaces. The idiosyncrasy of the different societies, the phenomena of gender, social class, ethnic and even recreational or sports are part of it. Our ways of being and therefore, many of our problems and also solutions to them, emerge considering these contexts. The great social crises, very typical of current times, have a lot to do with discomfort or loss of meaning within them.

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4. The Level of Love Relationships or Sex-Affective

Formerly and until not long ago it could have been defined as simply "couples", but in today, with the questioning of the hegemony of said model and the appearance of others, such as polyamorous relationships, it has been necessary to expand it.

This is also usually a space in which many psychological questions and problems emerge, which usually have to do with problems of boundary negotiations, hierarchies, transgenerational expectations of its members, and certain phenomena communicational. It is becoming more and more common for other types of relationships such as those mentioned above to come to consult, with their own peculiarities.

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5. The Family Level

Family systems are extremely complex in their understanding, since within them Different subsystems overlap, such as the parental, the filial, the fraternal and the parent-filial. As in the previous level, there are many elements (such as those already mentioned) that can explain the problems or crisis of the system or any of its subsystems. Here too the phenomena related to alliances, coalitions and triangles appear strongly. An adequate structuring of all the aforementioned aspects makes it possible for comforting and well-being experiences to emerge at this level.

As can be seen, there are many and very diverse domains of existence in which explain crises and psychological problems as well as comforting and well-being experiences. It is extremely important to emphasize again that these are not totally independent of each other; on the contrary, they have an inevitable and constant interaction. Psychotherapeutic work can occur at any of these levels and, therefore, go beyond the individuality of who consults.