12 MASTERS’ LESSONS IN

MENTAL HEALTH
What is Mental Health?
Mental health, defined by the 
World Health Organization (WHO), is "a
state of well-being in which the individual
realizes his or her own abilities, can cope
with the normal stresses of life, can work
productively and fruitfully, and is able to
make a contribution to his or her
community".
 APO
> Apo: lolo, grandson/granddaughter, elder, mayor, pari,
Diyos
> Apo: wisdom, perspective, reverence
> Mt. Apo: highest peak in the country
> “Progress hungers for mysticism, for power should be
channeled in the service of love. Drawing from the great
ideals of religion, holy men and women can help perfect
human nature.” Cory Aquino
> Nasaan na si Apo sa kanyang mga apo (Malay-Pinoy)?
1. FOLLOW THE PAIN
(DISGUSTING)
S. Freud & C. Roger
1. FOLLOW THE PAIN

Give voice to the HISTORY/STORY OF

THE PAIN. ANNA O. THE PYROMANIAC
KID, AND THE KID’S MOM.
•Identify
fears/anxiety/losses/insecurity/helplessness/trauma.

•LESSON: Name the pain. Claim the

pain.
FOLLOW THE PAIN

1. Tell your story. Breathe out the load inside, lighten your
burden.

2. Give importance to the process, like labor pain to give

birth to new person.

3. Understand the pain. Be compassionate. Embrace the pain.

FOLLOW THE PAIN

1. What hurts you the most?

2. If you look into your heart, what will it say?

3. What is your greatest worry/fear/loss?

2. CHART STIMULUS-RESPONSE
-BF Skinner-
2. CHART STIMULUS-RESPONSE
•KNOW THE TRIGGERS AND THE DESTRUCTIVE
BEHAVIORS. CHART THE TIMES WHEN THE
ADDICTION IS AWAKEN. WHAT IS THE STIMULUS
TO THE RESPONSE?

•LESSON: Learn good habits or stay with bad habits.

CHART STIMULUS-RESPONSE

1. Record the dynamics of the event and its effect

2. Notice what influences good and bad behavior.

3. Do more of the good habits to have good outcome.

CHART STIMULUS-RESPONSE
1. When did your trouble start?

2. Who are the people who hurt you the most?

3. What events affected you the most

3. CHECK TATOO OF THE MIND
CHECK TATOO OF THE MIND

•Be aware of self-defeating thoughts/overly emotional

reactions/destructive behaviors.

•Disaster is a loss of a star (MEANING).

•LESSON: Your thoughts can imprison or liberate you.

CHECK TATOO OF THE MIND

1. Recognize your negative feelings but balance it with

other aspects of reality.

2. What gives meaning to your life?

3. What inspires you to take care of your family or other

people?
CHECK TATOO OF THE MIND

1. What feelings and corresponding thoughts surprise

you?

2. What are you most grateful, despite the adversities of

your life?

3. What will balance your life

4. SPOT INCONSISTENCY BETWEEN
THE IDEAL AND THE REAL
GAP BETWEEN THE IDEAL AND THE
REAL

•WHAT STANDS IN THE WAY/BLOCKS TO

ACCOMPLISHING OR ACHIEVING MY GOALS?

•The longest journey is from the head to the heart to the

hands.

•LESSON: There is a distinction between what is expected

and what is implemented.
GAP BETWEEN THE IDEAL AND THE
REAL

1. How do you write your life now- 0- 10.

2. Whatever answer will be the baseline, a starting

point.

3. What hinders or what blocks you in the

implementation of dreams or deepest desires?
5. YOU ARE FREE TO BE OPEN OR
WITHOLD
YOU ARE FREE TO BE OPEN OR
WITHOLD
•You can freely and fully own your emotional desires (not
just acting out!)

•Responsible choice; YOU ARE FREE TO BE SHALLOW

OR DEEP

•LESSON: You have a choice to discern or just be carried

by
YOU ARE FREE TO BE OPEN OR
WITHOLD
•What is unmanageable or out of control in your life?

• You can by flooded, imprisoned by resentments or

make a choice

•What is hard to let go in making choices?

6. BE WHO YOU ARE MEANT TO BE
BE WHO YOU ARE

• CONGRUENCE, DEFINE YOUR HEALTHY EGO.

• LOOK FOR MEANING/PURPOSE/BURNING

BUSH/ DEFINE WHAT IS IMPORTANT/OF
VALUE/SPIRITUAL RESOURCE. WHAT IS THE
PERSON WILLING TO LIVE FOR?

• LESSON: Discover what is burning in your heart.

BE WHO YOU ARE

1. What is your burning bush or higher purpose in your

life?

2. What will define your life?

3. Amid the pandemic and the COVID-19 virus spread,

what did you realize as most important?
BE WHO YOU ARE

1. What is most basic and fundamental in your?

2. What will integrate your whole life?

3. What makes you are willing to life for and die for?
7. CARRY THE FLAG
CARRY THE FLAG

•WHO WILL BE IN CHARGE FOR CHANGE?

RESPONSIBILITY IS TO MAKE A CHOICE WHAT
TO DO SOMETHING OF HIGHER VALUE,

•CHOOSE YOUR BATTLE/WHAT CAN YOU DO

NOW.

•LESSON: Someone will have to make it happen.

CARRY THE FLAG

1. Huwag lang umangal, ibalik ang dangal.

2. Serenity Prayer: “Grant me the serenity to accept the

things I cannot change; courage the change the things I
can.”

3. Do not count the days, make the days count.

CARRY THE FLAG

1. What meaningful rituals you need to do in the

meantime?

2. What small, strategic steps you can do to realize your

dream?

3. Who will help you realize your dream?

8. ROLL WITH RESISTANCE
ROLL WITH RESISTANCE

•PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT PACING FOR CHANGE.

•HARD TO LET GO OF SOMETHING YOU DERIVE

SOME BENEFIT OR GAIN.

•Change is incremental.

•LESSON: Be patient with change.

ROLL WITH RESISTANCE

1. What made you come to seek help anyway?

2.What brought you here, despite some hesitance?

3. How can you make this time meaningful for you?

9. VISUALIZE CHANGE
VISUALIZE CHANGE

•LOOK FOR METAPHORS OR SYMBOLS.

•THESE ARE MORE POWERFUL TOOLS FOR

CHANGE.

•LESSON: If you can dream it, you can achieve it.

VISUALIZE CHANGE

1. Be attentive to the metaphors your clients or

counselors use during the session.

2. Metaphors can also come from the counselor to convey

the key points or motivation for change.

3. Symbols speak to the imagination and the heart.

10. BE A POSITIVE CHANGE AGENT
BE A POSITIVE CHANGE AGENT

•Identify, continue constructive or best

practices/strengths of the person

•Learn the best from the past and respond to the needs of
the present.

•LESSON: Bring out the best in people and allow them

to shine.
BE A POSITIVE CHANGE AGENT
1. Look back in the history, what works best in the
history of the counselee?

2. What do you need to do for self-care (set boundaries)

or (bonding or creative compassion)?

3. What gifts can you offer for significant others or the

common good.
11. BOUNDARY OR BONDING;
BOUNDLESS COMPASSION
BOUNDARY OR BONDING;
BOUNDLESS COMPASSION
•ARITHMETIC OF LIFE (-, +, /, X)

•TRAFFIC OF LIFE (RED, YELLOW,

GREEN)

•ASSIGNMENTS/HOMEWORK
BOUNDARY OR BONDING;
BOUNDLESS COMPASSION

1. How do express self-care or setting boundaries?

2. How do you connect or reach out in creative

compassion or social solidarity?

3. What does balance asks of you from the perspective of

greater love?
12. SERVICE
SERVICE

• MESS-MESSAGE

•CRACKED VESSEL BECOMES A SOURCE OF

WATER OF LIFE

•PURPOSE: LIGHT OF THE WORLD; WOUNDED

HEALER
SERVICE

1. What out of control/unmanageable behaviors turned

out to be a miracle in your life?

2. What weaknesses you have that became a source of

strength for others?

3. What is the burning bush or purpose in your life?

SERVICE