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Now ye're talking - to a psychologist

Boards.ie: Niamh

Our next guest is a psychologist who has worked in a variety of academic and clinical settings, including community mental health teams and with incarcerated men who’ve committed serious crimes.

She is happy to answer any questions you may have, although protecting confidentiality and anonymity is really important so please understand that she may not be able to answer everything.

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freshpopcorn

Sometimes when we read about a criminal in the media we read they are very evil/bad/etc. Do you ever feel sorry for them or think they aren't as bad as the papers make them out to be?

banie01

Given your breadth of experience.
Have you formed an opinion on nature versus nurture?
And in instances of addiction, do you believe the "disease" model of addiction allows for adequate support and treatment of addiction?

Thanks for taking the time to the AMA, it's the 1st one in a while that's really grabbed my interest

I'm a Psychologist, AMA

Hi all, looking forward to this!

freshpopcorn wrote: »

Sometimes when we read about a criminal in the media we read they are very evil/bad/etc. Do you ever feel sorry for them or think they aren't as bad as the papers make them out to be?

Absolutely. I've worked with a few people whom you could potentially have heard about on the news, and it's astonishing how different they can be in person to how they are reported on. I remember doing a lengthy assessment with one guy who had such a sad story, and came across as someone who had just ended up going down the wrong path out of desperation and confusion. After i'd finished, I googled him and the way he was reported in the news made him out to be an absolute monster. The pictures the media chose to use were ones where he looked totally crazed, which was not representative of how he looked when I met him.

At the end of the day, everyone is human and everyone has a story. A key part of my role is finding compassion for every person that I work with, even if they've done some abhorrent things.

banie01 wrote: »

Given your breadth of experience.
Have you formed an opinion on nature versus nurture?
And in instances of addiction, do you believe the "disease" model of addiction allows for adequate support and treatment of addiction?

Thanks for taking the time to the AMA, it's the 1st one in a while that's really grabbed my interest

You're welcome!

Nature v nurture is quite contentious these days. Many psychologists will argue that nature has nothing to do with anything (see the recently published Power Threat Meaning Framework if you are interested and have a LOT of time of your hands), but I don't take quite such a hard line. My sense is that people have biological vulnerabilities towards certain things, and a combination of personality and life experiences impact how and to what degree those things become expressed. So there may be a genetic predisposition to psychosis, for instance, but I think that alone isn't enough to mean you'll develop symptoms.

I haven't worked much with addiction, so I can't speak with any authority, but my instinct would be to treat it as above. A disease, to me, implies something like cancer - something you can get with no apparent cause or even when you try your best to avoid it. So I don't feel like that fits too well with addiction. As with anything, I think understanding the reasons behind it are key to making permanent changes - if someone can identify when and why they may have used substances, you can start working from there. I also don't like the passive nature of describing addiction as a disease - to me, it sounds like saying it's out of someone's control. If you feel like you can't control it, where's the incentive to take steps to change?

0lddog

psychiatrist & psychologist

Same or different & in what ways ?

I'm a Psychologist, AMA

0lddog wrote: »

psychiatrist & psychologist

Same or different & in what ways ?

Very different, but a very common question

.

Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialise in mental health. They can prescribe medication and monitor your physical health, if needs be.

Psychologist is a broad term, but generally means someone with a psychology undergraduate degree and further post-graduate training and study. Psychologists are not doctors and can't prescribe medication or monitor physical health. They can work in a variety of specialist settings, such as mental health, education, forensic systems, counselling, academia, etc.

Psychiatrists tend to use what we refer to as the "medical model" - i.e. mental health can be understood similarly to physical health, with an emphasis on the biological basis of mental illness.

Psychologists who work specifically with mental health are called Clinical Psychologists (which requires a 3 year doctorate to qualify, so they are referred to as Doctor - that increases the confusion!). They tend to take a broader view of mental health, using something more along the lines of the biopsychosocial model of mental health.

[Deleted User]

Is there a thin line in your experience between objectivity and empathy?

wexie

Presumably from the OP you've worked or at least been involved with in the prison system.

Has this been from an assessment or treatment angle?

Is there (in your opinion) much of an effort being made in the Irish prison system with regards rehabilitation? Would it be useful?

thanks!

(Oh, one more, from what I understand pretty much anyone in Ireland, regardless of education or qualification can call themselves counselor or therapist, how do you feel about this?)

bobwilliams

I appear to have almost no empathy.
Been to concentration camps etc...zero effect.
Seriously,would this be considered healthy in your opinion?
I suppose the reason for the question is the fact that I've read that a lot of violent criminals can exibit such traits or is that moreso a lack of self control and self conscience?
Thanks in advance.

Kuva

bobwilliams wrote: »

I appear to have almost no empathy.
Been to concentration camps etc...zero effect.
Seriously,would this be considered healthy in your opinion?
I suppose the reason for the question is the fact that I've read that a lot of violent criminals can exibit such traits or is that moreso a lack of self control and self conscience?
Thanks in advance.

What age are you?

bobwilliams

Kuva wrote:

What age are you?

Tell me how

Given the OP (and your experience in prison environments), do you think that males are identifiably more evil* than females naturally or to what degree does the physical strength advantage which males have lead to the occurrence of events with serious consequences and thus create a perception that males are 'wired' to behave in that way more than females.

2nd more important question.
Do you read your horoscope?

* I don't mean to load the question too much using the word evil, you can substitute with a different word if you wish.

I'm a Psychologist, AMA

Deleted User wrote: »

Is there a thin line in your experience between objectivity and empathy?

I don't think I understand your question. Could you elaborate on what you mean and I'll do my best to answer?

wexie wrote: »

Presumably from the OP you've worked or at least been involved with in the prison system.

Has this been from an assessment or treatment angle?

Is there (in your opinion) much of an effort being made in the Irish prison system with regards rehabilitation? Would it be useful?

I haven't worked within the Irish prison system, I must confess. But in the forensic system I did work in (it was a secure hospital, not a prison, just to be clear), I have worked in both assessment and treatment. Emphasis was most definitely on treatment and rehabilitation, and the ultimate goal, where possible, was always to try and get someone back into the community.

Aiming for rehabilitation is always the best approach, in my view. It might not always be possible, but it's important to treat someone like a human being who has worth. Many people in the prison system have had truly impoverished lives - not always in a financial sense, but in terms of love and human connection and feeling wanted and valued. As odd as it sounds, secure services could and should be a place where time is devoted to instilling a sense of worth in people. Research tells us that punishment doesn't stop people doing bad things, it just makes them more careful about being caught. But care and compassion and helping people get their needs met in safe or legal ways will be much more powerful in reducing the odds of ongoing offending behaviour.

Sadly, I don't think the resources are there right now, but I hope in the future we'll continue to move towards more of a model of positive rehabilitation.

(Oh, one more, from what I understand pretty much anyone in Ireland, regardless of education or qualification can call themselves counselor or therapist, how do you feel about this?)

This drives me nuts! Technically, it's the same with "psychologist" - it's not a protected title and anyone with a psychology degree could call themselves a psychologist.

There are varying levels of qualifications, and it's so important for anyone considering going for therapy to check the qualifications of the person they go to. Any therapist worth their salt will be delighted to be asked. You could go on a weekend-long course in "Counselling Skills" and set up a practice if you wanted. The potential for damage is huge. At the other end of the spectrum, you have Clinical and Counselling Psychologists. Both will have completed an undergraduate degree and a doctorate degree, and may have further specialised training in certain therapy modalities, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). So always check!

bobwilliams wrote: »

I appear to have almost no empathy.
Been to concentration camps etc...zero effect.
Seriously,would this be considered healthy in your opinion?
I suppose the reason for the question is the fact that I've read that a lot of violent criminals can exibit such traits or is that moreso a lack of self control and self conscience?
Thanks in advance.

There are so many reasons that a person might not feel a level of empathy that they would expect to, and I couldn't possibly even begin to scratch the surface of that here. I would say, if you're truly concerned, a quick chat with your GP would be the best first step.

I'm a Psychologist, AMA

Tell me how wrote: »

Given the OP (and your experience in prison environments), do you think that males are identifiably more evil* than females naturally or to what degree does the physical strength advantage which males have lead to the occurrence of events with serious consequences and thus create a perception that males are 'wired' to behave in that way more than females.

What an interesting question! I'll try and do it justice.

I certainly don't think any one group is more "evil" than the other. I think there are a huge number of factors at play at any one time - things like group dynamics, family scripts, self-esteem, core beliefs about the self, societal pressures, etc. I tend to take a social constructionist approach to things like this - that is, there is no one objective truth but everything is socially and culturally constructed, so an individual's beliefs and behaviours will be shaped by their environment and the people in it.

With regards to your specific question, I think strength is something that's easy to see and demonstrate, and it's easy to identify that a crime happened because one person was physically stronger than the other. It's easy to fall prey to confirmation bias and make a link such as "Men are stronger than women. Men use strength to commit crimes. Thus men are evil". But that would be flawed logic, obviously, same as if the reverse thought process occurred.

2nd more important question.
Do you read your horoscope?

I do not

The Black Oil

Do you think we'll ever to get to a place where resources will actually meet the needs - e.g. CAMHS, autism services, etc?

alta stare

Many years i done a course over the summer months in psychology in WIT and found it very interesting. I have to admit it opened my mind up to many things regarding peoples behaviour and how important it is to have an understanding of them before making a judgment on them or their situation. I only wish my circumstances at the time would of allowed me to take it up full time. Such and interesting field so thanks for doing an AMA.

Anyway after that needless story

My question(s) is a simple one and perhaps maybe a silly one, Do you ever find yourself analysing people you meet, ie in social circles and how does it shape how you interact with people, assuming of course such a thing would even relate to you in the first place.

fishy_fishy

What's the difference between a counselling psychologist and a clinical psychologist?

Presumably you've had plenty of times where the people you were working with were offloading (for want of a better word) some horrible experiences and emotions at you. How do you protect yourself in those situations? I think most of us tend to feel exhausted, and even upset ourselves after say, spending time with a friend or family member who's very upset or distressed over something.

WoolyJumper

Hi, I recently graduated with a minor in psychology but I am thinking of going all the way and doing a H-DIP followed by a masters. But im not sure if I'm prepared for work and time it would take to be qualified? Any tips or advice for going down this road?
What area of psychology do you currently work in and what does your day to day look like in your job?
Any Aspects of your job you don't like?

Sorry I know they are big questions and might require sometime to answer

Tell me how

Do you find that many patients expect the experience of seeing a psychologist to be similar to the movie where they speak for a few minutes and then the psychologist says something insightful and their on the path to recovery, or do people generally recognize just how difficult the process can be (while still being helpful)?

Tell me how

Have you used the services of a psychologist yourself? Or another mental health professional?
If so, did you find the experience as you may have expected or in what way was it different?

Gwen Cooper

Hi,

Thanks for doing this AMA - it's a topic I have an interest in (but not the brains for it!

)

Do you ever find yourself "analyzing" people outside work, even subconsciously?

Or let's say that you see that one of your friends has a condition they don't realize they have, but you can see it and believe that they would benefit from seeing a psychiatrist, would you suggest it to them?

[Deleted User]

I'm a Psychologist, AMA wrote: »

I don't think I understand your question. Could you elaborate on what you mean and I'll do my best to answer?

I haven't worked within the Irish prison system, I must confess. But in the forensic system I did work in (it was a secure hospital, not a prison, just to be clear), I have worked in both assessment and treatment. Emphasis was most definitely on treatment and rehabilitation, and the ultimate goal, where possible, was always to try and get someone back into the community.

Aiming for rehabilitation is always the best approach, in my view. It might not always be possible, but it's important to treat someone like a human being who has worth. Many people in the prison system have had truly impoverished lives - not always in a financial sense, but in terms of love and human connection and feeling wanted and valued. As odd as it sounds, secure services could and should be a place where time is devoted to instilling a sense of worth in people. Research tells us that punishment doesn't stop people doing bad things, it just makes them more careful about being caught. But care and compassion and helping people get their needs met in safe or legal ways will be much more powerful in reducing the odds of ongoing offending behaviour.

Sadly, I don't think the resources are there right now, but I hope in the future we'll continue to move towards more of a model of positive rehabilitation.

This drives me nuts! Technically, it's the same with "psychologist" - it's not a protected title and anyone with a psychology degree could call themselves a psychologist.

There are varying levels of qualifications, and it's so important for anyone considering going for therapy to check the qualifications of the person they go to. Any therapist worth their salt will be delighted to be asked. You could go on a weekend-long course in "Counselling Skills" and set up a practice if you wanted. The potential for damage is huge. At the other end of the spectrum, you have Clinical and Counselling Psychologists. Both will have completed an undergraduate degree and a doctorate degree, and may have further specialised training in certain therapy modalities, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). So always check!

There are so many reasons that a person might not feel a level of empathy that they would expect to, and I couldn't possibly even begin to scratch the surface of that here. I would say, if you're truly concerned, a quick chat with your GP would be the best first step.

To clarify, I'm referring to an affinity towards your client without compromising professional detachment.

Thank you for responding.

Agyemang Duah Samuel Premfi

please i want to be a psychologist and am now in college of education which means i am a teacher to be. please enlighten me on what to do next after i graduate?

[Deleted User]

We were just discussing in another area of the forum the concept of the "Just talk about it" message we send to the public in relation to Mental Health issues and well being? What is your position that debate/discussion? Is it a good message? A bad one? Is it - as some fear - a poor attempt to foist the responsibility from the government onto - essentially - the victims and those around them?

And do you find - as I have - that one issue with people being expected to "Just talk about it" - is that they often do not have the language to do that? That concepts you and I might known well from things like CBT or Transactional Analysis - and that mode of thinking and talking - they almost have to reinvent themselves before they can usefully articulate their issues? And perhaps there is some way we as a society can be giving the public those tools even long before they need them? If you could press a button and install certain ideas or language in the neck top computers of the masses in other words - what would it be.

Finally when it comes to the criminal element what is your position on "free will" as people traditionally understand it. So you think we have it? How do you distinguish between a Charles Whitman who was found to have a tumor pressing down on his brain that he never chose to have - and people who did not choose their genetics their parents their eduction and their circumstances. Can it be "Tumors all the way down" in some sense as people like Sam Harris suggest? And that not only can we abandon traditional notions of free will - but we can do so without any negative impact on our justice system or sense of justice and goals therein?

I'm a Psychologist, AMA

The Black Oil wrote: »

Do you think we'll ever to get to a place where resources will actually meet the needs - e.g. CAMHS, autism services, etc?

I certainly hope so, but the government are completely reactive, rather than proactive. It doesn't take a genius to work out that serious investment in preventative intervention is key. Invest heavily in CAMHS, school supports and resources, and supporting parents and families and you'll have a much healthier population when they reach adulthood. Right now, we're waiting until the issues are present to react to them, rather than putting supports in place to prevent them becoming such a problem in the first place.

I don't understand why parents are just expected to magically know what to do, for example. Unless you learn something different, you'll likely just raise your kids as you have experienced yourself, which is often how cycles of abuse or unhelpful behaviours get propagated.

I saw something on Facebook recently where someone was lamenting that their child was wetting themselves frequently. They tried to deal with it by punishing and shaming them and couldn't understand why it wasn't having an effect. All the replies were along the lines of "That's a bad approach", but the OP came back and said "Well, I'm the parent, I'm going to do what I think is best and continue punishing my child until they learn". Basic behaviour management training would go so far for so many people, along with encouraging healthy expression of emotions in children and how to communicate needs in a way that gets them met positively.

alta stare wrote: »

Many years i done a course over the summer months in psychology in WIT and found it very interesting. I have to admit it opened my mind up to many things regarding peoples behaviour and how important it is to have an understanding of them before making a judgment on them or their situation. I only wish my circumstances at the time would of allowed me to take it up full time. Such and interesting field so thanks for doing an AMA.

Anyway after that needless story My question(s) is a simple one and perhaps maybe a silly one, Do you ever find yourself analysing people you meet, ie in social circles and how does it shape how you interact with people, assuming of course such a thing would even relate to you in the first place.

I'm really glad you enjoyed it! It sounds like you took away a really important message.

I wouldn't say I analyse people, but I do spot patterns of behaviour or thinking that may underlie the way they deal with certain situations, yeah. I used to get drawn into trying to solve everyone's problems, but over time, I had to learn to stop doing that. It's exhausting and draining and a lot of people just want to vent and don't want to change! My professional life was seeping into my private life too much and I wasn't able to switch off any more.

It does still impact how I interact with people though. Simple things like active listening and reflection can strengthen a bond, and I've learned how to subtly help people think about things in a broader fashion than they might typically do.

fishy_fishy wrote: »

What's the difference between a counselling psychologist and a clinical psychologist?

In practice, there's not too much difference. Both are educated to doctoral level and have similar skills and abilities. I suppose counselling psychologists typically focus more on therapy and will use an integrative approach tailored to the individual. Clinical psychologists tend to be a bit more attached to CBT, in my experience. Clinical psychs will also do a lot of non-therapy work, like neuropsychological assessments and management/leadership-type roles that counselling psychs may not (but can).

The main difference may be in the pathway to training. Counselling psychology is a self-funded doctorate and, I believe, doesn't require across-the-lifespan experience. So you could do your 3 years of training part-time over 6+ years, or all in one area (e.g. adult mental health). The lack of funding means it's somewhat easier to get a place on a doctorate course as competition is less.

Clinical psychology, on the other hand, is fully funded, so you're paid a salary during training. This makes it extremely competitive, and means that many clin psychs will end up working for years in low paid work prior to training, in roles like research assistants, assistant psychologists, support workers, etc. The training includes mandatory 6 month placements in each of the following areas: Child and adolescent mental health, adult mental health, older adults (including dementia) and people with learning/intellectual disabilities.

Presumably you've had plenty of times where the people you were working with were offloading (for want of a better word) some horrible experiences and emotions at you. How do you protect yourself in those situations? I think most of us tend to feel exhausted, and even upset ourselves after say, spending time with a friend or family member who's very upset or distressed over something.

I find it's actually much easy to separate my emotions from work than personal situations! We have regular supervision with another psychologist, where we have a space to talk about things that bothered or stayed with us. I find it's important to plan your day carefully too - if I'm seeing someone who I know will affect me emotionally, I'll schedule them for the end of the day so I don't need to do much work afterwards. Having good colleagues is vital! Being able to offload to them helps so much. I think it's mostly about being on top of self-care, and making sure I make time to do things that relax me. I often pass my evenings playing rubbish games that require no thinking, and I'm careful about the books I read and the things I watch on TV. Also reflecting on my feelings and being aware of why I'm feeling certain things is really helpful - it's nice when I can say "Oh yeah, the reason I'm feeling really cranky is X".

WoolyJumper wrote: »

Hi, I recently graduated with a minor in psychology but I am thinking of going all the way and doing a H-DIP followed by a masters. But im not sure if I'm prepared for work and time it would take to be qualified? Any tips or advice for going down this road?
What area of psychology do you currently work in and what does your day to day look like in your job?
Any Aspects of your job you don't like?

Sorry I know they are big questions and might require sometime to answer

What area are you ultimately thinking of going into? You're right, it's a long road. My journey may have been a bit longer than typical, but it took me 14 years between doing my leaving cert and being fully qualified. If you're thinking of doing it, I'd say go in with your eyes open: Be prepared for a LOT of studying, failure, rejections and knock-backs. You'll likely spend several years earning a pittance, if that. It can feel like you're never going to get there! If you're aware of all that, and still want to do it, then I wish you the very best

. It's a great job in the end!

I'm a clinical psychologist, and a typical day might, for example, consist of 4 hours direct clinical work and the rest of the time is preparing, writing notes and reports and going to meetings. It's hard to outline a 'typical' day because they all vary, but any day can consist of any mixture of individual therapy work, group therapy, neuropsychological assessment, consulting with other professionals, attending team meetings, supervising/supervision, researching, and writing.

Tell me how wrote: »

Do you find that many patients expect the experience of seeing a psychologist to be similar to the movie where they speak for a few minutes and then the psychologist says something insightful and their on the path to recovery, or do people generally recognize just how difficult the process can be (while still being helpful)?

I think people usually realise quite quickly that it's a long and hard journey! Some people will drop out because it gets too hard. I usually use a metaphor of it being like doing a really deep clean of your bedroom. First, you open the doors and cupboards and drawers, then you take everything out and pile it on your bed. Then you survey the mess and regret ever starting, and battle with the desire to just shove it all back in haphazardly. But if you stay with it, and put things away one at a time, you'll get there in the end and have a lovely tidy, organised room.

I'm a Psychologist, AMA

Tell me how wrote: »

Have you used the services of a psychologist yourself? Or another mental health professional?
If so, did you find the experience as you may have expected or in what way was it different?

I have, and I think it's really important for therapists to have that experience of "being on the other side of the [metaphorical] desk".

It made me aware of how vulnerable and exposed I felt, for sure. I was very afraid of being judged, and I noticed that I got embarrassed and apologised any time I cried. It definitely helped me understand what a client might need from a therapist. I saw two, at different times. On reflection, one was great and really helped me, and the other was rubbish!

Gwen Cooper wrote: »

Hi,

Thanks for doing this AMA - it's a topic I have an interest in (but not the brains for it! )

Do you ever find yourself "analyzing" people outside work, even subconsciously?

Or let's say that you see that one of your friends has a condition they don't realize they have, but you can see it and believe that they would benefit from seeing a psychiatrist, would you suggest it to them?

Pretty much answered above, I think. I'd never attempt to label or diagnose someone outside of a professional setting, but I have occasionally said something like "It sounds like you could do with having someone to talk to about this. Let me know if you'd like any help in finding someone".

Deleted User wrote: »

To clarify, I'm referring to an affinity towards your client without compromising professional detachment.

Thank you for responding.

I think you're asking if you can remain objective when you feel warmly towards someone? (Or equally, if you really don't like them?)

I think that, yes, you absolutely can, but it's really important to be aware of your feelings towards a person and to discuss that with a supervisor. Despite our best efforts, we can be swayed by emotion, so it's important to constantly reflect on whether you are being objective and behaving as you would with any other person who didn't elicit those feelings.

Agyemang Duah Samuel Premfi wrote: »

please i want to be a psychologist and am now in college of education which means i am a teacher to be. please enlighten me on what to do next after i graduate?

I'd suggest contacting the psychological society in your country, as requirements vary significantly between countries. In Ireland, that's the Psychological Society of Ireland (https://www.psychologicalsociety.ie/).

I'm a Psychologist, AMA

Deleted User wrote: »

We were just discussing in another area of the forum the concept of the "Just talk about it" message we send to the public in relation to Mental Health issues and well being? What is your position that debate/discussion? Is it a good message? A bad one? Is it - as some fear - a poor attempt to foist the responsibility from the government onto - essentially - the victims and those around them?

And do you find - as I have - that one issue with people being expected to "Just talk about it" - is that they often do not have the language to do that? That concepts you and I might known well from things like CBT or Transactional Analysis - and that mode of thinking and talking - they almost have to reinvent themselves before they can usefully articulate their issues? And perhaps there is some way we as a society can be giving the public those tools even long before they need them? If you could press a button and install certain ideas or language in the neck top computers of the masses in other words - what would it be.

Finally when it comes to the criminal element what is your position on "free will" as people traditionally understand it. So you think we have it? How do you distinguish between a Charles Whitman who was found to have a tumor pressing down on his brain that he never chose to have - and people who did not choose their genetics their parents their eduction and their circumstances. Can it be "Tumors all the way down" in some sense as people like Sam Harris suggest? And that not only can we abandon traditional notions of free will - but we can do so without any negative impact on our justice system or sense of justice and goals therein?

Those are some big questions! To your first question, I'm not sure I know enough to have a position. I'm a big supporter of trying to reduce the stigma of mental health through open dialogue and conversation. I think it's really hard for someone to understand the true experience of different aspects of mental health difficulties without experiencing it for themselves, so being open and talking about that can help everyone. For instance, I think it's only recently that people are starting to understand that "depression" is less "sadness and crying" and more "numbness and lack of feelings", and that's come about through people being open.

I think language is definitely an issue. When you think about a young infant, parents and caregivers use language constantly to help the baby understand what it's feeling. "Oh, you're crying, I wonder if you're hungry? Let's get you a bottle. No, not hungry? Maybe you need your nappy changed. Let's check" and so on. I think it goes back to my ideas in the post above yours about preventative intervention - give people the tools early. Mental health should be taught about from junior infants onwards, IMO.

Your last question - gosh, that would take a book to answer! I don't think it's binary though. I'd never heard of Charles Whitman, but a skim of his Wikipedia page suggests that the brain tumour was just a very small part of the story. And if I'm honest, I'm struggling to even follow the last part of your question, never mind answer it!

Gwen Cooper

I'm a Psychologist, AMA wrote: »

I usually use a metaphor of it being like doing a really deep clean of your bedroom. First, you open the doors and cupboards and drawers, then you take everything out and pile it on your bed. Then you survey the mess and regret ever starting, and battle with the desire to just shove it all back in haphazardly. But if you stay with it, and put things away one at a time, you'll get there in the end and have a lovely tidy, organised room.

I love that! As someone who went through long years of psychiatric care, I can relate to that on so many levels.

wyf437gn6btzue

Whats your opinion on social media & how it effects peoples mental health?

thanks for doing this AMA, quite interesting.

Tell me how

Really enjoying this.
Thanks for the comprehensive yet concise answers.

Some of the other questions touched on this one, namely the influence of the "just talk" ideal and also social awareness.

Do you think we have created a grouping of people who identify as having mental health problems but really are just coping with normal life challenges?

Do you think, as a consequence, some people abdicate responsibility for dealing with these challenges by saying their mental health is being severely affected?

(I'm try not to be judgemental of any individual but I do find myself somewhat sceptical at times such as, for example, hearing the leaving cert is bad for students mental health, and should be changed)

[Deleted User]

I'm a Psychologist, AMA wrote: »

I'm struggling to even follow the last part of your question, never mind answer it!

Hah my bad. I tend to get so deep in studying certain topics that I no longer talk in a way that anyone not similarly deep into it can make sense of

I think when it comes to crime and the question of Free Will, people are resistant to the idea that we do not have Free Will because they believe it undermines Justice. How can we hold anyone accountable for their crimes if they did not have free will.

But many people who work - like you - with serious criminals do not see a problem. They think we can still pursue justice and rehabilitation without a concept of free will.

And they think it even beneficial to treat their patients under that paradigm. Not to see them as evil people - but in some ways victims. Victims we want and should incarcerate and rehabilitate - but victims none the less - of their biology or circumstance or whatever.

And I was just curious if that was your direction on things too