A space to integrate changes and rediscover continuity
In the third and fourth age, many people seek psychotherapy not because they “can’t cope anymore,” but because they are faced with internal or external changes that challenge their sense of continuity with themselves.
Changes in the body, social roles, relationships, work, health, or autonomy can generate feelings of loss, withdrawal, anger, or sadness that do not always find space in daily life. Furthermore, older adults often have to contend with a contemporary social culture in which it is difficult to recognize themselves, which amplifies a sense of not belonging.
Psychotherapy offers a space where these experiences can be recognized, understood, and integrated, without being reduced to a sign of weakness or failure.
What is individual psychotherapy?
Individual psychotherapy is a journey of regular meetings that allows for in-depth work on the relationship between emotions, thoughts, the body, and relationships.
It is not about “fixing” the person or returning them to how they were before, nor is the goal a behavioral change. Rather, it is about accompanying a process of adaptation, reorganization, and, above all, the construction of a coherent meaning of oneself and one’s own history. This approach brings together mind, body, and emotions, recognizing the body as a privileged gateway to self-narrative and, therefore, to healing.
At Spazio FormaMentis, psychotherapy for older adults is based on a cognitive-constructivist and evolutionary approach, integrated with third-wave models.
This means working on:
– the way the person attributes meaning to what they are experiencing
– emotions related to loss, change, and vulnerability
– the relationship with the changing body and the limitations associated with aging
– the restructuring of bonds and relationships in terms of meaning
- The exploration of attachment patterns as a basis for understanding meanings related to dependence/autonomy
When it can be helpful
Individual psychotherapy may be indicated, for example, in the presence of:
– persistent sadness or resignation, social withdrawal
– anxiety and concerns related to health, the future, or loss of autonomy
– anger or irritability that is difficult to manage
– relational difficulties
– experiences of grief or loss
– states of confusion or emotional disorientation
– somatic symptoms with or without an organic cause
In these cases, psychotherapeutic work helps to give meaning to the experience and reduce suffering. The work is oriented toward the integration of emotions and cognitions, between past, present, and future, in a non-judgmental environment that is not performance-oriented, but respectful of the timing and knowledge brought by the individual.
Through therapeutic work, it becomes possible to:
– integrate the changes that occur with aging
– recognize and regulate emotions
– reduce shame and self-criticism
– rediscover a sense of continuity with oneself
– improve the quality of relationships
And what if individual psychotherapy is not enough?
In some cases, individual psychotherapy can be integrated with:
– therapeutic or psychoeducational groups
– cognitive enhancement programs
– support for illness
– involvement of family members or caregivers. The goal remains the same: to help the person find a livable and dignified way of being with themselves and others, even in a changing phase of life.
