In recent decades, the concept of Emotional Intelligence (EI), which was popularized by Daniel Goleman, has been gaining popularity in the field of both popular and scientific psychology.

Although from the scientific perspective Goleman’s initial point of view was unsustainable, it served to stimulate academic interest and the subsequent work of many authors, which has served to develop more serious and practical models that can be applied both in the educational field , in the workplace, in sports and in clinical and psychotherapeutic fields.

Emotional intelligence, therefore, is a powerful tool for psychologists. In this article we will review the theoretical and practical aspects of this construct and explain what a psychology professional can do if he/she wants to be trained in this subject.

What is emotional intelligence

There is a lot of research that has been carried out to find out what benefits emotional intelligence provides in terms of work or sports performance and the well-being of people.

This concept can be defined as a set of mental skills that are oriented to identify and regulate our emotions and feelings. It takes into account both one’s relationship with these (emotions) and the influence they have on motivating us and relating to others.

Some authors claim that emotional intelligence is composed of five elements:

  • Emotional self-knowledge : The first step in becoming an emotionally intelligent person is to know what emotions exist, how they manifest themselves and how they affect us. If you don’t develop the skill of self-knowledge, it is not possible to regulate your emotions.
  • Emotional self-control : Self-knowledge allows us to regulate our emotions and our behaviour when relating to other people. It helps us not to get carried away by our impulses.
  • Self-motivation : Staying motivated and focused on our goals and objectives is essential for our well-being and personal development.
  • Empathy : To control our emotions it is not only necessary to know our own emotions, but also those of the people with whom we interact.
  • Social skills : Interpersonal relationships are a key aspect in our well-being and happiness. Mastery of social skills enables us to interact with other individuals in a more effective and mutually satisfactory manner.

The benefits of emotional intelligence in the clinical setting

In recent years, knowledge in emotional intelligence has become a useful tool for psychotherapists, as there is a lot of research that has shown that it brings benefits to the mental health of patients. But what are these benefits? We can highlight the following:

1. Improves self-knowledge and decision-making

Emotional self-knowledge and self-esteem go hand in hand, as self-knowledge is necessary for people to evaluate their own emotions, thoughts and beliefs, as well as their strengths and weaknesses. Being aware of who we are helps to make better decisions, which has a positive impact on the evaluation we make of ourselves.

2. Improves interpersonal relationships

Whether it is your partner, family or friends, emotional intelligence allows you to have healthy relationships with other people. Self-knowledge, empathy, emotional regulation, etc., are fundamental aspects of successful relationships. (edited)

3. Encourages personal development

Personal development and self-esteem are also closely linked concepts, as people who fight for their life goals are more motivated and feel more fulfilled. Both psychological variables have a positive influence on our perception of ourselves.

4. Protects against stress and reduces conflict

Emotionally intelligent people manage their emotions better, so they suffer less conflict (e.g. arguments with their bosses). Less conflict also means fewer stressful situations. In addition, emotional intelligence has been shown to be key to reducing and protecting against work stress as much research claims.

5. Promotes psychological well-being

Many psychological problems arise due to mismanagement of emotions. This is why many psychologists use emotional intelligence as a therapeutic tool. Scientific studies also suggest that this practice reduces anxiety and protects against depression.

Training in emotional intelligence for all

One of the main benefits of emotional intelligence is that it helps us recover from the experiences that have damaged us psychologically. This ability to recover, called resilience, leads us to learn from these hard experiences, to get something out of them. In this sense, one of the most recommended training programs in emotional intelligence is the course “Expert in Emotional Intelligence and Mindfulness”, developed by D’Arte Human & Business School .

In this 450-hour course, both the theory and practice of Emotional Intelligence are explained, exercises are proposed to be developed and whose principles can be applied on a daily basis, and Mindfulness is also used to better regulate emotions and to have a greater capacity to concentrate on solving problems from a constructive life philosophy.

On the other hand, the Expert in Emotional Intelligence and Mindfulness course allows to have the support of an individual mentor who advises the student in a personalized way and solves his doubts.

Furthermore, if you are very interested in this subject, you will be pleased to know that D’Arte Human & Business School also has a Master’s Degree in Emotional Intelligence, Mindfulness and Happiness, perfect for professionals and individuals interested in coaching, positive psychology and Human Resources.

  • If you want to know more about this proposal of D’Arte Human & Business School, visit their website or go to their center located at Calle Albasanz nº 38.