FAQ

frequently asked questions

WHY ISN’T PSYCHOTHERAPY FREE?

Perhaps this is the most frequent question for us mental health professionals.
There are several layers of response. The first is that mental health is a right, and as such it would need to be integrated into the national health system more fully than it is today. Unfortunately, the psychologist is still considered a "luxury item", and as such, long-term treatments for problems of medium or mild severity can only be supported at a cost, with private individuals. I totally agree that this is not right, and that many severe situations remain undervalued in their gravity due to this lack. I always do my best to guarantee patients a fair and honest price, based on their economic possibilities. However, there are limits to this, and the reason is in the following response levels.
The second layer of the response concerns the “invisible” work that patients do not see. Performing a session does not mean chatting, nor dozing in the chair while the patient talks freely. On the contrary, it means paying exceptional attention, rarely experienced in other life contexts, to a myriad of factors at the same time: verbal language, non-verbal language, already known elements of the patient's history and how these intersect with what is telling, psychological theories and how these apply to what you are listening to, tone of the relationship in the "here and now" between professional and patient. Finally, it is necessary to respond, that is, to give inputs that are not advice, nor directives, but which allow the patient to broaden the knowledge of himself. Active listening includes the emotional part of it: we are paid to reflect on what is happening during the session, emotionally, and we will always have awareness of our reactions’ implication for your emotional state.
Not to mention all the work that the therapist carries out between sessions, we keep the patient’s history and present state in our mind. It is also because of this continuity that the bond of mutual trust that is created in a psychological journey is often very intense and, if positive, therapeutic.
The third level of the response concerns the training of the psychologist or psychotherapist. The psychotherapist, in order to be such, follows an expensive and very long-lasting training path; we can say that, actually, our formation never ends.
Three years of university + two years for master's degree + one year of free internship (1000 hours) in various services + State exam and registration in the Order of Psychologists and, finally, three-year or four-year psychotherapy school (cost: from 3000 to 5000 euros a year). It is necessary to be enrolled in a psychotherapy school in order to be able to practice freelance also for psychological counseling. To the training costs (already high in themselves) must be added the costs of a professional studio, Order of Psychologists fees, taxes. If looking at our fee you think “they are billionaires”, I can reassure you: that’s not the case.
IS THE PSYCHOLOGIST BOND TO PROFESSIONAL SECRET?
Absolutely yes. There is a Code of Ethics that guarantees confidentiality to all data and personal information with which the professional will gather about you. The only exceptions are situations in which the life of the patient or third parties is endangered. If the psychologist believes that there is a risk of life for the patient or other people connected, they have to violate professional secrecy to report essential information to the competent authorities.
CAN I DEDUCT THE COSTS AS SANITARY EXPENSE?
Yes, if you have an Italian “Codice Fiscale” and are paying taxes in Italy. Psychological counseling is one of the health interventions that can be deducted in the chapter "medical and health costs", up to a maximum ceiling of € 15,493.71 a year. It is necessary to keep the invoice I will send you via email. Starting from January 2019, paying by traceable means (ATM or bank transfer) is a fundamental requirement for the tax deduction of the costs of the session.
HOW DOES A PSYCHOLOGICAL CONSULTING SESSION TAKE PLACE?
A session is never the same as any other, because of your very specific individuality.
However, some elements are common to all sessions: the questions that the psychologist asks, oriented to understand the problem that brings you here, placed in an atmosphere of calmness and empathy; there will be no "right" or "wrong" answers, what matters is the curiosity that moves the professional to better understand your personal vision of the world. Perhaps, there will be questions you won't be able to answer. And that’s fine, too.
Similarly to when two people get to know each other, I will ask you initial questions such as: do you live with someone or alone? Have you got any children? I will want to know a little about the people who are important in your life, your job, and then ask you to tell me, in your own words, what is the problem that brings you here. We will calmly deepen the feelings and thoughts related to this problem. And from here, everything starts.
WHAT IF I BECOME ADDICTED TO SESSIONS?
The purpose of the treatment is the exact opposite: to make you autonomous and able to solve on your own issues that previously required the help of the psychologist. Cognitive-behavioral approach gives you homework to train your autonomy and your ability to observe yourself. Eventually you will feel more confident and less afraid of yourself.
Life will not be without difficulties, but your personal ability to deal with them will be different.
WHAT CHANGES WITH ONLINE SESSIONS? ARE THEY EFFECTIVE IN THE SAME WAY?
Several studies prove that the effectiveness of online cognitive behavioral sessions is comparable to that of live sessions. As a professional, I have done several courses exclusively online and the results have always been as reliable and useful as in-person ones. I have also noticed that clients sometimes prefer the live mode, but when they try two or three sessions online and get used to the different mode, they are satisfied.