From the author: I bring to your attention my thoughts on the questions proposed to me and my colleagues Dace Purene, editor of the magazine “Existentia”. The full materials of this discussion can be read in the magazine “Existentia” for 2011. There you can find out the answers to these questions from Rimantas Kociunas, Victor Kagan, Olga Vasilyeva and other colleagues. What do you think about the image of a psychotherapist? What is your opinion, what is your view on this topic? 1. What image of a psychotherapist do you think exists in society now and what image is expected by society? In my opinion, most people are still confused about who a psychologist and a psychotherapist are. For many, it is not clear what these specialists do. what is the difference between them. Perhaps it is precisely because of lack of awareness that those people who are potential, and not our actual clients, often perceive psychotherapists unambiguously and flatly. And this is due to a lack of understanding of what a person can do for himself. next to a psychotherapist, what is the point of psychotherapy. I prefer not to talk about my profession in some everyday context: on a train, in a queue, at a party or holiday, so as not to strain others, and not to strain myself. Some are afraid, wary of us. It seems to them that we have some kind of knowledge, the ability to see through us, revealing what our interlocutor or acquaintance wants to hide from us. Others endow us with extraordinary angelic qualities, expecting some special “inhuman” behavior and lifestyle - psychotherapists, from their point of view, have no problems, no conflicts, and their lives are extremely happy. Less and less often, but, nevertheless, there is an attitude towards us as talkers and slackers, “fooling the brains” of our clients. So, fears, inadequate expectations, lack of motivation for psychotherapy make us so unrealistic and strange in the eyes of people. Now there is another expectation from psychotherapists - the desire for an expert opinion on some issue. There are many images of our colleagues on television, radio, and print media. This phenomenon shows positive interest in our profession. But it is not so easy to convey our professional essence to society in simple language. In addition, there is a danger - in the “show” style of becoming part of this show, leaving the position of a psychotherapist. 2. Do you think your image of a psychotherapist is an existential given and to what extent, in what ways is this your personal choice? I tune in to any work situation and prepare for it. Of course, this somehow changes my usual image. True, I have the feeling that work for me is a more ordinary state than an unusual one, since in one form or another it occupies most of my life. I don’t feel too much difference between myself when I’m with a client and, say, what I’m like in a family. Different contexts, but with their differences there is a feeling of oneself, a certain integrity. Of course, I constantly choose myself according to my values. I strive to be more clear and understandable to myself and to others. But the way others perceive and accept me, in my opinion, cannot be regulated by me. In any case, I respect their “yes” or “no” in relation to me - with gratitude and joy I enter into cooperation or partnership both in therapy and in other professional contexts; I never rush into closed doors, trusting their closed state. 3. How do you create your own image (including on the Internet, print, radio, television, etc.) and what kind? What I do is refuse those offers as rarely as possible they come to me. I don’t ask for them myself. It is not easy for me to speak publicly; an article or interview always requires effort and time. But I go through these difficulties because... I believe that it is important to be manifest in these contexts. I do this so that “my” client, or potential partnerfor some reason he saw and recognized me. I consider it my concern to be visible. I can't praise myself too much, but I try to be consistent in this task. 4. If you think that a psychotherapist creates a brand for himself, are you satisfied with it and why? I believe that a therapist creates his own brand through his work. And although the word “brand” is a foreign word, it is quite strong and significant: brand - Kociunas, brand - Alekseichik. The way the therapist is perceived by others, in my opinion, cannot be planned by him. This is the truth that clients and colleagues see. For me, the questions are “are you satisfied with your brand?”, and “are you satisfied with yourself as a specialist?” are equivalent. Answering the question I reformulated, I can say that I am happy with many things in myself, but the false desire to “rest on my laurels” does not appear. There is a lot to strive for, that is, you need to work, seeing prospects for development.. 5. Do you think your image of a psychotherapist influences your relationships with clients and to what extent? What about your age, gender, ethnicity and/or language or other details? A client who is just choosing a therapist, of course, has his own attitudes, criteria or preferences. Therefore, age, gender, nationality or something else may matter when choosing. Once a therapist is chosen, then, in my opinion, changes in his image do not particularly affect the client. Of course, clients see and note changes: a new hairstyle, changes in clothing style, a new car. They can share their vision. And dialogue about this is important for the development of the therapeutic relationship. One day, while going to work, I casually decided to pick up trash someone had thrown in my yard and was injured: I was poked near my eye with a twig. At work, I saw myself in a terrible state with a slightly bleeding and growing bruise under my eye. That day I had three consultations and a four-hour group lesson with young colleagues. None of the clients asked first what was wrong with me. And then I asked them why they didn’t ask me this question. One client did not notice, explaining this by her emotional state and not very good eyesight. The second client, who was a doctor by profession, said that it was her professional “credo” not to be the first to ask people questions about the features of their appearance. And so she gave me the right to talk or not talk about her bruise. The third client, as if having received the green light, immediately asked how I was feeling, what happened, noted with satisfaction that I had not canceled the meeting, and gave some advice. That is, each of them behaved in their own spirit, but my face suffered from the bruise, but not my image. Thanks to this story, I learned a little more about the clients, our relationship went through the experience of talking about difficult things, and partly became closer. Already with this experience, at the beginning of the group’s work, I devoted a few minutes to this story and no longer did my bruise interfere with my work, nor, in my opinion, ten of my colleagues. But, of course, I am glad that on this day there were no primary clients or the start of group work - it would have been more difficult, and it is unknown how our contact would have ended without the credit of trust existing in the relationship. 6. How do various public roles (teacher, doctor, participant/host of a TV show, expert on an Internet portal, author of books or articles, or others) affect the perception of you by others (in particular, clients)? All of the listed roles, if the psychotherapist accepts them, indicate the breadth of the specialist, that he has something to share. I will also repeat that, in my opinion, you need to take at least a little care in order to be visible to a wider audience. I would like to note that my experience in writing articles, teaching, participating in radio broadcasts, and even being the organizer of some projects has given me a lot for personal and professional growth. According to my clients, they are pleased to hear me on the radio and read an article. After the lectures, someone from the audience may come up andask for business cards. And then reports that there is such a specialist diverge, reinforced by the opinion of listeners, strengthened by their recommendation. But my being in another role may, in some way, interfere with the main practice. Thus, one client, having initially met me as an organizer, said that it could not have occurred to him that a therapist could organize. He discovered me as a therapist and became interested when he noticed the attitude of his colleagues towards me. Partly paradoxically, impressed by the difference between his first perception and the opinions of others, he “made inquiries,” read my article, and only after that came to therapy.7. How do you think your circle of clients and your relationships with them in therapy are affected by public displays of your well-being - for example, the office (location and interior), the appearance of the therapist, the car, the people you meet and the places where you Can I meet you by accident? When I used to hold a reception, indeed, in a more modest office and not in a very convenient place, one of my clients chided me for this, expressing dissatisfaction. But, in my opinion, it was not harmful for him to be in an environment “not on his level.” The client always has a choice of which office to go to or whom to go to. Of course, any specialist tries to make his office pleasant and productive. I am not a supporter of an enticing, servile position and I think that you should not equip your office beyond your means or within your means, but in a particularly luxurious way, hoping to attract more affluent clients. In my private life, I do not engage in PR companies. But information is read from everything, and clients, of course, are interested in therapists. I believe that my clients are generally satisfied with my appearance, my lifestyle, because... they come to me. 8. During your practice, were you able to change your image and/or the circle of clients who choose you? Why do you think this happened? For me, both in life and in my profession, being true to yourself is important. However, as I practice, I undoubtedly change. This is noted, first of all, by my colleagues. I am pleased when they share with me their observations and impressions on this matter. I would say that internal, essential changes, of course, change the image. In my opinion, I am now perceived as a calmer, more thorough and reliable specialist than before. As for my clients, I can say that among them there are now more motivated to cooperate than before. I explain this by years of work and experience: now my clients are mainly those who came from past clients; Now I can afford not to take on any job, to refuse someone. 9. Do you think there is an image that is incompatible with the profession of a psychotherapist or an “unethical” image? If so, what, in your opinion, is unacceptable for a psychotherapist? Our profession is helping, not managing or manipulating. Personally, it is unacceptable for me to be more active at work than the client. When my colleague shows great activity, attracting a client to himself, for example, manages his arrival for therapy in his office, I treat this with condescension (understanding some of my arrogance in this situation) and, of course, hoping that over time my colleague will get the same will pass. If a colleague works in the possibilities of existential therapy, then he will soon feel what the price is for his excessive activity and efficiency. If a therapist violates ethics, it is worth talking about this violation in the professional community, without hiding behind an image. 10. How would you briefly formulate what message you want to convey to society about yourself and your profession with your image? I would put it this way: “In the time and space of therapy, you have a chance to better understand your life and improve it. I am ready for our meeting.” Fifteen years ago, when opening my psychological center “Bayno”, I informed everyone: “Bayno (βαίνω) - translated from ancient Greek means.