Why and when should I seek help?

   Although the topic of consulting a mental health specialist is still sometimes associated with the risk of stigmatization, modern societies increasingly recognize that everyone can face psychological challenges at some point and may want to change or enrich their lives.

   People often wonder when it is appropriate to seek consultation with such a professional. The usual reasons for considering this option are all valid. Problems do not need to be severe or catastrophic to justify the first call. Many individuals do relatively well at work or in their family life but still feel internally tense, troubled, or dissatisfied. Concerns about long-term inner conflicts or simply being curious about how your mind works are perfectly valid reasons to consult a mental health professional.

   The most common reasons for seeking consultation are as follows:

• Personal issues: feeling uncomfortable in our own skin, insecurity, fear, anxiety, depression, or tension; a sense that something is wrong or preventing us from feeling well.

• Difficult moments: prolonged illness, grief, separation, failure, etc.

• Relationship difficulties: challenges with intimate partners, family, friends, colleagues, or feeling alone or isolated.

• Physical symptoms without a clear medical explanation.

 

Will psychotherapy help me?

   Numerous studies show convincingly that psychotherapy is an effective tool for personal development and overcoming difficulties. However, it is important to understand that there is no miracle solution or quick fix. The success of psychotherapy depends on the quality of collaboration between the patient and therapist. Psychotherapy is generally not short-term; it aims not only for immediate relief but also for a more profound and lasting change in the quality of life, often becoming clearer and more significant in the years following its completion.

   Since psychotherapy is typically individualized, those considering it should schedule an initial consultation with a specialist. Regardless of the issue, its causes can only be fully understood in the context of the specific patient's life situation.

 

With whom can I consult?

   A psychotherapist is typically a psychologist or psychiatrist who provides therapeutic services. In addition to their academic education, the specialist undergoes several years of training in one or more forms of psychotherapy (individual, group, family, etc.). To ensure patient safety, the psychotherapist should be a member or candidate member of recognized professional associations that adhere to strict standards.

 

Initial consultation

   The goal of the initial consultation is to build a comprehensive understanding of the patient's difficulties and to explore opportunities for psychotherapeutic help. These consultations are designed to support and stimulate the patient's interest in their inner world. Usually, the initial consultations last between two and four sessions, after which the therapist shares their understanding of the patient's challenges and offers options for therapeutic work. The patient can benefit from these consultations without committing to long-term therapy.

 

Psychoanalysis

   Psychoanalysis is an intensive form of psychotherapy based on the belief that unconscious factors significantly influence our behavior. These factors—such as beliefs about ourselves and others, unconscious desires, and fantasies—are often linked to the difficulties that drive patients to seek help. Because these factors are unconscious, advice from friends or family, reading self-help books, or even determined attempts to change do not always bring sufficient relief.

   Psychoanalysis is designed for individuals whose lives are generally stable, who have achieved some success in their work and relationships, but for whom greater life satisfaction or relief from painful symptoms (such as depression, anxiety, sexual difficulties, or physical complaints with no medical cause) remains elusive.

   Patients in psychoanalysis typically attend four sessions a week and are encouraged to lie on a couch. This frequency and the use of the couch help the patient explore their inner mental life in depth, without censorship and regardless of societal norms. Topics often include dreams, fantasies, memories, experiences in relationships and work, and reactions to the analyst. By examining these subjects and repetitive patterns in the patient's life, the analyst can formulate hypotheses about underlying unconscious motivations and their connection to current challenges. Over time, by revisiting these patterns and discussing them in sessions, both the patient and the analyst gain a deeper understanding of the patient's difficulties.

   Psychoanalysis is often viewed as a close partnership, in which the patient becomes emotionally aware of the roots of their difficulties. From the outset, both the patient and analyst work together to build a secure, trusting relationship, allowing the patient to experience painful, embarrassing, or provocative aspects of their inner life. This process enables patients to feel they are gaining greater awareness and control over their lives, leading to more choices in work and relationships, and ultimately a more stable, positive experience.

   Deciding to start psychoanalysis is not an easy one, as it requires a significant commitment of time. There are various ways to address emotional problems. Some methods, such as medication, provide relatively quick relief from sadness, anger, anxiety, or sleep problems but have limited capacity to address the underlying causes of our thoughts and feelings. Research shows that a significant number of people who have tried medication find it insufficient on its own.

   Psychoanalysis is not a quick or easy approach. However, many people believe that it is precisely this type of treatment that has provided the help and relief they could not find elsewhere.

 

Psychoanalytic psychotherapy

   Psychoanalytic therapy is based on the same principles as psychoanalysis, but differs in at least two key ways: patients attend sessions less frequently (once or twice a week) and sit face-to-face with the therapist.

   The decision between psychotherapy and psychoanalysis depends on the initial consultations, which consider the nature and severity of the patient's difficulties, their current life situation, external factors, and more. This is a decision made in collaboration with the patient.

 

How much do psychoanalysis and psychoanalytic therapy cost?

   The cost of sessions is agreed upon between the analyst and the patient. The price should be reasonable for the patient to avoid limiting other aspects of life, while ensuring it reflects the long-term nature of the therapeutic work.