Okay, so today I decided to dive into this “MHC Psychology” thing. I’ve heard bits and pieces about it, mostly related to mental health, and I figured it was time to get my hands dirty and see what it’s all about.
First, I started by just Googling “MHC Psychology.” You know, the usual, see what pops up. Lots of websites, some academic-looking stuff, some more…bloggy. I skimmed through a few articles, trying to get a general sense of the landscape.
Getting My Bearings
It seemed like MHC, or Mental Health Counseling, is a big umbrella. Underneath it, there are all sorts of specializations and approaches. I saw things like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and a bunch of other acronyms that made my head spin. I decided to focus on the basics for now.
The Practical Stuff
- I found a couple of online courses that looked promising. One was a free introductory course on Coursera, and another was a more in-depth paid course on a different platform. I signed up for the free one to start – gotta test the waters, right?
- The course walked me through some core concepts, like active listening, empathy, and different therapeutic techniques. It was mostly videos and quizzes, pretty standard online learning stuff.
- I also started looking for some practical exercises. I figured it’s one thing to read about this stuff, but another to actually try it. I found some worksheets online that focused on identifying and challenging negative thoughts – a key part of CBT, as I understood it.
Putting it into Practice (Sort Of)
I tried to apply some of the active listening techniques with my partner during a conversation. It’s harder than it sounds! I kept catching myself interrupting or thinking about what I wanted to say next, instead of truly focusing on what they were saying. It’s definitely a skill that needs practice.
I also attempted a few basic mindfulness exercises. It was a real stuggle, and it did not come to me as naturally as I thought it would, but I will continue to work on this!
My Takeaway (For Now)
This is just the beginning of my journey into MHC Psychology. I’ve barely scratched the surface, but I’m already seeing how much there is to learn. It’s a complex field, but it also feels incredibly relevant to, well, just being human. I’m planning to keep working through the online course, and maybe even look into some local workshops or meetups down the line. It’s all about taking small steps, I guess!
