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Psychological consultation, psychotherapy and support for anxiety, depressive states, life crisis, loss, chronic pain, severe illness and psychosomatic complaints.
Psychological consultation
What is it?
Psychological consultation is a professional meeting with a psychologist in which a person can raise a specific question, difficulty or life situation that currently requires more attention and understanding. The reason for seeking consultation is not always a clearly defined psychological problem. Sometimes it is a feeling of tension, confusion, dissatisfaction or difficulty in understanding for oneself what is happening.
The consultation creates a protected space in which current experiences, relationships, life context and the ways in which a person tries to cope can be examined. The task of the psychologist is not to provide a ready-made solution or to tell the person how they should act, but to support a better understanding of the situation and of the psychological processes involved in it.
Psychological consultation can be short-term and focused on a specific difficulty – for example, a life change, conflict, loss, decision, professional tension or adaptation to illness. In other cases, the initial consultation may show a need for a more in-depth psychological assessment or longer-term psychotherapeutic work.
Led by: Dr Margarita Tareyn
Who is it suitable for?
For adults experiencing emotional tension, life crisis, relationship difficulties, a significant change, or who need to better understand a particular situation or their own reactions to it.
When can it be helpful?
- with anxiety and prolonged tension;
- with low mood;
- with relationship difficulties;
- with separation or loss;
- with professional or family difficulties;
- with an important life change;
- with difficulty making a decision;
- with a severe or chronic illness;
- when usual ways of coping are no longer sufficient.
What does the psychological work include?
The work begins with clarifying the reason for the consultation and the current situation. The person's experiences, significant relationships and life circumstances, available resources and the difficulties that currently limit their ability to cope are discussed.
Depending on the specific case, the consultation may remain focused on a particular problem, or psychotherapy, psychological assessment, or consultation with another specialist may be recommended.
What happens at the first meeting?
The first meeting is an opportunity for the person to describe what has brought them to the consultation and what they expect from it. The psychologist asks questions that help to understand the current state, the history of the difficulty and its impact on everyday life.
Format and frequency
Format
Individual, in person or online, when the nature of the work allows.
Duration and frequency
The consultation may consist of one or several meetings. If longer-term work is needed, the format and frequency are discussed individually.
Who conducts the consultations?
Psychologists from the Institute's team, according to the nature of the request and the specialist's professional competence.
Important
Psychological consultation does not replace the necessary medical or psychiatric diagnosis and treatment.
Individual psychotherapy
What is it?
Individual psychotherapy is a more in-depth process in which a person has the opportunity to explore the way they experience themselves, their relationships with others, and the difficulties that arise or repeat in their life.
Unlike consultation, which may be focused on a specific current problem, psychotherapy usually involves longer-term and regular work. It can explore personal history, significant relationships, inner conflicts, emotional reactions and the ways in which past experience continues to be present in the present.
Psychotherapy does not offer ready-made prescriptions for how a person should live. The therapeutic process creates the opportunity for experiences and patterns that have so far been difficult to understand or change to be gradually recognised and made sense of.
Led by: Dr Margarita Tareyn, Prof. Orlin Todorov
Who is it suitable for?
For adults who wish to engage in more in-depth work on their emotional, personality and interpersonal functioning.
When can it be helpful?
- with prolonged anxiety or depressive experiences;
- with recurring relationship difficulties;
- with low self-esteem and insecurity;
- with difficulties in emotional regulation;
- with experienced trauma or loss;
- with recurring life crises;
- with psychosomatic difficulties;
- when certain situations and relationships repeat in a way that causes suffering;
- with a wish for a more in-depth understanding of oneself.
What does the psychological work include?
Regular individual meetings in which current experiences, relationships, personal history, inner conflicts and coping strategies can be explored.
The specific psychotherapeutic approach is determined by the specialist's qualification, the clinical situation and the individual's needs.
What happens at the first meeting?
The initial meetings are aimed at becoming acquainted with the reason for seeking psychotherapy, current functioning, personal history and expectations from the process. The possible format, frequency and conditions of subsequent work are discussed.
Format and frequency
Format
Individual. In person or online, when appropriate.
Duration and frequency
Psychotherapy requires regularity. The duration and frequency are determined individually according to the therapeutic approach, goals and needs of the person.
Who conducts the psychotherapy?
Specialists from the Institute's team with the necessary psychotherapeutic qualification.
Important
Psychotherapy does not replace the necessary medical or psychiatric treatment. In certain conditions, psychotherapeutic and psychiatric care may be conducted in parallel.
Support for anxiety and panic experiences
What is it?
Anxiety is a natural part of psychic life and is not in itself an illness. It can warn us of danger, prepare us for action, and be normally present in periods of uncertainty or change. A problem arises when anxiety becomes excessive, prolonged, or begins to significantly limit everyday life.
It can manifest through constant worry, tension, intrusive anticipation that something bad will happen, difficulty concentrating and sleep disturbances. There is often also a strong bodily dimension – palpitations, shortness of breath, tightness, sweating, trembling, dizziness or a feeling of loss of control.
In panic experiences, these sensations can appear suddenly and be experienced as immediate danger. Gradually, a fear of a repeated attack and avoidance of certain places, situations or activities may develop.
Psychological work is not limited to suppressing symptoms, but seeks to understand how the anxiety arises, what maintains it and how it fits into the person's overall functioning.
Led by: Prof. Orlin Todorov
Who is it suitable for?
For adults experiencing significant anxiety, panic attacks, persistent fears or prolonged psychological tension.
When can it be helpful?
- with constant anxiety and worry;
- with panic attacks;
- with fear of a new panic attack;
- with avoidance of places or situations;
- with health anxiety;
- with bodily manifestations of anxiety;
- with sleep disturbances;
- when anxiety limits work, relationships or everyday life.
What does the psychological work include?
The work may include a clinical assessment of the anxious experiences, exploration of the situations and psychological processes associated with them, and subsequent psychological consultation or psychotherapy.
What happens at the first meeting?
The onset and nature of the anxiety, the frequency and intensity of the symptoms, the situations in which they arise, the medical and psychological history and the impact on everyday life are discussed.
Format and frequency
Format
Individual, in person or online.
Duration and frequency
Determined individually according to the nature and intensity of the difficulties and the chosen approach.
Who conducts the consultations?
A psychologist or psychotherapist from the Institute's team.
Important
New, severe or unexplained physical symptoms should not automatically be assumed to be a manifestation of anxiety. If necessary, an appropriate medical assessment should first be carried out.
Support for depressive states
What is it?
Every person experiences periods of sadness, disappointment and reduced motivation. A depressive state, however, can be more prolonged and significantly affect the way a person feels, thinks, communicates and functions.
It is not always experienced solely as sadness. In some people, emptiness, irritability, fatigue, lack of interest and pleasure, difficulty starting usual activities, or the feeling that the future has lost perspective may be predominant.
Changes may occur in sleep, appetite, concentration, sexuality and social functioning. Often a person begins to withdraw from others precisely at a moment when they have the greatest need for support.
Psychological work seeks to understand not only the symptoms, but also the specific person, the life situation, the relationships and events in which the depressive experience develops.
Who is it suitable for?
For adults with prolonged low mood, loss of interest or pleasure, marked fatigue, withdrawal, a feeling of hopelessness or other depressive experiences.
When can it be helpful?
- with prolonged sadness or a feeling of emptiness;
- with loss of interest and pleasure;
- with lack of energy and motivation;
- with social withdrawal;
- with a strong feeling of guilt or worthlessness;
- with sleep disturbances;
- with difficulty concentrating;
- when everyday activities begin to require an unusually great effort.
What does the psychological work include?
Initial clinical assessment of the condition, psychological consultation or psychotherapy. If necessary, a psychiatric consultation may be recommended and psychotherapeutic work combined with medication treatment.
What happens at the first meeting?
The current experiences, their duration and impact on everyday life, previous periods of similar difficulties, physical health, relationships and available support are discussed.
Format and frequency
Format
Individual, in person or online, when appropriate.
Duration and frequency
Determined individually after an initial assessment.
Who conducts the consultations?
A psychologist or psychotherapist from the Institute's team.
Important
In cases of suicidal thoughts, immediate risk to life, or a severe acute psychological condition, a planned psychological meeting is not a sufficient form of help, and emergency medical or psychiatric assistance should be sought immediately.
Support in life crisis
What is it?
A life crisis arises when an event, change or accumulation of circumstances temporarily exceed a person's usual capacity to adapt and cope.
A crisis does not necessarily mean the presence of a mental disorder. It may arise after a separation, divorce, job loss, illness, conflict, relocation, a change within the family, or another event that disrupts the previous sense of security and predictability.
Sometimes a crisis occurs even with events that are generally perceived as positive – a new job, the birth of a child, marriage, relocation or another major change. What they have in common is the need for the person to adjust to a new reality, for which their previous ways of coping may prove insufficient.
Psychological support helps what has been experienced to be organised and made sense of, and gradually restores the capacity for decision-making and the sense of direction.
Led by: Prof. Orlin Todorov
Who is it suitable for?
For adults going through a significant change or event that has disrupted their usual mental and life balance.
When can it be helpful?
- in the case of separation or divorce;
- after job loss;
- in the case of serious conflict;
- after a sudden change in life;
- after receiving a serious diagnosis;
- in the case of a change in family circumstances;
- in the case of relocation or migration;
- in the case of a professional crisis;
- when a person finds it difficult to regain their usual functioning after a significant event.
What does the psychological work involve?
Assessment of the current situation and psychological state, emotional support, exploration of coping possibilities and mobilisation of personal and social resources.
How does the first meeting proceed?
The focus is on the current situation – what has happened, how the person is experiencing it, how their daily functioning has changed, and what their most immediate needs are.
Format and frequency
Format
Individual, in person or online.
Duration and frequency
The work is often short-term and focused on the crisis. If necessary, it may develop into longer-term psychotherapeutic work.
Who conducts the consultations?
A psychologist or psychotherapist from the Institute's team.
Important
In the case of immediate risk to life or safety, or a severe acute mental state, emergency help should be sought.
Support in loss and bereavement
What is it?
The loss of a loved one can change not only daily life, but also the way a person experiences themselves, their relationships, the future and the meaning of what is happening.
Bereavement can involve sadness, anger, guilt, emptiness, longing, confusion, anxiety and physical exhaustion. Sometimes problems with sleep and concentration, social withdrawal, or difficulty returning to usual activities appear.
There is no universal sequence in which these experiences must occur, nor a fixed period after which a person "should" have overcome the loss. The way one grieves depends on the relationship with the person who has died, the circumstances of the death, previous life experience, and the resources and support available to the person.
Psychological work does not aim to make the person forget the one they have lost. It creates a space in which the loss and the relationship can be made sense of and gradually find a place in continuing life.
Led by: Dr Margarita Tareyn, Prof. Orlin Todorov
Who is it suitable for?
For adults who have experienced the death of a loved one or another significant loss that has a substantial impact on their emotional and daily functioning.
When can it be helpful?
- in the case of intense sadness and a feeling of emptiness;
- in the case of guilt or anger after the loss;
- in the case of sleep disturbances;
- in the case of social withdrawal;
- in the case of difficulty returning to daily life;
- after a sudden or traumatic loss;
- when a person has no space in which to talk about what they have experienced;
- when grief continues to cause significant distress and impairment of functioning.
What does the psychological work involve?
The work is tailored to the nature of the loss, the relationship with the person who has died, and the individual way of grieving. It may take the form of psychological counselling or longer-term psychotherapeutic work.
How does the first meeting proceed?
The person has the opportunity to talk about the loss and how their life has changed since it occurred. There is no expectation that the story be told in a particular way, or that the person be ready to talk about everything already at the first meeting.
Format and frequency
Format
Individual, in person or online. Where a suitable programme is available, group support may also be offered.
Duration and frequency
Determined individually. The psychological work does not impose a predetermined timeframe on the grieving process.
Who conducts the consultations?
A psychologist or psychotherapist from the Institute's team.
Important
Grief in itself is not a mental illness. In the case of severe and prolonged impairment of functioning or other clinically significant symptoms, additional psychological or psychiatric assessment may be needed.
Psychological support in chronic pain
What is it?
Chronic pain is a complex experience that is not determined solely by physical damage or illness. Prolonged pain can gradually change the way a person moves, sleeps, works, communicates and plans their life.
When pain persists for a long time, anxiety, fear of movement, expectation of worsening, sleep disturbances, low mood and social withdrawal may accumulate around it. A person may gradually begin to organise an ever-greater part of their daily life around the attempt to avoid or control the pain.
The psychological approach does not mean that the pain is "only psychological", nor does it call into question its physical experience. Biological, psychological and social factors may all simultaneously play a part in the way chronic pain is experienced and affects life.
The aim is for psychological work to be part of comprehensive care and to help the person maintain or restore the best possible functioning and quality of life.
Who is it suitable for?
For adults with prolonged or recurrent pain, in whom the condition has a significant impact on psychological state and daily life.
When can it be helpful?
- when pain significantly limits daily life;
- in the case of anxiety and constant monitoring of bodily sensations;
- in the case of fear of movement or activity;
- in the case of sleep disturbances;
- in the case of low mood;
- in the case of social isolation;
- in the case of difficulties in relationships or professional life;
- when life gradually begins to be organised predominantly around the pain.
What does the psychological work involve?
It may include a psychological assessment of the impact of pain on life, emotional functioning and ways of coping, followed by individual counselling or psychotherapy.
How does the first meeting proceed?
The history and experience of the pain, medical follow-up, the impact on daily life, sleep, work and relationships, the emotional state, and the coping strategies used so far are discussed.
Format and frequency
Format
Individual, in person or online, where appropriate.
Duration and frequency
Determined individually according to the condition, goals and format of work.
Who conducts the consultations?
A psychologist or psychotherapist from the Institute's team with appropriate professional competence.
Important
Psychological work does not replace the medical assessment, monitoring and treatment of pain.
Psychological support in severe and chronic illness
What is it?
Receiving a diagnosis and living with a severe or chronic illness can change much more than one's physical state. The perception of one's own body, the sense of security, plans for the future, professional life, relationships and the person's role within the family may all be affected.
Treatment, medical investigations and periods of waiting can be associated with anxiety, uncertainty and a sense of loss of control. Sometimes the illness imposes restrictions that require the person to adjust to a different rhythm and way of life.
Psychological support does not require a person to be in a severe emotional state in order to seek it. It can be helpful as early as the time of diagnosis, during treatment, in the case of a change in condition, or in the process of returning to daily life.
The work is directed not only towards reducing psychological distress, but also towards preserving autonomy, relationships, personal resources and the best possible quality of life.
Led by: Dr Margarita Tareyn
Who is it suitable for?
For adults with a severe, chronic or socially significant illness who are not hospitalised, as well as for people who have completed an active stage of medical treatment.
When can it be helpful?
- after receiving a diagnosis;
- when starting or changing treatment;
- in the case of fear of deterioration;
- in the case of anxiety before medical investigations;
- in the case of prolonged treatment or follow-up;
- in the case of changes in physical functioning;
- in the case of difficulty accepting limitations;
- in the case of changes in family and professional roles;
- in the case of uncertainty about the future;
- when returning to daily life after treatment.
What does the psychological work involve?
An initial assessment of psychological and psychosocial needs and, depending on the specific case, psychological counselling or psychotherapeutic work.
When this is necessary for the quality of care and the person has given informed consent, the psychological work may be coordinated with the treating physician or another medical specialist.
How does the first meeting proceed?
The illness and treatment are discussed to the extent necessary for the psychological work, together with current experiences, changes in daily life and relationships, and expectations of the support.
Format and frequency
Format
Individual, in person or online, where the condition and the nature of the work allow it.
Duration and frequency
From one or several consultations to regular psychotherapeutic work. Determined individually.
Who conducts the consultations?
Psychologists and psychotherapists from the Institute's team with competence in working with people with physical illnesses.
Important
Psychological support complements, but does not replace, medical diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. The Institute does not provide hospital or emergency medical care.
Psychological support in psychosomatic complaints
What is it?
The psychosomatic approach considers the person beyond the division between "body" and "psyche". Bodily state influences the way a person feels, thinks and relates to the world, and mental processes can likewise have bodily manifestations.
This does not mean that the physical symptom is imaginary or that every illness has a psychological cause. Psychosomatic work does not necessarily seek out a “hidden emotion” to explain bodily suffering, and it does not set the psychological perspective against the medical one.
In some people, bodily symptoms appear or change during periods of significant strain. In others, a chronic physical illness in itself gradually alters emotional functioning, relationships and the way in which the person experiences their own body.
Psychological work is concerned with the whole way in which the particular person experiences the body, symptoms, emotions, relationships and life events. The aim is a deeper understanding of individual functioning, without artificially separating the physical from the psychological.
Led by: Dr Margarita Tareyn, Prof. Orlin Todorov
Who is it suitable for?
For adults with bodily complaints or chronic somatic illnesses, where a deeper understanding of the interaction between physical condition, psychological functioning and life context is needed.
When can it be helpful?
- with recurring bodily complaints;
- when symptoms change or intensify during periods of strain;
- with strong anxiety related to health and the body;
- with a chronic illness that has a significant psychological impact;
- with difficulty in recognising and expressing emotional experiences;
- when bodily suffering significantly changes relationships and daily life;
- when medical care addresses the illness but there remains a need to work with the way it is experienced.
What does the psychological work involve?
The work begins with a detailed clinical interview and, if necessary, may include a specialised psychological assessment of psychosomatic functioning.
Current bodily experiences, medical history, emotional functioning, significant relationships, life events and the ways in which the person copes with stress and illness are explored.
Depending on the individual situation, psychological counselling or longer-term psychotherapeutic work may be offered.
How does the first meeting proceed?
The first meeting includes a conversation about the reason for seeking psychological help, the bodily symptoms, the medical examinations and treatment carried out, as well as the current life and emotional context.
It is not assumed in advance that the bodily symptom has a psychological cause.
Format and frequency
Format
Individual, in person or online, when appropriate.
Duration and frequency
These are determined individually according to the nature of the difficulties and the format of the subsequent work.
Who conducts the consultations?
Psychologists and psychotherapists from the Institute’s team with competence in the field of psychosomatics.
Important
Where physical symptoms are present, an appropriate medical assessment is of primary importance. Psychosomatic work does not replace medical diagnosis and treatment, and does not imply that the bodily symptom is “imaginary” or caused solely by psychological factors.