The 5 Levels At Which Psychological Suffering (and Well-being) Emerges

The 5 levels at which psychological suffering (and well-being) emerges

In the context of clinical psychology and psychotherapy approaches, we have become accustomed to thinking about pain, suffering and well-being as eminently individual phenomena.

Many of the classic and most widespread approaches to this knowledge have focused their studies and approaches around the explanation of the above, considering people as if they were independent of their different social spaces and significant interactions.

Some of the big questions to previous points of view have come from systemic-relational, interactional, social constructionist and even holistic approaches The criticisms presented do not consider that the individual level is insufficient or unnecessary to explain psychological phenomena, but rather that other levels that are equally relevant and that interact with it have been left aside.

According to the approaches of Humberto Maturana, these levels are called “domains of existence.” The concept comes from the idea that we have different ways of being and characteristics depending on which of those domains we are participating in and considering.

Added to the above and following the approaches of Francisco Varela’s Enactive Theory, we could consider that we are not even the same person in the different domains, but that we are and emerge with different characteristics, emotions, actions and ways of seeing things in a continuum of permanent changes. In simple terms,or we are the same person at work as we are in our family or relationship relationships

existence levels

Next, 5 of those spaces or domains of existence that could be considered the main ones in people’s lives will be reviewed. It is important to take into account in advance that these relate and influence each other, in addition to the fact that it is possible to find various subdomains or subsystems within each one.

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1. The Individual Level

This level, as mentioned at the beginning, is the most widely considered both in psychotherapy approaches and in most societies in general. Many of the approaches to psychoanalysis (although not all), cognitive and behavioral theories and even humanists, have focused their focus on this point. Without a doubt, the contribution has been substantive and has served as a basis for the development of rich knowledge and a space of relief for many people over time.

Spaces in which psychological suffering emerges

From a constructivist and narrative point of view, The individual level has to do in simple terms with the relationship we have with ourselves How we perceive ourselves and construct our identity, act, feel and see things. This identity construction can be an inexhaustible source of both suffering and well-being.

2. The Job Level

The definition is practically self-explanatory. A large number of people who attend consultations do so in the context of a problem or crisis in their work environment.

At this point, their specific conditions, different expectations, interpersonal relationships and, without a doubt, the existing possibilities for change are important for understanding these pains. Also this level is a place of great fulfillment and generation of personal resources for others This can be deepened and highlighted a lot in the therapeutic space and also be used as an element of relief.

3. The Social Level

This is perhaps the domain of existence most neglected by modern psychotherapy and clinical psychology. Other areas of psychology have taken charge of it, for example, social-community approaches

It is an extremely complex level and covers different types of abstraction, in which we participate from and to society in many spaces. The idiosyncrasies of different societies, gender, social class, ethnic and even recreational or sporting phenomena are part of it. Our ways of being and therefore, many of our problems and also solutions to them, emerge considering these contexts. The great social crises, very typical of current times, have a lot to do with discomfort or loss of meaning within them.

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4. The Level of Loving or Sexual-Affective Relationships

In the past and until not long ago it could have been defined as simply “couples”, but currently, with the questioning of the hegemony of said model and the appearance of others, such as polyamorous relationships it has been necessary to expand it.

This is also usually a space in which many psychological queries and problems emerge, which usually have to do with problems of boundary negotiations, hierarchies, transgenerational expectations of its members, and certain communication phenomena. It is increasingly common for other types of relationships such as those mentioned above to consult, with their own particularities.

5. The Family Level

Family systems are extremely complex in their understanding, since within them Different subsystems overlap, such as the parental, the filial, the fraternal and the parent-filial As in the previous level, there are many elements (such as those already mentioned) that can explain the problems or crises of the system or some of its subsystems. Here also the phenomena related to alliances, coalitions and triangles appear strongly. An adequate structuring of all the aforementioned aspects makes it possible for comforting and well-being experiences to emerge at this level.

As can be seen, there are many and very diverse domains of existence in which one can reach explain both crises and psychological problems as well as comforting and well-being experiences It is extremely important to emphasize again that these are not totally independent of each other; On the contrary, they have an inevitable and constant interaction. Psychotherapeutic work can occur at any of these levels and, therefore, go beyond the individuality of the person or persons who consult.

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