A great number of people are not able or willing to find meaning in stressful experiences that they get through; for example, they often cannot understand the cause of their difficulties or the strengths that helped them cope with their problems. As a result, they cannot develop resilience and adaptive capacity. One of my professional tasks will be to help such clients. In my opinion, a person who is able to evaluate ones behavior in stressful situations can better adjust to changes and improve the quality of ones life. So, this issue will be of great importance to me.
Overall, psychologists believe that at the time of stress, people suffer depression, panic, or apathy (Thomas, 2008, p. 44). These are the most common reactions. In some cases, it is difficult for them to find a proper response to difficulties and changes. More importantly, they do not want to learn any lessons from such crucibles (Thomas, 2008, p. 47). As a rule, they do not evaluate their behavior during stressful experiences. Psychologists should pay attention to these issues because resilience is not necessarily an in-born trait, but a habit that should be practiced and developed (Thomas, 2008, p. 47).
As a professional, I would first help my clients to identify the strategies or character traits that helped them survive various crises. For instance, one can mention sense of self-esteem, sense of humor, creativity, interests, family life, self-sufficiency, and so forth. On the whole, my clients would have to recognize their strengths as well as weaknesses. In this regard, one can mention people who come to the retirement age, often cannot adjust to a new lifestyle. This period of transition can also be viewed as a stressful experience. My task would be to assist these people in finding new goals and interests that are important for entering a new stage of life.
Furthermore, people, who encounter difficulties or stressful situations, frequently give the so-called fight-or-flight response. In other words, they either behave too aggressively when dealing with other people or simply try to escape from difficulties and turn a blind eye to them (Thomas, 2008, p. 45). In some cases, they may come into conflict with their colleagues and refuse to find solutions that can suit both sides. In contrast, other people can be overwhelmed by sense of worthlessness and eventually give way to apathy or depression. None of these responses is appropriate. Psychologists must warn their clients about such dangers. When working with these people I will help them avoid such pitfalls.
The work of psychologists and business consultants is strongly affected by their personal ethical principles and values. I believe that a professional who works in the field of business psychology, should never stop learning. Psychology is an evolving science and one can always expect new theories or discoveries to emerge. It is necessary for a professional to be open to new ideas. Only in this way, he or she can better help clients. In fact, life-long learning is not some form of luxury for a psychologist, but a necessity. This is one of the reasons why I chose to study for the Master’s degree. This experience will help me achieve my goals and carry out my professional duties. Thus, continuous education is one of the greatest priorities for me.
Additionally, I am firmly convinced that every client is a unique individual who has one’s interests, goals, strengths or weaknesses. Far-fetched generalizations are impermissible for a psychologist because they can be based on individual biases, rather than facts. This is why professionals should try to learn as much as possible about their clients in order to avoid various pitfalls. In this way, one can help them find a sense of meaning in their lives. As a business psychologist I will always be attentive to these people’s needs. In particular, I will focus on my clients’ opinions, values, ideas, and goals in order to assist them. This knowledge will be essential for success.
Secondly, I believe that that a consultant should attach the greatest importance to the interests of a client, rather than an organization that employs him or her. Business psychologists often have to face a conflict of interest. On the one hand, they have to serve the needs of employees whom they consult, but they may also be forced to discuss these employees with the top management of the organization. As a professional, I will avoid disclosing information that can harm my clients. In my view, this is a blatant violation of ethical and professional standards. The wellbeing of my clients will be the highest priority for me.
Overall, this discussion shows that an individual, who has to cope with stressful experiences, may sometimes require professional assistance. These people should know how to view challenges and how to overcome them. One of the most important things for them is to identify their strengths and weaknesses. Physiologists working with these people must adhere to both ethical and professional standards in order to help these clients and minimize possible risks.
Reference List
Thomas, R. (2008). Crucibles of Leadership: How to Learn from Experience to Become a Great Leader. Cambridge: Harvard Business Press.