Interview with psychologist Meleshenko Svetlana Vyacheslavovna – a qualified psychologist of the Rugby Federation of Uzbekistan.
With Svetlana Vyacheslavovna, we discussed her professional path, the challenges psychologists face, and the emotional stress of working with athletes.
– Svetlana Vyacheslavovna, good afternoon! How long have you been working as a psychologist?
I have been interested in psychology for a long time, I graduated from the Tashkent State Pedagogical University named after Nizami back in 2004, but since I am a doctor by my first education, I worked as a sports doctor and only in 2021 I began working as a psychologist.
– Why psychology? What prompted you to start studying psychology?
Working as a doctor, I noticed that patients with similar diseases have similar character traits, they react in the same way to any situations. And yet, there is such an expression: “A word can hurt, but you can cure”
I became interested in how the laws of psychology work, how a person’s temperament affects interaction with other people, the development of certain qualities, and how it is possible to influence the development of certain qualities depending on a person’s temperament.
– Do you have experience in other areas?
Yes, I am a doctor by first education and I have more than 20 years of medical experience
– How do your friends and relatives feel about your profession?
Friends and relatives in my profession are very good, they often seek advice, and I am pleased when they listen to my recommendations.
Do you apply psychology at home and in raising children?
Thank you for the question, of course, the laws of psychology work in the same way as the laws of mathematics. Therefore, the way we raise children will affect their future. And as you know, any parent wants “children to be happier than their parents.” And only by personal example can we show children what it means to be happy!
– What problem, in your opinion, do athletes deal with most often?
Athletes come with different problems. Each of them is individual, each has his own questions and my task is to help them figure it out.
– What makes you most happy in your work? What situations, on the contrary, are frustrating?
I rejoice when I see that after analyzing a situation, a person feels better, he has solved for himself some question that was insoluble for him.
And situations connected with insincerity, lies upset me.
– And finally, what recommendation would you give to athletes who are afraid to seek help from a psychologist?
Thank you very much for this question. Until recently, it was not customary to turn to a psychologist, but the situation, fortunately, is changing.
In order to achieve victories and become champions, it is not enough to have excellent physical shape and talent, you also need qualities such as self-control, the ability to analyze your mistakes and interpersonal skills that help you work as a cohesive team. And a sports psychologist helps to develop all these qualities, trains an athlete to manage their emotions, teaches them to cope with the excitement before the start, helps to strengthen the sports spirit.
– Great advice. Thanks! It was nice talking to you!
Interview with psychologist Meleshenko Svetlana Vyacheslavovna