Psychoeducation: What It Is, Strategies And Advantages

Psychoeducation involves an essential process for many people when it comes to understanding what they are going through. Many times, the lack of information and uncertainty are aggravating the state of the disease or impediments to lead a quiet life.

If you are interested in knowing what this tool consists of, in this article you have an overview and some of its applications. Education within therapy plays a fundamental role in living with mental illness.

What is psychoeducation?

Psychoeducation is the process of educating and informing people with a psychological disorder about their illness. This education includes processes such as helping the patient to know the disorder they suffer, teaching problem solving techniques and providing emotional support.

It is common to involve the family in the process to foster social support in the close circles of the patient. Group therapy can also be included when self-esteem is at risk or there are feelings of loneliness and isolation.

Strategies used in the psychoeducation process

This tool sets in motion several processes that usually begin after the diagnosis of the disease, although it can be done later if necessary or if the patient comes due to the complications of living with the disorder.

The psychoeducational process can be approached from a multitude of perspectives, from playful to clinical. Different populations – type of disease or age group, for example – require different strategies. However, later on you have the central axes of this intervention.

Raise awareness of the disease

It is important not to fall into the mistake that making a diagnosis transfers all the information necessary for the patient to his head. In the absence of an education regarding their condition, there is a risk that myths and hoaxes about what happens to them will negatively affect them.

Part of the process of accepting the disorder goes through knowing it and assimilating it as part of oneself. In addition, normalizing it is very important to improve self-esteem and free yourself from stigma.

Compliance improvement

Living with a psychological condition implies changing habits and dealing with the suffering that it can cause. This, without full awareness, leads many people to neglect their treatment. Psychoeducation is very useful to create constancy and notably improve evolution.

Psychoeducation in emotional discharge

The sessions, both individual and group, of psychoeducation allow to create a safe space where to dump negative emotions -stress, anxiety, frustration, among others-. Likewise, processing these emotions through sharing with the therapist or therapy group leads to the creation of strategies to cope adequately with the disorder.

Early detection of relapses and prevention of comorbidity

Monitoring the patient, along with self-awareness, greatly prevents the emergence of adjacent disorders, such as substance abuse or major depression. In addition, if there was a risk of relapse, the signs would be observed in time to prevent or prepare for it.

Advantages of psychoeducation

Psychoeducation is therapeutic in itself, although sometimes it does not include clinical therapy per se . These are some benefits observed in patients within psychoeducational programs:

• Acceptance of the disorder and understanding of its limitations. Some patients often report that knowing what is happening to them is both liberating and hopeful.
• Reduction of anxiety symptoms thanks to less uncertainty about the disorder.
• Development of innovative strategies by the patient, which in turn strengthens self-confidence and expectations about their performance.
• Improved self-esteem and self-concept of the patient.
• Increased motivation and interest in therapy. This is especially favorable in minors with disorders such as ADHD, where the participation of the patient is essential for their good evolution.

Last conclusions

Psychoeducation has long shown that knowing yourself and your circumstances is the key so that a mental disorder does not become a curse. The fight against the stigmatization of mental patients also finds ways of diffusion in this process.

In addition, psychoeducation works both individually and collectively, since it encompasses the patient’s social circle and involves it in recovery. It is the living demonstration that together there is no problem that can overcome anyone.