Looking for Gorillas

Oftentimes, therapists and other health professionals have a seemingly endless barrage of questions for clients. Some of these questions may have nothing to do with what you are seeking help for to begin with. Or do they? For professionals like myself, it is important that we obtain as much information as possible to develop an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan to best serve the health and well-being of our clients.

Many disorders share common symptoms; and, slight differences in symptoms may make a large impact on one's course of treatment.  You may believe you have a sleep disorder, which is an absolutely valid belief when one cannot fall asleep or have difficulty staying asleep. So, you go to see a sleep specialist. After further questioning, the specialist also finds out that you have a low appetite and energy and are having difficulty concentrating. While these may all be sleep-related, they may also be signs of depression. The sleep specialist refers you to a mental health professional (hopefully).

It's easy to miss things when they are outside the scope of our awareness. This "inattentional blindness" has both positive and negative effects. It may help reduce our levels of stress or increase our productivity by not allowing ourselves to get distracted. It may also contribute to not recognizing the red flags of a cheating spouse or your child's grades diminishing at school. When we are not aware of the full scope of a situation and only focus on a few specifics, we miss making the best informed decisions we can.

This article explains Why Even Radiologists Can Miss A Gorilla Hiding In Plain Sight. If you haven't already done so, watch the video first and read the article afterward.