PREVENTION RATHER THAN MERE CURE – this is how I see an educational psychologist’s contribution.
An educational psychologist works proactively, as opposed to only reactively. They cultivate the ground in an individual’s life for a positive lifestyle to take root, instead of only eradicating negative patterns, comparable to weeds stifling healthy growth and authentic living.
Why is a proactive approach more valuable?
Well, since a reactive approach indicates that a problem already exists, whilst a proactive approach prevents the problem from occurring in the first place.
Reactivity is not ineffective, as finding a solution will always be possible. However, when engaging in a proactive manner, a lot of suffering can be bypassed altogether.
On a physical level, proactivity versus reactivity can be compared to proactively taking vitamins to prevent a cold, as opposed to going to the doctor and drinking antibiotics in reaction to flu. The vitamin option enables a continuous strong body, whilst the antibiotics alternative requires off days to regain strength.
On an emotional level, when using the same analogy, it would mean proactively taking emotional supplements (preventative therapy) to enable positive relationships, enhance personal wellbeing and significant experience of life.
As opposed to reactively drinking emotional antibiotics (curative therapy) to rectify already broken bonds, eliminating habitual unhealthy lifestyles and liberating deeply entrenched fearful living.
Do not wait until a small cough becomes a full-blown cold. When your throat starts to itch, immediately drink vitamin C. In like manner, do not wait until a small emotional challenge becomes a full-blown psychological issue.
With all of this being said, it is important to keep in mind that antibiotics STILL serve as a cure for flu, and comparably, educational psychologists STILL guide solutions to already evident emotional problems.
However, the point remains – vitamins hold the potential to result in flu-free, energetic days, and similarly, consulting with an educational psychologist most probably will result as precaution to emotional turmoil.
Therefore the following advice:
It is better to visit the gym regularly than to make an appointment with the cardiologist.
So rather stay emotionally fit than getting an emotional heart attack.