Interventional Systemic-Cultural Psychotherapy

Theoretical Foundations and Goals

The theoretical assumptions of the ISCP method are aimed at the synthesis of many fields of psychology and psychotherapeutic approaches. This synthesis serves to provide a better orientation in the area of patients’ difficulties in order to make some assumptions as soon as possible. In other words, to place the patient with his history in various points of reference. This is known as mapping the identified object.

Process and Role of the Psychotherapist

What does this mean for the psychotherapist? An opportunity to eliminate most of the interfering factors after some time in psychotherapy, in order to make a correct diagnosis based on knowledge already strictly systemic, as well as psychoanalytic.

On the other hand, it creates in the patient the need for constant self-organization in the experienced chaos with which patient comes to the office at a given moment of one’s life.

Duration and Scope of Therapy

Adaptation of the ISCP Method to Individual Needs

The duration of psychotherapy depends on the patient’s will. In this method, the patient’s potential resistance to continuing therapy is confronted rather than fought or endured. It is possible that resistance has to be taken as a signal of the need to close this form of help, as the healing process slowly begins, which may require other methods or a different psychotherapeutic direction for the patient (e.g., therapy through the body).

Possibilities of the ISCP Method

The advantage of Interventional Systemic-Cultural Psychotherapy is its focus on the absence of suffering in therapy and on self-diagnosis, i.e. the patient’s creation of his own new structure. This may manifest itself in strong boundary-setting and taking responsibility for one’s needs or the desire to realize them.

Conclusion of Therapy

Criteria for Ending the Therapeutic Process

Therapy ends when the patient’s own structure takes over and he wishes to complete the psychotherapy process. In Gestalt terms, he feels closed, and according to the ISCP method, recognized. Therefore, this method does not interfere with other approaches.

Coexistence with Other Approaches

Integration with Other Approaches and Pharmacotherapy

This allows psychotherapy to continue with less risk of decompensation or the emergence of the need to implement pharmacotherapy in many patients with dysfunctional ego defense mechanisms (toward ego sleep, such as dissociations or derealizations, but not ego destruction — people with strong self-destructive tendencies are not worked with here).

In the ISCP method, the mechanisms of sublimation are strengthened. Pharmacotherapy is treated as a supplement or base for the treatment process and does not interfere with the course of this form of psychotherapeutic assistance.