I think the absolute criteria is your own perception that something is not right.Usually the signals are emotional exhaustion, mental fatigue or even systemic physical weakness. Sometimes these symptoms have certain external causes, but it could also be that the signals have no obvious reasons. By working with psychotherapist these reasons will become more evident.

When should I see a psychotherapist?

You should make your choice very carefully. On the one hand, it should be a person with whom you are ready to share the most intimate, your internal world, and this person must be able to retain this information. On the other hand, each psychotherapist should have (or is currently having) his own therapy. In psychoanalysis this is called wounded healer, i.e. someone, who was able to help himself and improved his life, knows how to overcome challenges. I am positive that the higher psychotherapist’s self-understanding and self-reflection, the better is the quality of his work. I am not even mentioning his knowledge because professional competence and certification is a must!

How do I find my psychotherapist?

There are many approaches in psychotherapy and each of them uses various techniques. I wouldn’t recommend analyzing the paradigm used by a psychotherapist. Rather, it’s more important how systemic is his thinking and whether he will address the symptom or the cause. The elimination of a symptom brings temporary relief, however, sooner or later it can mutate into another form (this is how a complex progresses). Still, there are clients who don’t want to address the cause and prefer only the «treatment» of the symptom.

Different psychotherapists are using different approaches, which one is better?

I am specialized in several psychotherapeutic approaches, and all of them help me in diagnosing the source of the problem and selecting a method to solve it according to the client’s needs. Working through Analytical approach I use symbols and problems deeply rooted in childhood. In Family Systems Therapy the client is viewed as an element of family tree system with its own unique interactions and stereotypes. Psychodrama is a great instrument of psychotherapy in action - it is effective in group work and as a means of creating new reality. Hypnotherapeutic techniques are good for contacting the unconscious, as well as for reaching the repressed aspects of the psycho. As for Psychosomatics, it is an opportunity to work with the problem not only on the mental but also on physical level. Overall, the work of the psychotherapist is a combination of approaches which follows the client’s individuality.

What approaches do you practice?

People can easily open up, however they don’t have a lot of opportunities to talk about themselves in their everyday life because no one wants to listen to others’ problems. But for those who can’t concentrate speaking about their life I can of-fer to start from their recent dreams. The dreams are like X-rays: they tell more things about the person than the person actually knows about himself. Since I conduct sessions in the art gallery, I can also use the paintings as starting point for a dialogue. Each painting has a hidden symbolic and colour meaning. The un-conscious of the client will always find the ways to manifest itself.

How can I start speaking up about my problems?

The idea of such work has several important aspects. A painting as an image gives an opportunity to go beyond the fixed rational thinking. An image helps to expand the understanding of the reality because it triggers sensory, emotional and organic perceptions. Finally, an image is a beauty and a chance to fill oneself with esthetics which can be transferred to one’s internal and external worlds. Art has a unique influence on the psycho. Specific paintings of certain authors help to alleviate emotional stress and strengthen personal inner force through their symbolic and colour expression. Like with movie therapy, the goal of the psychotherapist here is to find such a work of art that would suit the client’s individuality. Contemplation of the positive paintings is a powerful psychotherapeutic resource.

Why are your sessions conducted in an art gallery?

My private practice in psychotherapy started in 2002. I have a Master’s Degree in Analytical Psychology and PhD in Psychology. I certified in Family System Therapy, Psychodrama, Erickson Hypnosis and Psychosomatic Therapy. I am also experienced in Psycho-Analytic Dream Interpretation and Movie Therapy. Being competent in several psychological approaches, I look at the problem from different angles without isolating it from the context. Thus, I help the client in various realms - body, personality, family, social life.

What makes you different from other psychotherapists?

In psychotherapy each client is unique, that is why there is no universal recipe. Even in healthcare there is a shift to personalized medicine. My primary consultation is aimed at clarifying further objectives. In some cases one consultation is sufficient, in other cases we discuss with the client whether it is necessary to have more sessions depending on the client’s needs. If there is an importance in deep analytical or corrective therapy, we will schedule it as well.

For how long should I see a psychotherapist?

Confidentiality is integral part of psychotherapeutic relationships that includes both the fact of the psychotherapy itself and its contents. Confidentiality can be limited when there is a strong evidence of imminent danger to your or someone else’s life. Psychotherapists must also disclose cases of ongoing domestic violence, abuse or neglect of children, elderly or people with disabilities, or when a court has subpoenaed your records.

How can I be sure of confidentiality in psychotherapy?

In Ontario, psychotherapists and psychologists are licensed by different associations although both of them provide psychotherapy services addressing the psychological problems. Membership in these associations requires excellent knowledge, supervised practice and necessary licensing tests. The services of psychologists and psychotherapists are paid by the clients as a deductible medical expense. In some cases the cost of psychotherapeutic services can be covered by an employer which should be clarified in advance. As for psychiatrists, they have medical education, their services are covered by OHIP, they prescribe medications for treatment and work with serious mental illnesses.

What is the difference between a psychotherapist, a psychologist and a psychiatrist?

A professional therapist doesn’t give advice nor does (s)he impose her/his own priorities and values. However, to achieve positive results, sometimes (s)he can give certain assignments to the client. By giving the assignments a psychotherapist creates an environment where clients can better understand their own needs and stereotypes and find possible solutions to their problems by changing their behaviors, thoughts and feelings.

Why should I follow the psychotherapist’s recommendations and assignments?

The results often depend on the teamwork of the psychotherapist and the client and on how eager the client is to work on changing his/her life. The first result will be seen in small details, e.g. whatever was hard to understand before, becomes obvious; routine challenges become easier to solve; the feeling of getting lost and desperate disappears. At later stages your thoughts, feelings and wishes become more clear and you will be able to change what you can and to accept what you cannot change. Finally, your life will have a new meaning - not only you will be satisfied with it but you will feel joy and contentment.

What results can I expect from psychotherapy?