Short-Term Therapye
The Social Clinic offers short term psychotherapy consisting of twelve sessions with a frequency of meetings with the therapist usually once every two weeks. The total duration of therapy should not exceed nine months.
Short-term therapy focuses on better coping with stressful situations and finding the client's internal resources. It aims to support positive behavioral patterns in relationships and to foster positive feelings toward oneself.
When Is Short Term Therapy Suitable?
This therapy format can be a suitable form of support during challenging life situations. It can help you to cope with:
- life transitions or entering a new stage in life,
- loss of health,
- separation from family,
- sudden socio-economic decline,
- changes in relationships, employment, etc.
It is intended for people who have unwillingly found themselves in difficult economic conditions and want to actively work on their problems. This therapy format is not suitable for people in situations of acute crisis. In times of crisis, it is recommended to seek out specialized crisis intervention via a crisis center.
How the Service Works
The service provided by the Social Clinic is subject to a small financial fee per session, agreed upon in the contract between the client and the Clinic. The fee anmount is determined according to client's individual economic and life situation. This contribution helps cover the Clinic’s operational costs.
Who Provides the Therapy
Most therapists offering short-term therapy at the Social Clinic have completed their psychotherapeutic training and often have many years of experience. Biosynthetic Psychotherapy may serve as an inspiration for the short-term therapy provided.
Therapists volunteer their services without financial compensation, in line with the Clinic’s motto: “Serving from the heart, connecting to another. ” After completing therapy at the Social Clinic, it is not possible to continue long-term therapy with the same therapist.
How to Apply
It’s easy!
Start by filling out the online questionnaire.
You will be contacted by the coordinator within five working days.
- Based on the information provided in the questionnaire (and possibly a follow-up interview with the coordinator), you will be offered a mapping interview or a different related service.
- If we find that short-term therapy is suitable for you at this time, we will offer you a date for the mapping interview, usually within 2 weeks of submitting the questionnaire.
- After this interview, the coordinator will connect you with the most suitable therapist, no later than 2 weeks after the mapping interview.
- A service agreement will be signed between you and the Social Clinic, which details the agreed fee per session.
- You will typically begin short-term therapy (of at most 12 sessions) within one month of initial contact, depending on therapist availability.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I choose my therapist?
You may indicate your preferences in the questionnaire, but due to capacity limitations, the Clinic may not be able to fully accommodate them. - Where does therapy take place?
The mapping interview and therapy sessions are held in the therapists’ offices or at the offices of the Social Clinic’s. - When do therapy sessions happen?
The timing is arranged between the client and therapist. Please be flexible with the offered times due to potentially limited availability of the therapist. - Can I bring my child to the interview or therapy?
The Social Clinic does not offer childcare facilities; both the mapping interview and therapy sessions are conducted without children present.
Glossary of Terms
Mapping Therapist
Usually a psychiatrist or experienced crisis intervention specialist with completed psychotherapeutic training. The mapping therapist conducts the mapping interview with candidates for short-term therapy at the Social Clinic.
Psychologist
Like psychiatrists, psychologists undergo many years of education. Unlike psychiatrists, they typically hold a Faculty of Arts‘ Master’s degree, having studied for at least five years. Psychologists may focus on various areas of psychology — from child development to HR.
Clinical Psychologist
Holds a university Master’s degree like all psychologists, but is professionaly closer to the medical field. Before they can establish a private practice, they must work in healthcare for several years and pass a certification exam in clinical psychology.
Psychiatrist
A Medical school graduate specialized in Psychiatry. Unlike psychologists or psychotherapists, psychiatrists can prescribe medication and treats people with psychiatric and mental disorders.
Psychotherapist
In addition to a university degree, a psychotherapist must complete a five-year psychotherapeutic training program. A psychotherapist with a private practice is one who has completed such training and continues to work under supervision.
Crisis Intervention Specialist
A professional holding a university degree that has passed specialized training in complex crisis intervention.
Supervision
Supervision is a means of continuous development of therapists‘ professional skills. The supervisor provides feedback to the supervisee on their work.
Psychotherapy
Treatment using psychological methods, conducted as a conscious, intentional, structured, and scientifically grounded interaction between therapist and client.
Psychotherapeutic Training
People who wish to become a psychotherapist must complete a five-year training program. This includes self-development through one’s own psychotherapy, learning techniques and approaches, and developing the therapeutic mode of thinking. The training also involves mastering theory and dozens of hours of supervised practice, consulting regularly with a more experienced colleague. The entire process takes about 6–7 years.
Mapping Interview
Detailed interview conducted by a mapping therapist, usually lasting 1 or 2 hours. It explores the issues that the applicant wishes to adress through their therapy at the Social Clinic. The interview helps assess the client’s needs. The mapping therapist either recommends treatment through the Clinic or more suitable type of support. The interview is always conducted before therapy can begin; the candidate fee is 300 CZK.
Biosynthetic Psychotherapy
The Social Clinic is aligned with the values of Biosynthetic Psychotherapy, one of the newest approaches in somatic psychotherapy. It emphasizes the integration of three life processes; the physical (movement), the emotional (experience), and the mental. The method is process-oriented, responding to inner impulses and expression of client’s movement, which are then expanded on using specific techniques. The client’s needs, respect for their individuality, and unique inner resources are always central. Since 2008, the Czech Institute for Biosynthesis Psychotherapy has overseen therapists‘ education in Biosynthetic Psychotherapy.
