Victor Fernando Perez: "We tend to mask the condition that causes discomfort".

Psychologist Víctor Fernando Pérez talks to us about why people go to therapy.

The possibility of attending psychotherapy has been a great advance in the field of mental health in recent decades. Where years ago there was only the possibility of receiving medication or even isolating oneself from the rest of society, today one can count on professional support to learn to manage emotions, to control impulses, to adopt a more constructive perspective that does not feed hopelessness or psychopathologies in general, etc.

However, none of this will take place if the person with psychological problems does not seek professional help. Therefore, it is key to understand what mechanisms are it is key to understand what mechanisms lead people to come to the psychotherapist's office for the first time.. We will talk about it in this interview to the psychologist Víctor Fernando Pérez, who is in charge of the ENDI En Directo center.

Interview with Víctor Fernando Pérez: Why do people go to therapy?

Víctor Fernando Pérez is a psychologist, speaker and Executive Director of ENDI En Directoa psychology and coaching center born in Mexico City. In this interview he talks to us about what leads people to seek therapeutic help.

From your point of view as a professional? What are the most frequent reasons why people seek psychotherapy?

The reason for consultation is related to frequent and intense conditions of sadness, anguish, disgust, guilt... That is to say, emotions and feelings that come from very diverse causes but that if they were not worked on in therapy would tend to somatize (they can lead to symptoms or physical or organic disorders in which it is not ruled out that at some point the person may need medical attention).

The main reason is anxiety; those who require therapy face constant or even permanent anguish. Among other symptoms, there is a feeling of oppression and difficulty in breathing (which normally does not become conscious until the anxiety is already installed); something that requires attention is that in many of these moments there is usually emotional pain, something similar to a feeling of anguish, normally at a central level in the chest.

Sometimes people come when there are already conditions that bring them closer to a depressive picture, which corresponds to a series of symptoms accompanied by a pattern of discouragement in which they have been living intensely some of the emotions mentioned above, which cause discomfort and require to be treated to heal emotionally.

Is it common that people come to therapy without having a very clear idea of the problem they have, and that they understand it much better after the first sessions with the psychologist?

Yes, especially when we talk about the events that produce those emotions. This happens because human beings tend to avoid attention or mask the condition that causes discomfort. It happens that some people come to us when they have decided to pay less attention to what is causing them emotional pain. When the problem is already reflected in a more intense discomfort is when something we call the breaking point is reached.

Of course, any of these situations in which the person becomes aware of his or her discomfort serve as an impetus for the person to truly assume the will to rescue him or herself.

In the best of cases it may be that someone close to him or her tries to encourage him or her to realize what is happening. Sometimes the sufferer refuses to feel that there is something wrong and it is then that it is of enormous help to have someone who cares about his or her well-being to help him or her seek a better state of well-being and support.

Is it possible that the people around the person who is in emotional Pain can help him or her to get out of it?

It is likely, although it is not easy for this to happen. Normally the people closest to them cannot help as they would like to because they have an emotional bond with the person who is going through a bad time, or even because they feel affected by their condition; but it is clear that they do not want to see them suffer.

How do people fall into hopeless situations?

Faced with situations of discomfort that remain for a long period of time, there may be a condition that the person interprets as demotivation or a decline.

The lack of motivation can sometimes be due to the fact that the person's energy is focused on facing what we call "crisis". It is important to find what will help the person to get out of this hopelessness, therapy is of great help.

How can therapy help?

Any therapy process must first focus on reducing distress. Therefore, in addition to understanding the reason why the person requires help, the first step is to make a good detection of conditions that may affect their general condition.

When the person comes to my attention, in the protocols I attend in a considerate way, with a human sense what we know as the four bases for physical, emotional and psychological balance. Therefore, whoever comes to me receives attention to four factors that we consider "the four pillars of vital balance".

Is there still a myth that it only makes sense to go to a psychologist if you have a mental disorder?

That is an excellent question. I tell you that there are people for whom this myth still exists, and unfortunately some cases that become a complex condition could have been treated in the first stage with a good psychological accompaniment.

However, the conditions of mental disorder or organic condition in any case require to be treated by another specialist, either a psychiatrist or a neurologist.

Fortunately, more and more people turn to therapy to solve situations that do not become serious conditions and that with a good accompaniment are resolved in the best way.

Can you give some examples of people who can benefit from psychotherapy without having developed a psychopathology or even without feeling bad in their day to day life?

Of course. I have patients who ask for therapy when they realize that they are finding it a little more difficult or that it will take longer to resolve a situation in which the person is emotionally involved.

For those who have avoided falling into the myth of mental illness, it has been demonstrated that difficulties can be resolved in a more practical way and finding their best resources with therapy. Problems that have not been aggravated are solved and as a consequence, their condition is easier to address and resolve.

What role does coaching play in psychological intervention processes?

Well, first of all it should be mentioned that today there are many methods that are called coaching, and that most of the unofficial practices have deviated from what is the original method of therapeutic care.

The original method of coaching works in conjunction with psychotherapy. Coaching in its most professional concept and aligned with international standards works.

Among other institutions, I can mention the ICF (International Coach Federation), which seeks to help people find solutions to problems that do not involve psychological intervention, as well as to enhance results and overcome self-imposed limits. It is important to clarify that coaching is not a process that solves crises or traumatic events, however it is of great help in various processes.

Do you think that in the coming years, the fields of psychotherapy intervention will diversify even more?

I am convinced. In fact, the advance of technologies and communications today allow people to go to online therapy in the most practical and simple way. More and more people are benefiting from this new way of receiving therapy.

While there are still people who find it difficult not to have the therapist in person, once they give themselves the opportunity, they realize the great advantages: receiving care wherever they are without the need to travel, which means convenience and great time savings. Online therapy, with the right measures, offers a high degree of reliability. It is also a great opportunity that you can choose your therapist anywhere in the world.

Therapy is enhancing the role of psychology by creating an awareness of self-care and timely care. We must not forget that in any case psychological therapy should always be focused on the sensitivity of the human being.

Maintain a sense of empathy and consideration for anyone who requires help and that does not prevent that in the coming years we can see an even greater growth in the field of intervention of Online Therapy and with the support of other technologies and for this, we must be more prepared.