The role of psychotherapy in re habilitation after traumatizing events

Abstract

The article is devoted to the role of psychotherapy in rehabilitation after traumatic events. The essence of the concept of psychotherapy is outlined. Attention is drawn to its multifaceted and collective nature, which significantly complicates the interpretation of the definition under study. It is emphasized that psychotherapy is not an alternative to medical intervention or other types of rehabilitation, but, on the contrary, is harmoniously intertwined with the overall rehabilitation process. The situations in which psychotherapy is used as an independent method of treatment are listed (stress, anxiety, relationship difficulties, low self-esteem or personal development, etc.) The cases of using psychotherapy as one of the methods of treatment within the rehabilitation process are presented, namely: mental disorders, stress and crises, personality problems, interpersonal conflicts, addictions, chronic diseases, psychosomatic disorders, trauma and the consequences of violence, etc. The effectiveness of using psychotherapy after traumatic events is emphasized. The definition of a traumatic event is given as one in which a person believes that there was a clear threat to his/her life/health or to the life/health of a loved one, or a person was sure or thought that it was a clear threat. The article schematically depicts the emergence of psychological states after traumatic events (in time): from acute stress reaction to chronic post-traumatic stress disorder. A brief description of the psychological states that can occur after traumatic circumstances (acute stress reaction, acute stress disorder, acute post-traumatic syndrome and chronic post-traumatic syndrome), as well as psychotherapeutic methods that should be used to overcome them, is given. The functions performed by psychotherapy in the process of rehabilitation after traumatic events are summarized, namely: emotional stabilization, processing of traumatic memories, reduction of psychosomatic manifestations, support at the stage of adaptation, work with long-term consequences of trauma, prevention of secondary disorders, etc.