In a new episode of the  Rebeldes Podcast , psychologist Elena Calleja shares her personal and professional experience of understanding psychology through the lens of the Catholic faith. During the conversation, she reflects on the importance of integrating the psychological, physical, and spiritual dimensions of the person, without reducing human reality to a single explanation.

A psychologist who doesn’t separate faith from her profession

Elena Calleja explains that since opening her social media account, she decided to speak about God openly and naturally. She says she cannot imagine her life or work without God’s presence.

Raised in a Catholic family, she acknowledges that during adolescence she drifted away from the faith, a period she identifies with greater unhappiness. Later, a Hakuna retreat marked a turning point in her spiritual and personal life.

Since then, he says that although he has gone through difficult times, he has never again experienced the same lack of meaning that he experienced before that encounter with God.

Sensitivity as a gift

The psychologist explains that she has been a particularly sensitive person since she was little, a characteristic that influenced her decision to study Psychology.

During the conversation, she distinguishes between sensitivity, which she considers a useful gift for her profession, and emotional disorder. For her, the key lies in learning to manage emotions without repressing them and putting that sensitivity at the service of others.

It also highlights the importance of treating oneself with tenderness and learning to redirect emotional states without being dominated by them.

Psychology and spirituality are not incompatible.

One of the main themes of the dialogue revolves around the relationship between psychology and spiritual life.

Elena argues that psychology studies the functioning of the mind and behavior, but believes that a complete understanding of the person also needs to take into account the spiritual dimension.

In her practice, when a religious patient wishes to integrate their faith into the therapeutic process, they do so naturally. In the case of non-believers, she tries to understand their belief system to better comprehend how they cope with life and suffering.

To care for all dimensions of the person

Throughout the interview, it is emphasized that human well-being requires comprehensive care.

For Elena, caring for the body, mind, soul, and spiritual life are all part of the same process. She explains that considering the body as a gift and a temple also helps to value and protect it.

Similarly, remember that exercising, getting adequate rest, eating well, or seeing a professional when necessary are also part of self-care.

The risks of psychologism

One of the central themes of the episode is the danger of making psychology the only explanation for human life.

During the conversation, a warning is issued against so-called “psychologism,” a view that seeks to explain all problems solely from the perspective of traumas, emotions, or personal wounds.

According to Elena, understanding the origin of a psychological problem can be helpful, but it is not enough to fill a person’s deep void. She affirms that no psychological theory can replace the ultimate meaning provided by the spiritual dimension.

The opposite danger: spiritualism

The podcast also addresses the opposite extreme: thinking that all psychological problems can be solved exclusively through religious practices.

Participants note that a person with anxiety, depression, or other disorders may need medical, psychological, or psychiatric care in addition to spiritual life.

For Elena, trusting in God does not mean rejecting professional help, but understanding that both dimensions can complement each other.

The analogy of the out-of-tune piano

One of the most striking examples in the conversation compares the person to a pianist and their instrument.

If the piano is out of tune or missing keys, the problem lies not with the musician but with the instrument. Similarly, a psychologist helps to “tune the piano,” while spiritual guidance leads the person to live according to God’s will.

The image serves to explain that grace does not eliminate the need to care for human nature, but rather is part of it.

Therapy as a form of support

Elena acknowledges that psychologists often feel pressured to offer immediate answers, although with experience she has discovered that support and listening are usually more important than finding quick solutions.

He also states that he avoids giving fixed advice to his patients, preferring to offer guidance that each person can freely reflect upon and discern.

Learn from patients too

The psychologist says that her work has allowed her to discover numerous testimonies of faith and hope.

She particularly recalls the case of a woman who went through a serious marital crisis after infidelity. Despite her suffering, this patient maintained a deep faith that God was still at work in her life, an attitude that ultimately became a lesson for the therapist herself.

An integrated view of the person

Throughout the episode, it is emphasized that mental health, physical care, and spiritual life should not be at odds with each other.

The person needs to be cared for in all their dimensions. Psychology offers valuable tools for understanding and treating human suffering, while spiritual life provides the horizon of meaning that, according to the participants, cannot be replaced by any exclusively psychological explanation.