The journey of the therapeutic process

People face various challenges every day. However, there are some challenges that may be particularly difficult to address without psychological support.

Individual psychotherapy constitutes a collaboration between the client and the professional psychologist, who:

• Has a licence to practise
• Is registered with the “Registry of Professional Psychologists”
• Operates within the framework of “Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct”
• Has been trained and continues to receive training to help people address their emotions, thoughts, behaviors, physical reactions and difficult life situations.

Through individual or group psychotherapy, clients are equipped with skills to address emotional and behavioural difficulties, which affect their level of functioning, as well as their quality of life. Psychotherapy can also be beneficial to a client by promoting self-awareness and personal development. Specifically, individuals can explore and experience deeper aspects of themselves. According to Carl Rogers “The curious paradox is that when I accept myself for who I am, then I can change”.

The techniques used by psychologists to provide psychological support stem from their theoretical direction, i.e. the psychotherapeutic approach they are trained in practising. The psychotherapeutic approaches on which psychologists base their interventions must be empirically supported therapies. Specifically, therapies which through empirical research have been shown to be effective in ameliorating the quality of life of individuals and the psychological symptoms they experience. Regardless of their therapeutic approach, it is vital that psychologists build the foundations of a good therapeutic relationship through empathy, genuineness, and unconditional acceptance. Psychologists often collaborate with other healthcare professionals, such as doctors of various specializations, social workers, speech therapists, occupational therapists, clinical dieticians, etc., so that coordinated efforts can be made within a group/team context to promote and improve the quality of life of individuals.

Individuals often seek psychological support in the following circumstances:

• When they are emotionally overwhelmed and feel they can no longer cope with the difficulties they are experiencing by themselves.
• When they have prolonged feelings of sadness and despair and in addition feel deprived of hope in their life.
• When their emotional difficulties significantly prevent them from functioning in their daily lives. For example, their emotional difficulties interfere with their concentration at work, resulting in a negative impact on their performance.
• When they suffer from severe and persistent symptoms that affect their ability to function in their daily lives, such as at home, at school/university, at work or in various other social settings.
• When their actions and behaviors are harmful to themselves or others, i.e., exhibiting verbal and/or physical aggression, or self-destructive behaviors such as overeating, over drinking, and self-harm.
• When they suffer as a result of emotional difficulties experienced by other important people in their lives, such as family members, a partner, or close friends.
• When they mourn the loss of a loved one.
• When faced with the diagnosis of a chronic and/or serious illness. When experiencing emotional difficulties during medical treatment of the chronic illness as well as after treatment is completed.
• When the psychological distress they experience results in difficulties in their interpersonal relationships and their quality of life.
• When the psychological distress they experience affects their compliance with medical examinations and treatments, their functioning and plans for the future.
• When they constantly avoid emotions, thoughts and activities that previously gave meaning to their lives, because this avoidance can lead to more suffering and psychological distress.

The readiness and willingness of an individual to receive psychological support plays an important role in the outcome of therapy. It is not advantageous to force someone to receive psychological support if they do not wish to commit to such a process since putting pressure on them may lead to undesirable outcomes. A basic condition and driving force for a successful treatment is the establishment of a good therapeutic relationship between the client and the psychologist. During the journey of the therapeutic process, the psychologist accompanies the individual and supports him/her by employing their clinical skills, knowledge, and experience. The psychologist provides support in facing the difficulties encountered by the individual based on empirically supported psychotherapeutic interventions to reinforce the individual’s open communication, trust, and willingness to practise more adaptive ways of dealing with life’s challenges.

Marianna Zacharia, MSc, Licensed Clinical Psychologist (#371)

Clinical Psychologist of the Breast Center of Cyprus,

PhD student in Clinical Psychology, ΑCThealthy Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Cyprus