Generalist and/or Specialist?

“The truth is that you aren’t lacking a destiny or purpose. There is a very good reason for your insatiable curiosity: you’re someone who’s going to shake things up, create something novel, solve complex, multidimensional problems, make people’s lives better in your own unique way. Whatever your destinies are, you can’t step into them while stifling your multipotentiality. You must embrace it and use it.”

Emile Wapnick

This week we are looking at generalists versus specialists and as always, the choice is yours and yours alone.  This goes for both our physical health AND our social and emotional wellbeing. 

Sometimes, we need an expert on one subject OR we need someone with a good understanding of the issue and gives us a range of options to explore without labelling us.

As a mental health professional, I believe that I am a generalist – I have a broad range of knowledge about a range of different ailments and stressors of life.  I have trained in a range of therapies and can bring this eclectic approach and tools to suit the person I am working with.  With open curiosity, we can explore what is working well and investigate ways to better work with the issue that is troubling them.  What could we amend or utilise to make life a little easier for them?

Others may specialise in the one area and will have a strong knowledge of their particular speciality or a particular framework that they work from.

Sometimes, we need a range of professionals assisting us with the many dimensions of our ailment(s) and how these impact on us and those around us.  At times, the team may also need to have a meeting to ensure all aspects are covered and some funding, such as the NDIS, have funding available for this.

Regardless of your issue – I am hopeful that you have the right members on your team who are working with you and in your best interests.