What is psychology?
The British Health System (NHS) defines psychology as the study of people: how they think, act, react and interact. Psychology deals with all aspects of behavior and the thoughts, feelings, and motivations that govern that behavior.
As a scientific discipline, psychology is primarily concerned with the normal functioning of mental and cognitive phenomena and has explored areas such as learning, memory and the normal development of children.

As a scientific discipline, psychology is primarily concerned with the normal functioning of mental and cognitive phenomena and has explored areas such as learning, memory and the normal development of children.

What is a psychologist?
Psychologists are scientists who deal with human behavior and mental-cognitive functions. They may specialize in individual areas such as: diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders (clinical psychology), issues related to education (school psychology), children's social development (social psychology) and professional life e.g. professional training, personnel selection, professional orientation (work psychology).
Psychology is legally protected as a profession in Greece and its practice requires the relevant license from the Ministry of Health.
According to the Greek legislation (Article 1 of Law 991/79), "In the practice of their profession psychologists investigate and evaluate human personality and behavior and work with the established principles and methods of the Science of Psychology in order to make good use of and improve them."
To date (year 2022) the Greek law does not provide for areas of specialization in Psychology. So even if you have obtained a specialty, (for example, health psychologist, clinical psychologist, school psychology, counseling psychology) you cannot officially state yourself as such.
We should also clarify that the Psychology degree and the license for practicing psychology do not involve training in psychotherapy. So a licensed psychologist is likely to have no training in practicing psychotherapy with patients.
Be that as it may, the psychologist is neither a doctor nor a psychiatrist and does not administer drugs.

What is psychiatry?
According to the definition provided by the British Health System (NHS), psychiatry is a branch of medicine which deals with the study of mental disorders, their diagnosis, treatment and prevention.

What is a psychiatrist?
Psychiatrists are doctors who have specialized in psychiatry and may administer medication.
Psychiatry is legally protected as a profession in Greece and its practice requires the relevant license from the Ministry of Health.
Again, the Psychiatry degree and the license for practicing psychiatry do not involve training in psychotherapy. So the Psychiatrist is likely to have no training in practicing psychotherapy with patients.

What is psychotherapy?
Psychotherapy is a process of self-healing which is achieved through the relationship that develops with the therapist (therapeutic relationship). The therapist provides the expertise and the emotional presence needed to guide the client in this process.
The therapeutic relationship creates the climate of trust and security required for the individual to open the door to their emotional world. Therefore, the choice of the therapist that suits you is of major importance for the success of this process.
With the aid of α skilled therapist, the client can see what lies beneath the surface – the non-obvious. They may explore unknown aspects of themselves, process experiences that have defined their personal development and discover the root causes of their issues of concern.
The processing of the material that emerges and its connection with the present, works therapeutically on the emotional, mental and physical level. It also brings about a reconstruction of the client’s personality and their attitude to life. The relationship that the person has with themselves is restored: self-esteem, self-respect, self-confidence. The deep self-awareness they acquire, make them much stronger persons, capable of dealing with adversities and daily problems in a much cooler and realistic way. Furthermore, it helps them have better relationships with other people.
Thus the person not only is exempt from the symptoms that brought them to treatment but also achieve a complete regeneration. They significantly improve the quality of their life and develop their capacity for joy and creativity.
Psychotherapy may be provided to adults, teenagers and children in an individual, family, couple, or group setting. Depending on the issues of concern, it may be short-term or long-term.

What is a psychotherapist?
A psychotherapist is a mental health professional who has been trained in at least one psychotherapeutic modality and uses this training to practice psychotherapy with individuals, groups, couples and families.
According to the British Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP), the psychotherapist's aim is to help the client gain insight into their difficulties or discomfort and realize where they come from. Also, to assist them in finding more appropriate ways to deal with their issues and possibly make changes in their way of thinking and behavior in this direction.
The psychotherapeutic process involves the exploration of feelings, beliefs, thoughts and events related to the client’s issues, often from the person's childhood and personal history. This is done in a structured and safe way, given the psychotherapist’s training and experience.
The British Health System (NHS) specifies that the psychotherapist may come from the field of psychiatry or psychology, without this being binding. Many psychotherapists come from other professional fields. What determines the professional competence of the psychotherapist is the specialized in-depth training in at least one psychotherapeutic modality.
Though they may have other specialties, in general a psychotherapist is not and should not be viewed as a medical doctor, a psychiatrist or a psychologist and does not administer drugs.
In Greece there is no official recognition and certification of the profession of psychotherapy by the state.
The National Organization for Psychotherapy of Greece (NOPG) certifies the Greek training organizations in individual psychotherapy modalities, according to the European standards set by the European Association for Psychotherapy (EAP).
EAP clearly defines the criteria of psychotherapeutic competence which must be met by every professional in the field. In order to practice psychotherapy one must have successfully completed the required training at a certified training organization of their choice. Anyone who has not been trained in psychotherapy should refrain from providing psychotherapeutic services and in any case clarify this to people who turn to them in search of psychotherapeutic treatment.
Therefore, graduating from an EAP-certified training organization ensures the required education-training for a Psychotherapist. In addition, regular membership in a professional association of Psychotherapists (e.g. EABP, PESOPS), further ensures professional competence as it entails that the Psychotherapist in question meets all the requirements of training, competence, experience dictated by the association (according to international standards) and is also subject to its Code of Ethics for the protection of clients.

Who may benefit from psychotherapy?
Psychotherapy is suitable for people who face chronic or short-term mental health issues which they cannot deal with by themselves and significantly interfere with their lives. Such issues include: anxiety, phobias, depression, relationship issues, eating disorders, addictions, panic attacks, sexual dysfunctions, psychosomatic issues, etc.
It is important to point out that nowadays these conditions are very common and met in all types of people regardless of age, socio-economic status, educational level and cognitive state.
Sufferers often believe they are "problematic" or "special" while everyone around them is "normal". They may also get used to hiding their concerns from friends and family because they are worried that others will make fun at them, will not sympathize with their feelings or consider them "crazy".
However, if one starts to share their concerns with other people, they will soon find out that their issues are quite common. So it makes sense that psychotherapy may benefit all people who seek a better quality of life, a better relationship with themselves and with other people.
Regarding the "problematic" concern, clinical practice shows that people who come to therapy are usually much more sensible and well-balanced compared to other people who do not seek professional help. They are normal, emotionally sensitive and usually highly intelligent people, who face some personal challenges and simply dare to admit that they need help and seek it.

How does psychotherapy work?
In general, psychotherapy works within a defined framework (therapeutic framework) which involves the place, time and duration of the sessions, their frequency, the therapist's fee, confidentiality and any detail around these issues. 

See how it works in my clinical practice

What are the benefits of psychotherapy?
Psychotherapy helps the person gain deep self-knowledge and link the past with the present: see how their early life experiences have influenced the way they live their adult life. The realizations they make enable them to let go of their passive attitude and take an active role in their life. Thus, they become much more conscious and present in their life.
Psychotherapy also enables the person to get in touch with aspects of their personality that they have alienated – because, for example, they were not accepted by the immediate environment. This reconnection makes the person feel more whole, more complete and more alive. Their personality is strengthened as they regain the energy which belonged to these alienated parts.
Another important benefit is that psychotherapy reveals one's deep talents and enhances their creativity.
Overall, the psychotherapeutic process brings rebirth to one’s personality and reshapes their attitude towards life. It significantly improves the person’s sense of self and the way they relate to others. Most important of all, it brings the person in touch with the real purpose of their life: to simply exist as they are, to be happy for what they are and to use their talents in a creative way.

What is Body Psychotherapy?
Body Psychotherapy is a holistic form of psychotherapy which incorporates the body within the psychotherapeutic process. Based on the idea that the body is directly linked to thought and emotions, Body Psychotherapy uses various techniques which enhance the awareness of our body and its direct connection with our thoughts and emotions for the restoration of pathological symptoms. As in other forms of psychotherapy, the client works with the psychotherapist to gain insight into the issues s/he confronts. Together, they examine the way in which the client’s current problems might relate to their past, their experiences within their family environment and any major losses or traumas they had. They work to discover what the client needs in order to deal with their current situation in the most satisfying, authentic and responsible way. They explore the client’s skills and talents that s/he can utilize and most importantly: they explore the client’s ability to heal themselves.

What happens in a Body Psychotherapy session?
In order to facilitate the analysis process, the body psychotherapist utilizes techniques which focus on the body and in particular on the level of bodily sensations which are often out of our awareness. For example, if the client refers to an emotion s/he is feeling, the body psychotherapist might ask: “in which area of your body do you feel this emotion?” The body psychotherapist can help the client enhance their awareness of their body posture or a spontaneous movement. S/he may propose body techniques related to breathing or standing and use touch in order to enhance the therapeutic outcome. S/he may also help the client pay attention to their dreams and spontaneous images that provide a deeper meaning for the interrelation between body and psyche.
These techniques help the person come into direct contact with their emotions, reactions and typical ways of relating to other people as well as to discover and activate new potential.

What is the advantage of working with the body?
Many idiomatic phrases indicate the somatic aspect of experience. For example, we refer to our ability to “take a stand”, to “be grounded”, to have a sense in our guts about something, to have an “open heart”, to “raise a wall”. In Body Psychotherapy these are not just metaphors. They are the reality of our experience which manifests in our body. They are often keys to crucial decisions we made for ourselves or ideas unconsciously passed to us through family or culture. For example, many people learned to withhold the expression of emotions which were forbidden in their family. Some have the tendency to collapse or withdraw or avoid challenges because they have been discouraged in the past.
In Body Psychotherapy, we examine these body postures, patterns of tension or weakness, because they are linked to central issues of our existence and experiences. Working through all this, helps us develop self-awareness and open the way for new modes of being.
For example, a woman who was discouraged to speak out within her family environment might explore how she learned to clench her throat, shoulders and jaw in order to remain silent. As she works through her emotions towards her family, she might learn how to bring more energy to the upper part of her body so as to have the strength to speak up for herself. In a similar way, a man who finds it hard to relax and rest might explore how he forces his body to keep alert. He might then realize that he learned to get into this alert state as a child in order to avoid suffering from the lack of proper response to his needs (emotional/physical). This will enable him to consider new ways of being with himself and others.

Why is Body Psychotherapy effective?
Body Psychotherapy emphasizes very basic life processes: how we connect to other people, how we claim for and get what we need, how we build boundaries to define ourselves, how we see ourselves and how others see us, how we organize our potential to get out into the world and how we return to ourselves to rest and replenish our psychic power. These are basic processes – bodily, emotional, interpersonal and mental– that may have been supported or injured in our lives. They are also processes that any of us can develop further, in the present.
When we incorporate our body in the psychotherapeutic process, we may observe and listen to it and thus reveal parts of the unconscious – since the body holds records of all early experiences. When we enliven, relax, nurture our body, we can awaken parts of our psyche that may have been dormant or unseen. Body work can thus bring us in contact with deeper inner resources and larger primitive and archetypical forces that life offers.

What more does the body approach provide compared to other psychotherapeutic approaches?
An approach that examines all the aspects of the self, is obviously a more complete way of working, whether the issues we deal with affect us bodily or emotionally. Most people have a complex relationship with their body and a lot consider it as disconnected from the Self. They pay little or no attention to their body, seeing it as just a “vehicle” for living. They often acquire a more conscious relationship with their body only when they get sick.
A psychotherapeutic approach which helps us deepen our awareness in our bodily experience and observe the ways in which we express ourselves through movement and gestures can offer a great opportunity for reconnection.
Working with the body allows for greater variety of expression through movement/touch and greater awareness of the way in which the body reveals a truth that is beyond the constrictions of language. The body has an innate wisdom which provides the opportunity for a more harmonious coexistence with ourselves and others, if we can use it as a guide for well-being.

What is Gestalt psychotherapy?
Like Body psychotherapy, Gestalt is a holistic psychotherapeutic modality which examines the person as a whole. It views the mind, body and emotions as a functional unity and helps the individual to recognize, trust and rely on their own inner resources.
Gestalt works with what is happening to the person here and now, focusing on present-moment emotions and bodily sensations. In this way you learn to tune in to what matters in the present and to live a more complete and meaningful life. Along the way, you become aware of beliefs, behavioral patterns and past experiences which may be standing in the way of your inner peace and success. This awareness paves the way for new choices and positive change.

How does Gestalt differ from other therapeutic modalities?
Gestalt focuses on the here and now of the individual and not on their past. It seeks to make the person aware of what is happening inside them at every moment, to take responsibility and accept it. This way, they also become aware of their power to change it.
The basic assumption is that life happens now and if you live with your whole being in the present you can take responsibility for your thoughts and actions and make changes based on that awareness.
Personality is viewed as a dynamic set of aspects of the person which interact with each other. According to Gestalt, our problems come from the incomplete integration of some of our aspects into the whole of our Self. Among the techniques Gestalt uses to enhance this process of integration are “the empty chair” and dream work.

How do I choose the right therapist?
Many research studies have shown that the most important factor in the therapeutic process is the relationship you develop with the therapist rather than the particular approach followed. The effectiveness of psychotherapy is largely based on establishing a good supportive relationship with the therapist, which provides security and trust to the individual.
Simply put, you need to feel comfortable with the therapist, have good chemistry with them, and feel safe. The first sessions are usually indicative of whether the relationship can work well. Just notice how you feel when you are with the therapist and how you feel when you leave the session. Instinct is a good guide.

How long does the treatment last?
People who come to therapy have different expectations about the process and how long they expect to stay in treatment. This often changes over the course of treatment and from time to time the therapist normally explores how the client is feeling about the progress.
Some people view psychotherapy as part of their pursuit for expanded personal growth while others see it as a means of support and healing during a critical period.
The duration of treatment depends on many factors, such as your personal goals, the complexity of the situation you are experiencing, the amount and quality of support you might have from your environment and your expectations from the treatment.
Furthermore, each person has their own personal rates of processing and growth in relation to the issues they want to resolve. That is why it is not possible to determine in advance how long it will take for the healing process to complete.
However, you may wish to discuss with the therapist the option of having a limited number of sessions targeting very specific issues.

How frequent are therapy sessions?
The general rule of thumb for the frequency of therapy sessions is once per week (especially in the beginning) on a fixed day and time in order to ensure a structure and a stable support framework for the therapeutic process.

Personal data protection policy
The information you share with the therapist is confidential and may not be revealed to third parties without your consent. However, under the law, confidentiality is abolished in circumstances that are threatening to your own or others’ life or in cases where children are at risk.
If it is necessary to discuss your treatment with a colleague, the therapist should hide any information about your identity. Your psychotherapist may also have to collaborate with another healthcare professional treating you, for example, your GP or psychiatrist, with your informed consent.

What if I want to cancel a session?
In my practice, if you have to cancel a scheduled session you need to let me now at least 48 hours beforehand. Otherwise, the session is charged.

Are you contracted to health insurance funds?
I am not operating under contract to health funds. However, if your insurance carrier covers private psychotherapy practice, I can provide a certificate of treatment to submit to your carrier and get the refund you are entitled to.

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Article Author: Panagiota Kypraiou MSc Health Psychology, MBPsS - Body & Gestalt Psychotherapist (ECP) - Body Psychotherapy Supervisor - Parents' Education Groups Coordinator https://www.psychotherapeia.net.gr