Simple psychoeducation can be fundamental and critical for solving our emotional problems

I think that sometimes we can underestimate the value of simple psychoeducation as part of the counseling process. Examples are:

• We can learn about the simple fight, flight or freeze as a response to stress. 
• We can learn that anger may be a simple manifestation of stress.
• We can learn that stress may be a response to maladjustments in our lives, and to sort out these maladjustments, we need to look at the external locus of control (our external factors), and the internal locus of control (our internal factors). 
• We can learn that when a child is showing aggressive behaviors, it may represent the simple fight response to stress, and stress can be due to disconnection, shame, or loneliness. 

I often use the following metaphor to explain to my patients about the importance of simple psychoeducation and emotional literacy.

To solve maths we need to know what numbers are i.e. simple numeracy.

To solve communication, we need to know the alphabet i.e. literacy.

To solve finance, we need to know financial literacy.

So to solve emotional problems, we need simple emotional literacy first through simple psychoeducation.

It’s simple, but fundamental and absolutely critical.