Empowerment Beyond Coping Strategies: Embracing Psychology’s Full Toolbox

Often when someone is faced with a presenting problem or distress, we as professionals are quick to recognise the importance of psychology in providing “coping strategies” to help. Psychology is a broad field that encompasses various approaches, theories, and applications. While providing coping strategies is certainly a significant aspect of psychology, it is not the sole purpose or focus of the entire field. Psychology encompasses the study of human behaviour, cognition, emotions, relationships, mental processes, and has much more to help in its toolbox.

That’s not to say coping strategies aren’t valuable and can provide immediate relief in challenging situations, however relying solely on coping mechanisms without addressing the underlying issues can have some negative implications. Here are a few points for you to consider:

1. Temporary Relief: Coping strategies often focus on managing symptoms or finding ways to alleviate distress in the moment. While this can be helpful in the short term, it may not address the root causes of the problem. As a result, the underlying issues may persist or resurface later, requiring repeated coping efforts.
2. Masking or Avoiding Problems: When individuals primarily rely on coping strategies for presenting problems without exploring the deeper issues, they may inadvertently mask or avoid the underlying problems. This can lead to a cycle of temporary relief followed by recurring difficulties, as the core issues remain unaddressed.
3. Limited Personal Growth: Coping strategies are generally aimed at managing or reducing distress, but they may not facilitate personal growth or long-term positive change. Understanding and addressing the underlying issues can provide opportunities for personal insight, learning, and transformation.
4. Missed Opportunities for Healing: By delving deeper into the underlying issues, individuals have the opportunity to uncover and heal unresolved wounds or traumas. This deeper understanding can promote long-term healing and growth, leading to greater overall well-being.

The goal of psychology is to understand and explain human thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, as well as to promote mental health, well-being, and personal development. Coping strategies, in particular, are often employed to help individuals manage stress, adversity, or challenging life circumstances. These strategies can be helpful in enhancing resilience, promoting adaptive coping, and improving overall psychological well-being. However, it is important to note that psychology is not solely about coping strategies. While coping strategies serve a purpose in managing immediate distress, it is important to recognise that they are only one part of the equation. Exploring and understanding the underlying issues at a deeper level can facilitate lasting change, personal growth, and improved overall psychological well-being.

Psychology also involves various other domains, such as:

1. Understanding and assessment: Psychology aims to understand how individuals perceive, think, and make decisions. It involves the assessment of cognitive abilities, personality traits, emotional states, and psychological disorders.
2. Treatment and therapy: Psychology encompasses various therapeutic approaches aimed at addressing mental health issues, improving psychological functioning, and facilitating personal growth. This includes evidence-based treatments, counselling, psychotherapy, and other interventions.
3. Research and experimentation: Psychology involves conducting research to advance knowledge in the field. This research can involve studying human behaviour, conducting experiments, collecting and analysing data, and testing theories.
4. Social and developmental aspects: Psychology explores how individuals develop and interact in social contexts. It examines factors such as social influence, identity formation, interpersonal relationships, and group dynamics.

While coping strategies are an important aspect of psychology, they are just one component among many that contribute to understanding and improving human psychological well-being. Psychology as a field is multidimensional and covers a wide range of topics, theories, and applications that extend beyond coping strategies.

Take a look at the following approaches, they can be used by trained mental health professionals, such as psychologists, psychiatrists, counsellors, and therapists, to help individuals overcome challenges and improve their well-being. Here are some key therapeutic approaches within psychology:

1. Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT): CBT focuses on the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. It aims to identify and modify unhelpful thought patterns and behaviours to improve emotional well-being and problem-solving skills. CBT is widely used for a range of mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, and substance abuse.
2. Psychodynamic Therapy: This therapeutic approach emphasises the role of unconscious processes and childhood experiences in shaping current thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. It aims to increase self-awareness and insight into underlying psychological conflicts and patterns. Psychodynamic therapy can help individuals understand and resolve unresolved issues from their past.
3. Humanistic Therapy: Humanistic therapy emphasises self-exploration, personal growth, and the client’s capacity for self-actualisation. It focuses on building a supportive and non-judgmental therapeutic relationship, promoting self-acceptance, and encouraging individuals to fulfil their potential. Person-centred therapy, a well-known humanistic approach, emphasises empathy, unconditional positive regard, and genuineness.
4. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): ACT combines acceptance and mindfulness strategies with commitment to personal values. It encourages individuals to accept difficult emotions and thoughts rather than trying to control or eliminate them. ACT aims to help individuals clarify their values and take committed action toward leading a meaningful and fulfilling life.
5. Family Systems/Systemic Therapy: This approach recognises the influence of family dynamics and relationships on individual well-being. Family systems therapy focuses on improving communication, resolving conflicts, and promoting healthy functioning within the family unit. It often involves working with multiple family members together in therapy.

Different approaches may be more suitable for specific individuals or mental health concerns. Therapists will often tailor their approach to meet the unique needs and goals of each client, and is far more nuanced than simply providing people with coping strategies. Don’t be afraid to have initial appointments with a counsellor/psychologist to see if their style, or ‘toolbox’ is the right fit for your presenting problem or goals.