Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Multi-Faceted Learning

     I'm not sure if I've talked about this before, but I think that mentioning my thoughts about a broader education-style might be pertinent.  I really think that understanding, or at least literacy in, some other academic area is a way to innovate in the realm of psychology/psychotherapy/counseling. This other education could be anything - economics, modern languages, literature, biology, mathematics, etc.
     For lack of a better metaphor, this kind of education is like a reinforced rope - rather than just having one strand that can only rely on itself, this rope wraps itself or weaves itself in other layers, allowing for more support.
     I think that therapists have to make the effort to me more broadly-educated in general.  Clients come in from differing ethnic, cultural, religious, and educational backgrounds.  This means that their myriad experiences should be open to inclusion in the session at hand.  A good therapist in this situation is one that can talk to a bunch of these interests and past situations.  This means reading up on different religions, knowing a bit about classical literature and philosophy, and possibly having another language tucked in your back pocket.
     In the end, more broad education - even if it's self-education - can only help the professional.  He or she will feel more competent in their craft and the client will feel more related to.