The foundations of psychology are based in the scientific study of the mind and how we express our understanding of who we are in meaningful activities and relationships. It includes how these understandings are formed through experiences and relationships. The word “psyche” is rooted in the Greek descriptions of “life” and “breath” and associated words “soul” and “self”. In Greek, “logos” indicate knowledge or deeper understanding. This understanding forms the basis of psychotherapy, especially when confronted with questions about who we are, difficulties that derail our emotional well-being, important relations or sense of independence. It enables us to reconsider what we feel, our ways of thinking and what needs to be done to create growth to balanced and grounded ways of being.

If we only understand “memory” as the ability to encode, store and retrieve information, we are neglecting its vital functions in everything we are able do, our ability to relate to others and to function in a complex modern world. Our ability to translate experiences in memory and knowledge allows us to be the people who we would like to be. However, changes or decline in the quality of our memory create anxiety for ourselves and those around us. At times, these changes may be normal, especially as we grow older. Unfortunately, several other factors can reduce our ability to sustain concentration and to integrate what is required of us in meaningful memory networks. It is therefore essential to differentiate between normal forgetting and a possible dementia.