Receiving a mental health diagnosis can be overwhelming; it can sometimes feel like a therapist is providing you with a lot of psychological jargon that may not initially seem to fit in with your lived experience. Additionally, jumping into a treatment plan without fully understanding the long- and short-term goals can feel confusing and disorienting. This is why psychoeducation is an imperative component of the therapeutic process.
VeryWellMind states that psychoeducation usually involves the therapist educating the client on their diagnosis, how the diagnosis makes sense for the symptoms that the client has been describing, what they believe would be a good course of treatment for the client, as well as any risks that the treatment method may impart on the client. Providing this information to the client makes it more likely that they will adhere to the treatment plan.
An important aspect of psychoeducation is respecting the client’s autonomy. When the therapist is educating the client on their diagnosis, they are not telling the client what path to explicitly follow; rather, they are providing neutral information about their diagnosis and allowing the client the process to self-actualize in making change. This can be an incredibly empowering process for the client.
At Madrigal, we strive to be transparent when making mental health diagnoses and do our best to respect client autonomy. Your voice matters in your own healing journey.
*More information can be found on VeryWellMind. Click this link to learn more.*
Marschall, A. (2023, May 22). How Psychoeducation Is Used In Therapy. VeryWellMind. https://www.verywellmind.com/w...