Question 1

How do I know if I need psychotherapy?

Accepted Answer

One indication that you may need to start psychotherapy is when you are overwhelmed by distressing emotions such as anxiety, sadness, fear, or anger, among others. These emotions may be heightened, intense, and prolonged, making it difficult for you to maintain your daily quality of life. Additionally, you may feel an emotional void or blockage that prevents you from living your life with fullness and satisfaction. Sometimes, you may have developed dysfunctional behaviors such as avoiding activities, excessive engagement with social media etc. Moreover, when despite your desire and effort, as well as the support you may have received from friends or family, no satisfactory improvement has been achieved, it is time to seek support through psychotherapy. Furthermore, another indication is when being stuck in past experiences hinders your healthy adjustment and growth.

The need for self-awareness and personal growth is an equally important reason to seek psychotherapy. The psychotherapeutic journey can provide the necessary tools to gain a deeper understanding of yourself, to connect with its different aspects, and to live a more authentic life with meaning and creativity, setting realistic goals.

Apart from building a better relationship with ourselves, psychotherapy also contributes to better relationships with others. This means that communication issues and conflicts in interpersonal relationships are subjects of psychotherapeutic intervention, with the aim of developing healthier and more satisfying relationships.

Another reason to decide to pursue psychotherapy is when you are faced with significant changes or transitions in your life, such as loss, grief, career changes, relocation to another city, having a baby, etc.

Question 2

What are the benefits of psychotherapy?

Accepted Answer

The advantages of psychotherapy are numerous. Some of them include a deeper understanding of oneself, the recognition of different aspects of one’s personality, the exploration and understanding of behaviors, beliefs, and experiences. Additionally, the acquisition of emotional regulation skills, the development of problem-solving mechanisms, the enhancement of resilience, the strengthening of self-esteem, the improvement of interpersonal relationships through the reinforcement of communication and boundary-setting capabilities, and the development of a better relationship with oneself.

Question 3

What happens at the first session?

Accepted Answer

In our first session, we will discuss the reasons that led you to choose to start psychotherapy. We will talk about the issues that concern you and what is happening in your life at this current stage. Information will be gathered regarding various interaction contexts (family, work, affairs, friendship, etc.). We will explore the patterns of emotional responses, behavioral reactions, and beliefs. We will discuss about what are your needs and expectations regarding the changes you hope to achieve through the psychotherapy process. Therapeutic hypotheses will be formulated. We will set therapeutic goals. There will be an explanation of my therapeutic approach, and we will agree on the manner and framework of our collaboration. This phase may last more than one session.

Question 4

What do I need to know about the process and context of the sessions?

Accepted Answer

Individual sessions last 50 minutes, while couples and family sessions last 60 minutes. Longer sessions for families and couples can be arranged upon discussion. The frequency of meetings is weekly. The duration of therapy depends on the individual's specific needs and desires, the nature of the difficulties, the goals that will be mutually agreed upon, and the therapeutic approach. It is worth noting that the effectiveness of psychotherapy is influenced by the individual's commitment to it. The person needs to have personal motivation and a desire for self-improvement, to be consistent, and to actively participate in the therapeutic process.

In case there is a need to cancel a session, you need to inform me at least 48 hours in advance so that we can find an alternative day and time within the week. Not informing in time will result in being charged the full cost of the canceled session as compensation for the reserved time. Exceptions include emergency situations, such as urgent health issues for you or your family, or other urgent events. In case of a cancellation on my part, every effort will be made to inform you in time and to reschedule our appointment. Additionally, unjustified absence from two consecutive sessions, or the cancellation of two or more scheduled appointments within a 30-day period without attempting to reschedule, raises questions about your consistency and commitment to the therapeutic process—factors that are crucial for the effectiveness of therapy—and may result in the termination of our collaboration.

The therapeutic relationship is based on the principle of confidentiality. This means that anything discussed in the sessions remains private, except in exceptional cases where professional confidentiality is waived, such as when there is a perceived serious danger your life or your physical integrity, as well for a third person. In this case, it is necessary for me to contact a member of your family or the relevant authorities in accordance with the Code of Ethics for Psychologists (Υ()πουργική Απόφαση Γ5β/Γ.Π. οικ. 42984/2019 - ΦΕΚ 2344/Β/18-6-2019 - ΥΓΕΙΑ (e-nomothesia.gr)(https://www.e-nomothesia.gr/kat-ygeia/upourgike-apophase-g5bgp-oik-42984-2019.html)

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