Running Is Not Therapy: Laura Aliberti on Mental Health
Psychologist and runner explores the links between sports, psychoanalysis, frustration, and the limits of emotional care.
In a special episode of Girls Who Run, psychologist Laura Aliberti explores the intersection of distance running and psychoanalysis. The conversation delves into the value of hobbies, the capacity to be alone, and the boundaries of sport in mental health care.
In a special Yellow September episode of Girls Who Run, hosts Mariana Real and Marcela Fanti welcome psychologist and psychoanalyst Laura Aliberti to discuss the connections between sport and mental health. Far from viewing running as a magic cure-all for emotional distress, the conversation explores the limits of exercise, the importance of rest, and how physical movement helps build psychological resources.
Introducing Laura Aliberti and Bridging Psychology and Running
Laura Aliberti reflects on her lifelong background in sports and her journey with road running, which began in 2015. With a background in psychology grounded in Winnicottian psychoanalysis, she explains how an integrated view of the mind and body helps identify signs of anxiety, burnout, and emotional fatigue, as well as navigate everyday shortcomings and frustrations.
Hobbies as Adult Play and the Pressure of Productivity
Drawing on Donald Winnicott's theories, the discussion analyzes hobbies as a way for adults to reclaim play—a state of presence and open-ended experimentation free from performance pressure. The hosts and guest examine how an obsession with metrics and athletic performance can strip the joy from sports, highlighting the importance of understanding the true motivation behind every athletic goal.
Physical Pain, Frustration Tolerance, and Building Psychic Muscle
The episode examines the parallel between enduring the physical discomfort of grueling workouts and cultivating the resilience needed to face daily emotional challenges. Laura introduces the concept of building "psychic muscle," emphasizing the importance of celebrating the journey rather than fixating solely on outcomes, while also highlighting therapeutic journaling as a meaningful tool for reflection and preserving personal milestones.
The Limits of Sport: Why Running Is Not Therapy
Laura explains that while running offers significant therapeutic benefits and promotes well-being, it cannot replace psychotherapy. Psychoanalysis requires a structured clinical setting, professional methodology, and a safe space to work through distressing feelings, warning against placing the unrealistic burden of resolving deep emotional conflicts solely onto running.
The Capacity to Be Alone in Running vs. Swimming
The psychologist discusses the capacity to be alone as an achievement of emotional maturity, illustrating how sports provide essential opportunities for introspection. The segment contrasts the focused silence of swimming with the sensory stimuli of road running, underscoring the value of feeling comfortable in one's own company in an age of digital hyperconnectivity.
Self-Criticism, the "Ego Ideal," and Confronting Reality
The psychoanalytic concept of the ego ideal is examined to explain the roots of intense self-criticism and internal comparisons. Laura argues that accepting reality and honoring physical limitations is not a failure, but a vital step toward athletic longevity—which includes knowing when to rest and respecting the body's recovery process during injuries.
Rediscovering and Listening to Genuine Desire Amid Constant Noise
Faced with information overload and external expectations, Laura reflects on the power of quiet withdrawal and introspection to identify what truly matters to oneself. The segment explores how personal motivations evolve over time and how developing internal clarity helps filter out social media pressures to cultivate sustainable athletic motivation.
Final Sprint: Mental Health, Running, and Support Networks
In the rapid-fire closing segment, Laura Aliberti summarizes key takeaways on resilience, personal boundaries, and the importance of not romanticizing only victories in sports. The psychologist concludes by emphasizing the value of self-care and having the courage to ask for help and cultivate strong emotional support systems.