Counseling

Psychoeducation

From its appearance in bibliography in the beginning of the 1970s to its intertemporal application, psychoeducation is a process of providing information and training about specific diseases and conditions of physical and mental health that affect deeply or threaten a person’s life.

In particular, psychoeducation is a basic part of any therapeutic intervention or support in stressful health conditions, either physical, like cancer or multiple sclerosis, or psychological, like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. It is an organized process that includes the provision of valid information about the disease, training in strategies about coping with the disease and its consequences and general support. Providing information and briefing, skills training and support are the three basic components of psychoeducation and are addressed both to the patients and to their families and loved ones.

The aim of psychoeducation is to help people understand and handle better the challenging situations they face. People can be honestly and accurately informed about the difficulties they or their loved ones face, understand clearly the various diseases and the suggested therapies, receive the necessary information concerning causes and symptoms, ways to cope, available choices, what to expect.

That’s why it is important to highlight that is does not constitute a particular and special intervention, a “therapy” itself, but a necessary part of every therapy program that aims at a more comprehensive and effective handling of a stressful condition.

Especially for the cases of more serious and chronic psychological disorders, that are typically accompanied by certain stereotypes, prejudices and myths, some of the main targets of psychoeducation are:

• facilitating the comprehension of every psychological disorder
• analyzing and correcting misconceptions around mental disorder 
• recognising and highlighting unrealistic expectations, especially of the family, about full recovery or immediate return of the person suffering in the level of functionality before the disorder
• ensuring an active role, both for the person and the family, in the general course of therapy, enhancing the ability to cope

When it comes to psychological disorders, psychoeducation is provided by mental health specialists, like psychiatrists and psychologists and its effectiveness is based on the mutual relationship of trust between the therapist and the patient. During the process active participation of the interested persons is enhanced, as well as the respect of choices and decisions and the active participation of the family, as the first usually and only in many cases system of support and care for the person in need.