Who would study psychology unless they had some issues?!
Chapter 316 - 314 Professionals Encounter More Stubborn Problems

Chapter 316: Chapter 314 Professionals Encounter More Stubborn Problems

In high school, the psychological counselors not only need to prevent major mental illnesses like depression which could lead to campus suicides, but another important duty is to alleviate students’ study pressure.

Especially when dealing with seniors who are about to take the college entrance exams.

"But now, I feel so restricted when fulfilling my duties." Teacher Xiao Zhao said.

She first talked about the issue of teaching psychological health.

"Seniors sleep after midnight every day, and some even wake up before six, so they use almost every break to catch up on sleep. During psychology classes, many of them fall asleep..."

"But actually, I support them sleeping. Considering their physical state, a bit more rest is good both physically and mentally."

"So later in my classes, I would directly say, as long as it doesn’t disturb others, they can sleep or self-study, whatever they want." Teacher Xiao Zhao’s expression was somewhat relieved but also a bit regretful, "Only in this way, psychological health education becomes impossible to discuss."

Nan Zhubin nodded knowingly.

Allowing students to manage their time freely in class is, in a way, a special course design considering psychological health.

For the students, it might actually be better.

It’s just not very beneficial for the teachers, in various senses.

"And then there’s psychological consultation... still the same old issue, students nap during lunch breaks and between classes, rarely do they come to the psychological consultation room..."

"And then there are the parents. Sometimes I identify students with tendencies towards a psychological crisis risk. I file a report to the school, which then informs the parents... but the parents completely ignore it, all saying to get through the college entrance exams first, not wasting a single moment..."

Nan Zhubin listened to each issue, giving thorough feedback and responses to every point Teacher Xiao Zhao raised.

"Finally, I thought, if I can’t do psychological health education, nor psychological intervention, then how about relieving the stress of college entrance exams?"

Teacher Xiao Zhao sighed again: "But that doesn’t work either."

Nan Zhubin pondered and then connected: "Because of the college entrance exams?"

Teacher Xiao Zhao nodded: "Yes, because of the college entrance exams."

Using psychological knowledge to relieve exam stress, but unable to implement it because of the exams.

It sounds like a paradox, but it’s the truth.

"Mr. Nan, you’re quite insightful." Teacher Xiao Zhao slightly tugged at the corners of her mouth, her smile fleeting across her face.

"You must know the ’Yerkes-Dodson law’, right? That theory about motivation and efficiency, it also states that appropriate stress can boost the efficiency of work and study, but..."

"Where is the boundary of this ’appropriate’ stress? If the current stress is relieved, will it immediately lower study efficiency? If study efficiency decreases, can it be raised again?"

Three consecutive questions, all extremely critical ones.

And they are almost unsolvable questions.

From a research perspective, these questions can all be explored and studied, but—who would conduct experiments on college entrance exam students to study this?

Nan Zhubin summarized: "So now you’re fundamentally afraid to help relieve the stress of the seniors?"

Teacher Xiao Zhao seemed listless, her voice trailing with a long end: "Yes..."

...

Most of the issues Teacher Xiao Zhao encountered are common problems facing high school psychological education.

Whether addressing the root or the symptoms, it is extremely difficult.

It requires conducting specialized research specific to particular regions and schools.

Fortunately, facing Teacher Xiao Zhao at this moment, Nan Zhubin was not there to provide solutions to her raised issues.

But to provide peer supervision.

Teacher Xiao Zhao’s venting was clearly over, and Nan Zhubin began to enter his own state.

"How long have you been working here, Teacher Xiao Zhao?"

"Almost a year."

"In such a long time, have you talked to anyone about work-related matters?" This sentence was a probe.

"...No." Teacher Xiao Zhao suddenly laughed, seeming to see through the probe, "Mr. Nan, are you testing my social support system?"

Before Nan Zhubin could respond to her words, Teacher Xiao Zhao suddenly seemed to realize something, "I’m sorry Mr. Nan, my reaction just now... seemed a bit defensive again, please continue..."

Nan Zhubin chuckled inwardly.

This was exactly what he wanted to probe or induce.

Nan Zhubin wanted her to exercise her defense right now again.

At this moment, Nan Zhubin directly pointed out the issue with Teacher Xiao Zhao: "During our conversation just now, it seems like you voluntarily mentioned several times your own defensiveness, why is that?"

Teacher Xiao Zhao blinked, somewhat baffled by this question.

As if unable to understand why Nan Zhubin couldn’t understand.

"Because... defense can interfere with the consultation process, and it might confuse the consultant. By voluntarily pointing out my defense, I can make it easier for you, Mr. Nan, to handle..."

"This can also be considered a form of self-exposure... right?" Teacher Xiao Zhao’s tone was somewhat uncertain, "Can this better promote the consultation process?"

...

For high-knowledge individuals and those adept at introspection, a critical challenge in consultation is that since they are so good at thinking, the issues they still can’t figure out must be significant problems.

Facing someone who is already good at thinking, how to induce them to engage in new kinds of thinking requires highly professional skills.

In fact, identifying the problem itself is often a very troublesome matter.

When dealing with someone related to the psychology industry, the difficulty level increases significantly.

During Teacher Xiao Zhao’s recent narrative, her exposition of her issues was very smooth, and her dissection of her own thoughts was thorough.

But that’s not what Nan Zhubin wanted.

If it were simply a healing venting session, there wouldn’t be much issue.

But it’s clear that Teacher Xiao Zhao wanted more, and she needed more.

Fortunately, she was facing Nan Zhubin at this moment.

"You want to promote the consultation process, which is a very good starting point." Nan Zhubin said, "Then what is the goal of this ’process’? Have you preset it in your mind?"

Teacher Xiao Zhao hesitated for a moment, unsure whether the answer she was about to give was right or wrong.

"The goal is... to finish talking about my problems, then have you, Mr. Nan, discover my problems, and finally... to obtain healing as much as possible?"

Nan Zhubin first affirmed Teacher Xiao Zhao’s answer, and then suddenly said, "So this means we have to invest our attention, and even our emotions, into this dialogue."

Teacher Xiao Zhao nodded affirmatively.

Nan Zhubin looked at her: "Do you think when you are ’defensive’, it interferes with this process?"

He said slowly: "Really, does it?"