Reports and Brief Communications

At the beginning of 1991 Therapeia Training Centre started a seminar for physicians which aims at adapting psychotherapeutic methods to different clinical practices and situations. Central theories of psychosomatics are also studied at seminar courses.

Physicians who take part in the seminar attend chronically ill somatic patients and mental patients suffering from psychoses. At seminar sessions participants try to outline the patient's life history and personality and relate the data thus acquired to the situation in which he/she fell ill. Possibilities to avail of psychotherapeutic interventions are carefully examined.

The seminar takes place on the first Friday of each month, and goes on for three years. One seminar day consists of four sessions, each lasting one hour and a half. The main objective is to make use of psychotherapeutic experience in patient care. The aim is not to replace the physician's ordinary way of working by a psychotherapeutic method.

Theory

Theory sessions have dealt with psychosomatics and treatment of psychoses and neuroses. A key issue has been the structure of the doctor-patient-relationship and its development especially when attending somatically ill patients. Family dynamics, networks and society at large have also been subjects of the theory section.

Supervision

At the supervision session every group member in his/her turn presents a case from his/her own practice. Depending on the cases different types of supervision techniques have been used: traditional supervision based on case reports and consultation-type supervision. Future programmes will include simulated interviews and direct supervision.

Balint Groups

The Balint supervision method implies that the group discusses a case report presented by a member. Cases may be unprepared. The main emphasis lays on analysing and outlining the doctor-patient-relationship and clinical situation. Emotional viewpoints (also those arising in group d