OVER the years, health professionals have increasingly been highlighting that the decline of mental health treatment can lead to mental illnesses, which tend to have a large impact on an individual’s physical health.
It is against the backdrop of helping people maintain good mental health that Psychotherapist Dr. Moses John Roderique, decided to offer his expertise locally.
Dr. Roderique specialises in the provision of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), a form of psychology that places focus on a person’s present and future circumstances and goals rather than past experiences. In this goal-oriented therapy, the symptoms or issues bringing a person to therapy are typically not targeted.
According to Dr. Roderique, this type of therapy is extremely effective as it allows the individual the opportunity to set and achieve goals thus boosting his/her self-confidence and self-worth.
“Solution-Focused Brief Therapy focuses ultimately on solutions to problems or issues and maintaining that psychological side of life that is of a positive level. It’s an aspect of positive psychology that looks at people’s strengths rather than their weaknesses,” he explained.
The psychotherapist, who works full time at an international Christian university as its Executive Administrator, and serves as a professor, holds a Doctorate in Christian Counselling.
Dr. Roderique, Antigua-born, recently moved his practice to Guyana, after tying the knot with his Guyanese wife Adasia Vanessa Roderique. He holds membership within the Guyana Association of Professional Psychologists (GUYPSYCH).
Dr. Roderique stated that he always knew phycology would be the field of study he would pursue from a very young age, after realising that there was some lack in mental health services.
He noted that, from a young age, he understood the role proper mental health played in persons’ lives as it related to their studies, their work, or even the way they interacted with other people, as well as the devastating impacts of mental health illnesses on a person’s abilities to navigate life.
“I decided to get into psychology because as a child growing up into a young man, I believed that my true calling is to inspire as many individuals so that they can develop and reach their full potential. I saw the ultimate goal of helping people with their problems, helping people to overcome them, and helping people who just need support.”
MENTAL HEALTH AND COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted people across the globe, causing massive loss of jobs, fear of uncertainty, and paranoia, and many persons have reached out for help to remain mentally healthy during this period of the world’s history.
Speaking to the impact of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy on patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, the psychotherapist noted that it can play a “vital role” because, due to its goal-oriented system, it would allow persons to feel empowered.
He highlighted that with many people losing jobs, trying to readjust to the new normal of the world, the goal-oriented setup would allow persons to feel less depressed about their past situation and more self-confident once they start achieving those goals they would have set for themselves.
“For sure we have been thrown down with the pandemic so my form of therapy would assist people in digging deep because the COVID pandemic put some people down to a point where they don’t have anything at all. Employment wise, people were laid off, but this type of therapy helps people to understand their potential and set goals to achieve those goals and not harbour on the past,” he said.
GIVING BACK
Dr. Roderique told the Sunday Chronicle that as a psychotherapist his number one priority is ensuring that focus is placed on addressing, preventing, and treating mental illness. It was against such backdrop that he decided to offer pro-bono therapy sessions locally.
He noted that while his sessions are available online to customers across the globe, he is keen on philanthropy and has seen a direct need for mental health services, and, since establishing his practice here in July, he has been offering pro-bono sessions to Guyanese.
One of the main reasons for offering the free sessions is the financial constraints faced by many persons during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I believe that therapy should be accessible to all regardless of their situation. My services are generally for anybody really who wishes to get my services. On a practice level, I offer online sessions to persons across the globe but where Guyana is concerned, I do pro-bono service for Guyanese because people of Guyana they need it, especially when you look at depression rates and anxiety rates. So from my perspective as a psychotherapist, as a human, I thought I’d offer my services pro-bono,” Dr. Roderique said.
