Psychoeducation on introversion and extroversion can be helpful for patients

In counseling, providing psychoeducation around introversion and extroversion can be helpful. 

In our human experience, we are able to focus our attention outwardly or inwardly. 

1 We are able to focus outwardly through our five senses i.e. sight, hear, smell, touch, and taste. When we are focusing “outward”, we are in the “here and now”. We give this “outward focus” a number of terms e.g. extroversion, 5sense experience, being present, or mindfulness. 

2 The other way in which we can focus is inwardly i.e. in our minds through memory of the past, and imagination or projection of the future. We can call this the “inside head” experience.

Introverts have a bias or tendency towards the inward direction, and extroverts have a bias or tendency towards the outward direction. We all have both of course, but we do have a preference, like left and right-handedness. Each has its pros and cons. If imbalanced, it can lead to number of emotional problems. 

If one is too much outer focused, then one requires more reflective work. If one is too much inner focused, then one requires more mindfulness and outside head experiences perhaps. 

Which one is your tendency?