Page 6 - Flares Issue 5

ON SPOTLIGHT
Ms. Rea Villa, Alumni Achiever

MAP takes pride in the achievements of its alumni in the field of Psychology. They have made waves, and in the process are making significant impact into
the lives of others. The On Spotlight series will feature outstanding MAP alumni with the hopes of inspiring students to push ahead with their endeavors,
and to recognize faculty and staff without whose support and guidance, these successes would be that much harder to attain. The first part of this series
features Ms. Rea Celine Villa of Cohort 1, Batch 1. She is a psychologist, resource speaker, teacher, and co-author of the Filipino Youth Depression Scale.

Flares: What was your motivation for are also mostly in poor urban communities;
going into Psychology?
then I would also be in a corporate setting
Rea Villa: I always have that mindset that where I can conduct webinars, go live
in all that you do, do it well. I initially
events, workshops and be able to discuss
wanted to concentrate on being a sports
the psychometric reports and give
psychologist due to my background as an
recommendations to employers and top
Athletics Director and ex-Philippine
corporate clients. Contrasting settings but
Football team member. However, as I
equally awesome. Being in the academic
progressed with my academics in MAP I
F: Knowing what you know now about
setting also is therapeutic for me because I
was challenged and intrigued on the
being a MAP student, what would you
enjoy being with students. This also pushes
clinical side of things. Since the board
do differently?
me to keep on learning. Lastly, word of
exam is aligned with the clinical setting I
RV: I am a very strategic person coming
mouth is the source of having clients in my
became more interested in it. The
from a sports background. I try to weigh the
private practice and I am amazed that
validating factor when I know I wanted to
odds before committing to something.
people reach out on social media and also
be one was when Dean Ruel exposed me in
Midway being in MAP, I realized the gravity
through referrals. I could not ask for
a mental institution where I had to engage
of the role and profession so I would push
with literally like 20 something people with anything more and I thank Southville and
myself to the limit knowing that my
schizophrenia. I spent all my Sundays for 6 Dean Ruel for preparing me for this.
months of my internship. When I could take undergrad is not psychology and there is a
in everything from the smell, the demeanor F: What advice would you give budding need to keep up with the standards set by
of the patients, and the assessments, I then
psychologists?
the College of Psychology and Southville.
was able to have this desire to not just be
RV: Start with the end in mind. Envision However, there were times that it could be
a psychologist but also one of the great
what kind of psychologist you want to be. draining to the point of sweat, tears and
ones in the country to be able to serve
Do you want to work with children or burnout since I have to maintain other jobs
Filipinos. That may sound unrealistic at that
adults? Is it in a hospital or corporate as well. My advice is to have a preventative
time because I have not passed the board
setting? Develop a niche and work your approach on your mental health. Do not
exams, my undergrad is not psychology
way through it at the present time. Get a wait until breaking point. Have a deep
and there are so many awesome
mentor. Read a lot. Put yourself out there. A introspection on your thoughts and
psychologists already. The intrinsic
person will not be the best psychologist emotions and find positive coping skills to
motivation took me to a life changing
be able to surpass the challenges. I like
overnight. They say good things take time
process on trying to achieve these things
but starting is as important as finishing in what Viktor Frankl said in relation to being
and the rest is history. I still have a long
this career journey. You may know the mindful: “Between stimulus and response
way to go but I would always go back to
my WHYS for motivation. answers and be able to validate along the there is a space. In that space is our
POWER to choose our RESPONSE. In our
way but start NOW.
F: What do you enjoy most about your response lies our GROWTH and our
Don’t say no right away. Try everything at
chosen profession?
FREEDOM."
least once and then decide if you want to
RV: Being a psychologist in a public
repeat the experience. Of course this does
F: How do you think can we further help
hospital, private practice, corporate, and
not mean engaging in risky behaviour but
advance the field of Psychology in the
academic setting makes me more
more of assessing options related to the
Philippines?
grounded than ever. I get to experience
profession. The world is big so explore it.
different facets of being a psychologist
RV: We are in a time in Philippine history
and I thank God everyday for these
where the concept of taking care of our
Self care is important. A psychologist
opportunities. Part of the day, I am
mental health is starting to take shape and
would need to constantly debrief and
immersed with patients who have trauma,
be accepted in society. The Mental Health
compartmentalize. We can’t give what we
depression and suicidal tendencies that
Act is already in effect and there are other
don’t have so it is vital to replenish our
things that we can be happy about such as
energy and passion to perform at our best.
the House Bill 6253 or the proposed Mental
At present, my psychologist friends from the
Wellness Leave Act granting an additional 5
review centre have a monthly session that
days of leave on top of the existing
we committed to. Try being in a group that
mandatory leaves. In workplaces, employers
adds emotional support. When it comes to
are already starting to embrace the
compartmentalizing, it is a discipline that
concept that productivity is equated to
needs to be developed. I have to train
Mental Health as well. However, we still
myself that when I get out of Pasig City
have to be the game changers in changing
General Hospital, I will not think of anything
the stigma associated with Mental Health.
related to that. Likewise when I go to Mind
It is an exciting time for the profession as
You for my corporate job. Making time for
we change the landscape of mental health
other things in life such as friends, family,
in the country. We are in the right place
hobbies and most of all, yourself would
and at the right time to be
complete the equation.
PSYCHOLOGISTS.