If Psychology is a fascinating field of knowledge, it is precisely because of the complexity of what it studies: the mind and behavior of people; or, in a more general sense, what the experience of being human consists of. In other words, what is fascinating about the profession of psychologists is the same thing that makes it a challenge in which there is always something new to learn.
Starting from this idea, it is normal that there is not a single way of understanding what Psychology is and what it should aspire to, but rather different perspectives from which to approach it. Among them, one stands out that understands psychological well-being as a whole, instead of limiting itself to “putting out fires” by addressing each problem individually: It’s about holistic psychology Let’s see what it consists of.
To better understand what holistic psychology proposes, it is advisable to first look at the meaning of the term “holism”. This refers to an epistemological position (that is, a philosophical approach about how human beings can scientifically know aspects of themselves and the reality in which they live) according to which complex systems in which there are several elements interacting with each other They must be studied globally and without focusing solely on analyzing each of its parts separately
In this sense, holistic psychology is nothing more than the application of holism to the study of human reality, instead of focusing on different psychological phenomena separately. In this way, when studying and trying to understand what is normally considered a mental disorder, holistic psychology proposes going beyond observing which of the symptoms described in a diagnostic manual are present in the patient’s daily life to From there, apply “remedies” to mitigate the discomfort caused by the underlying pathology, but rather connect with the subjective experience of that person to, based on their unique reality as an individual human being, see the reason for their discomfort in their way of living. their own day-to-day existence.
In this way, holistic psychology proposes a very flexible approach to people’s problems and needs, since instead of analyzing the human mind as if it were a machine with mechanical problems in some of its parts, it first tries to understand the way in which each individual lives their life, leaving behind preconceived ideas and presuppositions about what a mental health disorder is For this reason, holistic psychology is closely related to humanistic philosophy and existentialism, two philosophical perspectives that give great importance to subjectivity and the way in which each person gives meaning to their life, getting involved (with greater or lesser success) in projects that give meaning to their existence.
A comprehensive way to understand human well-being
As we have seen, holistic psychology prioritizes the need to approach each human being, seeing it not as a list of problems to be solved and that can be described based on pre-established criteria (or even listed in a psychiatry manual), but as a system that must be studied together
This means, among other things, that the human mind is understood as a phenomenon in constant evolution and movement, which is why it cannot be analyzed by describing its “pieces”, that which apparently remains unchanged. For example, from this approach, memory is not a simple file of information about what a person has experienced in their past, but rather a set of “remembering actions” in which each time a memory is obtained in a different way, since that what we think we know about what happened previously is always undergoing alterations.
For example, we do not remember an event in the same way when we are happy as when we are sad. And this is very important, because the identity of people, what we consider “the Self” and that outlines what we can and cannot achieve, is ultimately one of the facets of our memory.
Thus, holistic psychology does not establish a radical distinction between mental health problems, on the one hand, and the needs for self-actualization and personal development, on the other. Both are aspects that represent a tension between our way of perceiving the present and the future we would like to reach
How is holistic psychology studied?
Currently, holistic psychology is a post-university specialization that can be accessed by graduates in Psychology, as well as graduates in other behavioral sciences or social sciences who have an affinity with the work of psychologists. In any case, It is an expanding field of learning that is increasingly being introduced into more work environments precisely because due to its approaches it is not limited to the area of psychotherapeutic intervention, but can also be put into practice in contexts such as the educational system, companies, sports psychology, etc.
Do you want to train in holistic psychology?
If you are interested in specializing in the application and study of holistic psychology, the Master in Holistic Psychology from the Mediterranean School of Psychology is what you are looking for.
This 100% online training program lasting 800 hours is now available for €995, and gives the possibility of learning the theory and practice of one of the most interesting ways to understand the human mind. In it you can learn several of the main pillars of emotional well-being and personal development, such as Mindfulness, coaching, counseling or therapeutic narrative. One of the main characteristics of this master’s degree and in general of all the Mediterranean School of Psychology training, is that it has no access requirements, so anyone interested can access the training without needing to be a graduate or graduate in psychology. To learn more about this Master, access this page.
