Leocadio Martín: "As a psychologist, the best virtue is passion"

Born in the Canary Islands 54 years ago, Leocadio Martin is one of these indefatigable psychologists who, in addition to teaching, directs and coordinates a website where he disseminates content related to mental health and positive psychology. Lover of running and traveling to the most remote places on the planet, we wanted to meet him to delve into some aspects of the profession of psychologist, as well as to know first-hand the opinions of him and thoughts.

Leocadio, how did your vocation for psychology begin?

I would say without trying. I started studying Chemistry, but I was bored. I went to Psychology almost without thinking, and I found my passion.

The beginnings were very special. Those were the first years that AIDS appeared, and the role of psychology began to be something very important for society. I landed on the Home Care for the Sick with AIDS in 1988. We were clandestine psychologists, even for our family. I like to think that this is what has shaped my career.

You work as a psychologist in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Tell us: what are the main concerns of your patients? Are you specialized in a specific field of psychotherapy or clinical psychology?

It's been a few years since I decided to stop consulting psychotherapy to dedicate myself to training and groups. I can say that I have worked in several areas of the clinical psychology, but mainly I have done it in the addictions, and all derivations of it.

Today I like to say that I am dedicated to promotion of mental well-being.

What influence do you think the economic crisis has on the mental health of citizens?

All. They have taken away many "certainties" about our life. We can say that the human being has been turned into one of the dogs of the experiments of "learned helplessness”.

It is also true that, fortunately, we are able to get out of the most adverse circumstances and people's resilience is being the great news of these times. This, together with the awareness of belonging, solidarity and generosity, will make us emerge stronger from this imposed and artificial adversity.

How do you value the profession of psychologist in the current context? Do you think there is still a certain stigma that makes many people not go to therapy despite needing it?

I don't think there is a stigma beyond what there is for other professions, such as medicine. At this time if people do not go to the consultation, it is either because they do not think they need it or because their previous experience has not been satisfactory. In the last twenty-five years, psychology has been able to make its role seen in a multitude of areas, from the educational, the clinic wave emergency psychology.

Perhaps the only pending subject is still in the adequate presence (in number of professionals), in academic or public health fields. When we are able to make it understood that our work is preventive and can save a lot of resources and suffering, perhaps administrations understand it and are able to give psychologists and mental health professionals the space necessary.

There is a lot of talk about Positive Psychology. What do you think this approach can bring us?

For many years, psychology has been making a hole in the treatment of the disease, in the clinic. We are experts in helping people to change, to modify behaviors and thoughts.

The positive psychology comes to tell us that our capacity as professionals can go much further. We can help people to change what they want, to know themselves, not to go "automatic mode" through life.

Identifying strengths, learning to be aware of the moment in which we live, is a field of our discipline in which we are experts. And it would be well for us to understand it that way and abandon complexes. If not, they will step on us, as is already happening in some cases.

As for the dissemination of topics related to psychology… Do you think that people are better informed than before about the latest research?

The effort that we are making, more and more, to get to "tell psychology", I think is more and more important. In any case, we have a long way to go. Not only to explain and deliver the latest research: also the classical or modern theories that support the different psychological therapies and interventions.

The question What is psychology for?, still has travel. But yes, I think we are getting people to know better and better what we do and what we can do.

There has been a lot of talk lately about the trend in psychiatry to fix all mental disorders with drugs. In addition, it is often said that from clinical psychology there is also the habit of overdiagnosing some disorders. What is true in this and what role do you think the psychologist should play to avoid this problem?

Undoubtedly, the use of drugs to resolve some mental maladjustments is a tendency that comes from a type of society oriented to quick solutions. To define people by their supposed disorders. This, in a clinical setting, can be helpful to ensure effective or coordinated intervention. But it is bringing an undesirable effect. That of people who identify with their disorders and have a hard time understanding who they are beyond clinical etiquette.

The role of clinical psychology should not remain in the diagnosis, but in an adequate program therapeutic that allows the person to recognize himself as such, and assume her disorder as something that he can handle, With help.

I think we are on that path. And fortunately quite distant from pharmacological solutions.

We have seen that you move like a fish in water through social networks. For what reasons do you consider it important for a psychologist to know how to communicate through the network?

Undoubtedly. We are at the beginning of taking advantage of these tools to publicize our profession. When I studied psychology, access to scientific or informative documentation was minimal.

Currently, the possibility of online treatments, of showing our capabilities, of debating... through these new forms of communication is a space that will undoubtedly make us reach places and people that we would never have otherwise accessed.

We are just at the beginning of the academic year and many young people are taking their first steps in the faculties of psychology, as new students. What would be the best advice that an experienced psychologist like you could give them?

Passion. A single word to define this profession. It is vocational, I have it absolutely clear. You need to be curious to learn and help others. This and keep an open mind. We can enter the race thinking that we want to dedicate ourselves to a specific area and discover another that hooks us. Do not close doors.

We are in the study of the human mind. And psychology is an exciting kaleidoscope, which can take us down unsuspected and wonderful paths.