Counselling Builds Intelligence through Self-Awareness

As a form of intelligence, self-awareness is an understanding of oneself, including one’s own knowledge, attitudes, and opinions. Psychologist Alfred Binet’s first intelligence test from 1905 included the evaluation of one’s ability to critically understand oneself. In one of the neo-Piagetian theories of cognitive development put forth by Demetriou (2001), self-awareness participates in the development of general inferential processes, and it systematically grows from birth through the life span. A series of recent studies shows that one’s self-awareness about cognitive processes equally contributes to general intelligence as other measures, including reasoning, working memory, and processing speed. In other words, being self-aware is a factor in one’s intelligence (Demetriou, 2006). Online counselling can play a valuable role in fostering self-awareness by providing a supportive space for guided reflection and personal insight.

Another way of looking at self-awareness is in how it interplays with the therapeutic process. In this way, self-awareness is defined in terms of gaining a greater understanding of the self through the objective input of a therapist. The process of counselling is essentially a journey of self-discovery. In CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) one observes thought patterns and how these affect mood and behaviour. Narrative therapy involves observing one’s life story, uncovering parts that are subconsciously neglected due to a negatively skewed view of one’s experience. Systems theory focuses on one’s role in various areas of life, including family or work, and the power that one has to adapt that role, in turn producing significant changes to the overall system. Observing one’s thoughts, feelings, decisions, roles, relationships, and so on, builds self-awareness. Doing this in the presence of a counsellor provides objectivity to the observation.

The importance of an objective observer, such as a therapist, in developing self-awareness is shown in research, making the role of professional counselling even more crucial. There is a general inaccuracy in the evaluation of one’s own abilities, knowledge, and opinions, which is often addressed in counselling for depression. For instance, 90% of drivers may believe that they are “better than average” (Svenson, 1981); this is called the “better than average effect”. Similarly, inconsistency in our opinions is as strong as in our knowledge of facts. For example, people who claim to be on opposite sides of the spectrum on political views often hold not just overlapping political views, but views that are central to the opposite extreme. The source of this inaccuracy is one’s limited self-awareness; this, of course, underscores the importance of an objective observer to inform our subjective self-awareness in all domains (Festinger, 1957).

Being self-aware is the foundation for making changes in one’s life, a concept often incorporated in individual counselling. In understanding the way that we think, feel, behave, our strengths and weaknesses, the situations or people that trigger us, the memories that haunt us, and so on, we can begin to heal. Through self-awareness, we can determine what we accept about ourselves and what we desire to change, as explored in self-care therapy. Let’s look at a hypothetical counselling situation:

Let’s call the client “Sally”. Sally sought counselling because of a struggle with binge eating that was out of control. With the help of a counsellor, Sally observed her pattern of bingeing and found that binges always occurred after work. Seeing the consistency in her binge pattern immediately brought relief. It once felt “out of control”, but now seeing its regular pattern, it felt more “in control”, or manageable. Sally became aware of a pattern in her behaviour. Further observation revealed that after work, Sally felt purposeless and bored. This indicated that the negative feelings of purposelessness and boredom triggered Sally to binge. Sally learned that after work, she developed negative emotions and was unable to cope. Food was her coping mechanism - her temporary escape from the negative emotions. With this new awareness, Sally could now find new ways of coping with negative emotions, such as through anger management therapy. As therapy progressed, Sally became aware of the fact that deep down, she did not feel very significant.

Her job performance was her only sense of efficacy and so when she left work, she felt purposeless. In becoming aware of her sense of insignifance, Sally could now begin the healing process of discovering her sense of purpose apart from work.

Let’s take a look at self-awareness from a Christian perspective, which can be explored further in Christian perspective therapy. Psalm 139:23 says, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way of everlasting”. Here, the psalmist is requesting God to be an objective observer of one’s thoughts and behaviours. Throughout Scripture, we are advised to evaluate ourselves, our behaviour, and most importantly, the condition of our hearts. In this manner, God desires for us to be self-aware. Only then can we be transformed and become more like Christ. Ultimately, we can only know ourselves through knowing God. Who we are becomes very clear in light of an omniscient and omnipotent God.

It is evident that one can benefit from gaining self-awareness through the therapeutic process. At Bayridge Counselling Centres, counselling provides a space to build your emotional and spiritual intelligence, helping you create the atmosphere for change that you need to become the person you are meant to be.

Lynne Fenton , B.A. (Psychology), MDiv (Counselling) Therapist - Adolescent and Individual Therapy

Reference List

• Binet, A. & Simon, T. Méthodes nouvelles pour le diagnostic du niveau intellectuel des anormaux. L’Année psychologique, 11,191-244.
• Demetriou, A., & Kazi, S. (2001). Unity and modularity in the mind and the self: Studies on the relationships between self-awareness, personality, and intellectual development from childhood to adolescence. London: Routledge.
• Demetriou, A., & Kazi, S. (2006). Self-awareness in g (with processing efficiency and reasoning). Intelligence, 34, 297-317.
• Svenson, O. (1981) Are we all less risky and more skilful than our fellow drivers? Acta Psychologica, 47, 143–148.
• Festinger, L. (1957) A theory of cognitive dissonance. Evanston, IL: Row Peterson.
• God. The Holy Bible