Ana Rodriguez: "It is key to learn to make decisions"
Many times, it makes the mistake of lumping all forms of well-being needs into the same bag. psychological, as if the work carried out by psychology professionals was always of the same guy.
However, there are very different reasons for going to a psychological assistance center; some of them have to do with treating mental health problems, and others are more linked to the world of personal development. In this interview with the psychologist Ana Rodrigez, from Psico Entrena, we talk about this fundamental distinction.
Interview with Ana Rodríguez: the differences between therapy for mental health and that focused on personal development
Ana Rodríguez is the Director of Psico Entrena and a psychologist specializing in brief psychotherapy applied to adult and adolescent patients. In this interview she talks to us about the particularities of psychological intervention to enhance personal development and its differences with psychotherapy in each treatment of problems of mental health.
To what extent is the distinction between mental health problems, on the one hand, and the need for personal development and self-actualization, on the other, real? Can it be said that these two categories exist because they are useful to work with, and not because they are part of very different aspects of the human mind?
The distinction between mental health problems and the need for personal development as self realisation it's real, though it can be hard to discern at times.
Mental health problems are conditions that significantly affect a person's psychological, emotional, and social functioning. These problems can include disorders such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, or personality disorders, among others. Mental health problems can be caused by a variety of factors, including biological, environmental, and psychological factors.
On the other hand, the need for personal development and self-realization refers to the search for human strengths and virtues, which allow adopting a more open perspective regarding human potential, their motivations and capacities, involving the proper management of their emotions and a life based on values. This need may include seeking the happiness, the achievement of professional or personal goals, the connection with others, and the search for meaning and purpose in life. While personal development and self-actualization can be important for mental health, they are not necessarily the same as treating mental health problems.
In summary, the distinction between mental health problems and the need for personal development and self-actualization is a real one, although there may be some overlap between the two; It is clear that mental health has a traditional approach to discomfort and alleviating suffering, while development personal help to improve the quality of life of individuals, while preventing or reducing the incidence of psychopathology. It is important to seek professional help if you are experiencing mental health problems and work on personal development to have a full and satisfying life.
Does the profile of the person who goes to psychotherapy for suffering from a disorder tend to be different, compared to the client who seeks psychological support to promote their personal development?
Yes, in general, the profile of the person who goes to psychotherapy for a disorder is usually different from that of the client who seeks psychological support to promote their personal development.
People who seek psychotherapy to treat disorders often have significant psychological or emotional problems that impair their performance in daily life. They may experience symptoms such as anxiety, depression, sadness, anguish, difficulties in interpersonal relationships, among others. In general, these people may feel an urgent need for survival and seek treatment to alleviate their symptoms.
On the other hand, people who seek psychological support to promote their personal development do not present deterioration or clinical dysfunction. Instead of seeking treatment for a specific disorder, these people seek help to improve their emotional well-being, improve their interpersonal relationships, increase their self-esteemdevelop skills to manage the stress or greater psychological flexibility promoting their adaptability skills to adversity, among other personal growth objectives.
It is important to note that these distinctions are not rigid and people may seek psychotherapy for a variety of different reasons, including for a combination of psychological disorders and developmental needs staff. In any case, the goal of psychotherapy is to help the person achieve their goals, whether they are to treat a disorder or to improve their emotional well-being and personal development.
What are the keys to distinguish between emotional discomfort generated by a psychological disorder, on the one hand, and vital stagnation and lack of personal development, on the other? Depression is a psychopathology, but it could be confused with the latter.
It is true that sometimes it can be difficult to distinguish between an emotional discomfort generated by a disorder psychological and life stagnation or lack of personal development, especially in the case of depression.
However, there are some clues that can help differentiate between these two types of emotional distress:
Duration and intensity: The emotional discomfort generated by a psychological disorder, such as depression, is usually more intense and lasting than the emotional discomfort associated with life stagnation or lack of development staff. In general, the symptoms of a psychological disorder persist for a long period of time and can significantly affect a person's quality of life.
Specific cause: The symptoms of a psychological disorder are often associated with a specific cause, such as a traumatic event, a stressful situation, or a genetic predisposition. On the other hand, life stagnation and lack of personal development can be the result of a variety of factors, including a lack of direction, purpose, or meaning in life.
Specific symptoms: The symptoms of a psychological disorder are often well defined and can include significant changes in mood, such as sadness, hopelessness, anxiety, irritability, and the most important thing is that it generates deterioration and dysfunction in their vital areas in the person who suffers from it, creating incapacity or incompetence in their daily lives live. On the other hand, life stagnation and lack of personal development can manifest in a variety of ways, such as lack of motivation, apathy, lack of interest in activities that were previously pleasurable, insecurities or inadequate management of emotions, but does not cause disability or dysfunction, the person can fulfill in their vital areas even with the discomfort of their shortcomings and needs.
In summary, although it can be difficult to distinguish between an emotional discomfort generated by a psychological disorder and a life stagnation or lack of personal development, there are some keys that can help differentiate between these two types of issues. If you are experiencing emotional distress, it is important to seek professional help to assess your situation and determine the best way to address your problems.
The phases of the psychological assistance process are basically the same when caring for people who suffer psychopathologies and when caring for those who do not have mental health problems, but present other needs? Or does the structure of the psychology service change in each of these two cases?
In general, the phases of the psychological assistance process are similar to caring for people who suffer psychopathologies and when caring for people who do not have mental health problems, but have other needs. The structure of the psychology service does not change significantly in both cases.
Typical phases of the counseling process include:
Evaluation: The first step in the psychological assistance process is the evaluation, in which information is collected about the patient, their current situation and the reasons for seeking help. The evaluation may include interviews, questionnaires and psychological tests.
Diagnosis: If the patient is suspected of having a psychological disorder, a diagnosis will be made to determine the type and severity of the problem.
Treatment Planning: Once the evaluation and diagnosis have been made, a personalized treatment plan is developed to address the needs of the patient. This plan may include individual therapy, group therapy, medication, and other treatments.
Implementation of the treatment: the implementation of the treatment involves carrying out the planned therapeutic interventions and work with the patient to address problems identified.
Progress Assessment: As treatment progresses, an ongoing assessment of the patient's progress is performed to determine if the treatment is working and if adjustments are needed.
In any case, the structure of the psychology service can vary according to the theoretical approach of the therapist, the specific needs of the patient and the type of problem being treated. For example, therapists may use different therapeutic approaches depending on the problem they are treating and may tailor treatment to the individual needs of the patient.
In summary, although there are some differences in the way psychological treatment is approached for different types of problems, the structure General psychology service is similar for people with mental health problems and people seeking support for other needs psychological.
What are the main reasons for consultation of those who go to the psychologist to reinforce their personal development?
People who seek psychological support to reinforce their personal development may have different reasons for consulting, depending on their individual goals and needs. Some of the more common consultation reasons may include the following.
First, improve self-esteem and self-confidence: people can seek help to increase their self-esteem and self-confidence, to feel more secure and capable in different areas of their life. Second, develop social skills. People may seek help to develop social skills and improve their interpersonal relationships, to feel more comfortable and secure when interacting with other people.
On the other hand, managing stress: people can seek help to learn stress management strategies, to feel more relaxed through self-regulation techniques. Another element is to establish objectives and priorities. People can seek help in identifying their personal goals and priorities, in developing an action plan, and in achieving success in different areas of their lives.
In addition, it is key to learn to make decisions. People can seek help to develop decision-making skills, to feel more confident and capable when making important decisions in their lives. Also, develop creativity and personal expression: People can seek help to develop their creativity and their ability to express themselves in a personal and authentic way, to feel more satisfied and fulfilled in The life of her.
Finally, it is important to remember that each person is unique and has individual needs and goals. A psychologist can help a person identify and address the specific challenges they face in their personal development.
Stress arises many times as a result of the tension that is generated between the present situation of the person and the future that they want to achieve through their projects. Taking this into account, it can be said that stress and anxiety problems are an aspect to work on both in psychotherapy applied to overcome mental health problems as in developmental-focused psychology sessions staff?
Yes, it is true that stress and anxiety can be a common problem in both psychotherapy applied to overcome mental health problems as in psychology sessions focused on development staff. In both cases, clients may experience stress and worry about their current situation and future goals, which can lead to stress and anxiety.
In therapy to overcome mental health problems, the goal may be to help the client manage and overcome your stress and anxiety so you can effectively address the challenges you face in your life daily. In this case, the focus of therapy may be more focused on problem solving and symptom reduction.
In psychology sessions focused on personal development, the goal may be to help the client learn stress and anxiety management skills so that you can achieve your goals in a more effective and satisfactory. In this case, the focus of therapy may be more focused on personal growth and the acquisition of new skills.
In any case, work on stress and anxiety management can be essential to achieve clients' goals and improve their emotional and psychological well-being.
