Frances Colom (2011), referring to
psychoeducation as “psychological interventions for mood disorders”, states
that these can be divided into “skilled” and “simple”. Psychoeducation belongs
to the latter group: “a simple and illness-focused therapy with prophylactic
efficacy in all major mood disorders” (Colom, 2011). Other writers argue that
psychoeducation is not a treatment in itself, but – in clinical settings at
least – the first step of the overall treatment plan (Reyes, 2010).
Education towards better understanding and
awareness of their condition and their selves has a role in behavioral and
emotional aspect of every client for their recovery, treatment or
rehabilitation that will bring about change. Thus, Psychoeducation results to a
broaden client’s perception and interpretation of life events or problem,
improving their insights that leads to enhanced self-efficacy.
Goals of Psychoeducation:
1. Information transfer (as when
clients/patients and their families and careers learn about symptoms, causes,
and treatment concepts)
2. Emotional discharge (a goal served as
the patient/client or family ventilates frustrations during the sessions or
exchanges with similar others their experiences concerning the problem)
3. Support of a medication or other
treatment, as cooperation grows between professional and client/patient and
adherence and compliance issues diminish
4. Assistance toward self-help (that is,
training in aspects such as prompt recognition of crisis situations and
knowledge of what steps should be taken) (Wikipedia, 2014).
Individual Psychoeducation:
Criteria:
·
client wish to maximize
information transference in a manner that is uniquely suited to his or her
circumstance
·
threatened by group session
or feeling anxious
·
person is an extremely
private individual and wishes to retain privacy and confidentiality
Group
Psychoeducation:
Criteria:
·
Client has sense of shame and needs supportive
environment to face his or her condition.
·
The
sense of not being alone and having group support are key elements in making
the group a positive experience, which reduces stress and stigma, increases
motivation to manage the illness/disorder, and enhances self-efficacy.
