What was the single most important lesson you learned in graduate school related to human thought and behavior?
One Piece of Knowledge
- Thread starter BSWdavid
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I will start:
For me, the single most important piece of knowledge, regarding behavior, is that no one theory can really explain the totality of human existence. While there are theories that may seem to make more sense than others, in the end, I don't think we have figured much out. It reminds me of the story about the elephant and the blind people each describing what they felt. While each person was accurate in their descriptions, none of them could see the elephant in its entirety thus they couldn't really understand what it was. I think this is similar to human behavior; while we get bits and pieces correct, we generally miss the bigger picture.
I realize now we only know what we know and "think" we know much more than we actually do. I guess that is exciting as there is a lot of work to be done.
For me, the single most important piece of knowledge, regarding behavior, is that no one theory can really explain the totality of human existence. While there are theories that may seem to make more sense than others, in the end, I don't think we have figured much out. It reminds me of the story about the elephant and the blind people each describing what they felt. While each person was accurate in their descriptions, none of them could see the elephant in its entirety thus they couldn't really understand what it was. I think this is similar to human behavior; while we get bits and pieces correct, we generally miss the bigger picture.
I realize now we only know what we know and "think" we know much more than we actually do. I guess that is exciting as there is a lot of work to be done.
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Regardless of what I project to others or what the professor, students or early clients think of this I construct, I will still have to face me. I had better be comfortable with relating with the issues, shortcomings, foolishness, and brilliance of me, so I can deal with these in others.
What I got out of that is work with clients can bring up our own issues: these are what I call "matching pictures." When clients have similar personality traits, or have experienced similar events that we have, it can really bring out our insecurities, weaknesses, etc. This is one of the reasons I think therapy is important for therapists. Understanding out own personality is critical because there are clients that will test us, anger us, and really push those buttons that we thought were well hidden. I think therapy can definitely help with this so we are less vulnerable and capable to remaining objective in session.
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100% agreed. Sometimes you can get someone who reminds you of you when you were younger, or you get someone who is brighter than you were but cannot see the one thing that hinders them the most, or you get someone who bores you to tears and you wonder why you are helping them; then you realize your own issues probably seemed boring to others when you went for therapy when in training... etc...
I worked with someone who I was convinced had a far higher IQ than me and a rare combination of self knowledge and general intelligence, but it was his circumstances that could not change; I could not and it would be a long time before he could as well. That was all there was to it: I would listen, nod in understanding and maybe offer some very basic advice, but in the long run there was not much any model or technique could do about what he was going through.
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Yeah, theory and practice are not directly related. It can get tricky sometimes either way: you can stick with one or two clinical approaches or techniques that you "like" or best trained in, become increasingly eclectic, and apply more skills as you learn them and practice applications, decide that only certain theories apply in certain cases, or follow one particular interpretation of a mentor etc... no matter what we decide there are always gaps and between theory and practice and areas that need more practice and research to get something like right.
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There isn't always an explanation for every action/reaction/behavior.
C
ClinPsycMasters
You mean one that you can discern, suggesting at complexity of life? Or are you talking about seeming randomness in life?
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It may just not be accepted by the client or it may take more to bring about change and healing... human behavior though complex is knowable... I like that Aristotle for that discovery.
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D
deleted176373
I agree. The client knows. They come to tx with a "plan" (though it may be unconciously held for safety's sake.) Our job is to figure out what are the obstacles (pathogenic beliefs, lack of skills, lack of resources) that are in the way of the goal and to foster their competency and confidence about getting to that developmental goal.
My first and very wise supervisor (an LCSW) taught me" "Start where the client is. Find what the client needs."
My first and very wise supervisor (an LCSW) taught me" "Start where the client is. Find what the client needs."
