Mission of the Psychologist

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Medicine as we know it began with Avicenna, with his Canon of Medicine. In the field of practical psychology, we have the same creative situation as among healers before the Canon: thousands of random and in no way coordinated with each other points of view of «specialists» and a complete disagreement in concepts.

Actually, I realized this myself only when I began to study Psychologos. Prior to that, I worked successfully as a psychologist-trainer for 25 years, wrote books that sold millions of copies, and was pleased with my work, because people thanked me and thanked me. When I started working on the Psychologos, I wanted to write down in one place those simple and working things that seem to have been clear to me and other professionals for a long time. And then a discovery awaited us (me and my colleagues): everything is not simple and nothing is clear. Psychology as a science does not seem to exist yet. Having started work on the Psychologos, after years of daily work, I realized that both I myself and my respected colleagues — by and large, we are all dropouts.

Clear definition of concepts

Today, each author has his own terminology, and it seems that each author is logical — it seems until we put the articles of different authors side by side and try to combine them. They don’t unite. Everything cracks and crawls. There was an illusion of logic in the articles, since the concepts were not defined and were used arbitrarily, turning conveniently sideways in a convenient context. This is how conjurers work, but science cannot be built this way.

Psychologos has been created for many years, and we have suffered through its unique principle: “one concept – one definition”. Each word that is used as a concept can have only one, clearly defined meaning, which is preserved in all articles of the encyclopedia.

In all articles written about feelings, the word feeling can have only one meaning and one definition, and if the author claims that feelings take care of us, this should also apply to feelings of horror, despair and nightmare. If we write in one place that each person is a person, and in another — “one is not born a person, one becomes a person”, then it is obvious that these are two different understandings of the person, and they should be divorced.

The principle of «one concept — one definition» is really difficult for a Psychologist, very difficult, but it is he who turns out to be the most productive for building a system of psychology as a science. Science begins with the definition of concepts, with a clear understanding of what we are talking about.

Clear abstracts, short articles

The main articles of the Psychologos are short articles. This is not always convenient for the reader, but only this avoids confusion. If you want to write clearly, write briefly. We identified the problem, defined concepts, then the structure “thesis — justification — illustrations” — and conclusions. If any point needs to be disclosed in more detail, it is already disclosed in a separate article, only in this way does the order appear.

Need for cooperation

Each of us will begin to work better only when we, psychologists, begin to cooperate. Doctors understood this before us, and specialists working in the same area always contact each other. It is not necessary for the ophthalmologist to cooperate with the surgeon, but surgeons take care that the successful findings of one may enrich the work of all. In our psychology, feudal fragmentation still reigns: Gestalt therapy turns away from NLP, NLP closes in its approach.

It is curious: but once there was neither Gestalt therapy nor NLP as directions. Directions appeared when bright professionals found the strength to coordinate their views, found the opportunity to create a common vision of their professional activities. If they then fenced off “Why do we need this?”, along with their departure from professional activities, their art would also be lost.

If colleagues do not seek cooperation, they will not create a direction. If one direction is fenced off from colleagues in another direction, we will not create a system for a long time. Great to work alone is not enough. Our task is to create a system in which the professionals who follow us will work even better.

Now is a good time!

Life pushes us to cooperate, and now is a good time. Today, practitioners have an interest in theory, and academic psychology is beginning to turn towards practice. Together we will do what we have to do.

Today, when I look at practical psychology, I imagine a huge field without end and edge, covered with gray fog, and we, with small spatulas on its edge, have already dug up a small vegetable garden. We want to master all this endless territory, make it a flowering garden … Feelings? Great, ahead of space and the opportunity to create your own, beautiful world.

I believe that Psychologos will become the main book for the Russian consumer of practical psychology services.

Clear, concise and to the point. The essence of the subject and practical recommendations. Systemically and without water.

I believe that Psychologos will become the basis for university courses in practical psychology, the training base for beginning practicing psychologists, and the conceptual standard for professionals. The canon of practical psychology will emerge sooner or later, because it is necessary. I invite all interested people to participate in this.

What to do?

Colleagues I invite to cooperation, send your articles. If you subscribe to a professional mailing list, you will receive our new works, information about our creative meetings and conferences. Those who want to become a real practicing psychologist, come to study at the University of Practical Psychology. You will receive a state diploma, but the main thing is real preparation for practical work and faith in yourself as a person and specialist. The University gathers people who make the future of practical psychology. Working together is more fun.

See you there!