Psycho-emotional support and care department
What is a PSYCHO-EMOTIONAL SUPPORT AND CARE Unit and who is it aimed at?
The Psycho-emotional Support and Care Unit is aimed at patients with adjustment disorders, emotional affective disorders (anxiety disorders, stress, mixed disorders, etc.), psychological disorders and/or sexual dysfunction disorders that require professional help in the form of support and care in a vital process.
The body and mind are two closely related entities that have a reciprocal effect on each other. Our thoughts, emotions and feelings affect our somatic processes to a certain extent, which allows us to better understand that many physical disorders have their origin in psychological factors. Therefore, psychology should go hand-in-hand with gynaecology.
The vast majority of referrals to the psychology department occur when there is no organic origin of the condition.
The role of the Psychologist is necessary when a patient reacts in a non-functional and/or adaptive way to certain personal or health-related situations, leading to anxiety-depressive disorders, emotional disorders, sleep disorders, eating disorders, etc.
The aim of this Unit is focussed on helping the patient develop the necessary tools to overcome their difficulty, providing them with new knowledge on how to live and experiment with their sexuality.
What are the AIMS of the UNIT?
Patients will be treated with the aim of improving their quality of life and supporting them in various adaptive and emotional processes, providing them with a sense of security, personal support, peace of mind and normality.
INITIAL DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT
When the patient comes to the psychological intervention unit, the treatment process will begin, in the form of:
1st Visit: initial interview
- Psychopathological assessment and psychological/psychiatric diagnosis.
- Psychological and psychiatric history.
2nd Visit: Battery of psychometric tests
The patient will undertake a series of tests related to the problems they are experiencing (PDQ-4, STAI, STRESS REACTIVITY, ATTITUDES, LEVEL OF SELF-ESTEEM, MINI, 16-PF TEST, SELF-ASSERTIVENESS TEST, etc.).
3rd Visit: Treatment plan provided
- Preparation and submission of the report (medical examinations, test and 1st interview):
- Treatment aims and treatment plan (Explain the line of action to the patient, whether individual, group or family therapy, depending on the assessment).
- Individual, group or family follow-up visits (including providing Psycho-educational material and weekly follow-up exercises).
REFERRAL AND INTERVENTION UNITS:
So many women are excited when they find out they are pregnant, but it is not always a time of pure happiness.
Physical and psychological malaise is a constant factor both in the time leading up to the pregnancy, during, and in the postpartum period.
The mother’s psychological health also weakens (she feels more fragile, emotionally unstable, insecure, physically more tired, misunderstood by her environment, more likely to suffer fears and anxiety about the possibility of loss or malformation of the foetus, etc.). It is therefore important to address her psychological and psychiatric history, in which such an important vital event could disrupt her life.
We deal with emotions such as feelings of rejection towards the baby, nausea and vomiting, depression and mood swings, couple support, etc.
The postpartum is a risk period for the onset or recurrence of psychological and psychiatric disorders, particularly those related to mood.
Postpartum depression is one of the most common. Its symptoms are the same as those of depression and begin within the first four weeks after the birth.
Sadness, lack of interest, feelings of guilt, irritability, changes in sleep and an increase or decrease in appetite are the most common symptoms of the process.
The aims of the intervention will focus on improving and stabilising the mother’s mood, adapting to the changes of motherhood, normalising fears, lack of sexual desire, recovery of self-esteem and quality of life when faced with the changes that come with motherhood, as well as short-, medium- and long-term goals, tolerance for frustration and management of personal needs.
During this vital stage, from a psychological perspective, many women suffer from symptoms such as fatigue, depression, insomnia, irritability, etc. This is a complicated vital process for many women. Many physical changes take place, as well as emotional changes, and as with all changes it involves a process of adaptation and acceptance.
At this unit, we work on self-concept and self-esteem, lack of sexual desire or start of sexual life, emotional and psychological state, relationships with environment as well as quality of life.
Anxiety, stress, frustration, relationship conflicts, depression, etc. Many infertile couples turn to assisted reproduction to make their dreams of having children into reality.
During this difficult process, they will be faced with conflicting feelings and fears (surprise, guilt, pain, hope, shock, grief, denial, acceptance, etc.).
The Reproduction Unit will accompany the couple throughout the process and support them in their emotional needs, understanding their situation, giving advice on any doubts they may have and expressing their emotions to support the parallel treatment of fertilisation and pregnancy.
All this aims to strengthen the couple and help them maintain healthy habits.
The therapy will focus on being aware of and understanding the origin of these dysfunctions or sexual problems, as well as what this represents for the patients from a psychological perspective (suffering, uncertainty, lack of understanding of environment and unable to make sense of what is happening).
We generally begin with the discovery of the individual’s sexuality at both the anatomical and psychological level.
We use psycho-educational support material to demystify ideas and change false beliefs, together with imagination and relaxation techniques.
We also work on improving self-esteem and acceptance of the body, as well as the relationship with their partner.
The relationship with one’s own body can be conflictive, to the point of developing an eating disorder.
Amenorrhoea is a very common symptom of such problems, as well as other possible physical changes. Gynaecology professionals are therefore faced with possible patients suffering from such disorders.
We provide treatment for all disorders related to eating and/or body relationship (anorexia, bulimia, obesity, binge eating, etc.).
Given the complex nature of these disorders, the interventions cover individual work with the person affected by the symptoms, at the same time as teamwork and working with the family and people around them. Group therapy, Parent groups and Psycho-educational workshops are available.
These unit aims to help, support and relieve the emotional pain brought about by the diagnosis of cancer throughout the whole process (diagnosis, intervention, treatment) through personal care aimed at both the patient and their family.
Psycho-education in intervention, psychotherapeutic prevention, rehabilitation and reintegration in daily life will provide psychological care that will lead the patient to a better quality of life and help them face, from the beginning, the disease and the various treatments they have to undergo in this complex process of physical and psychological recovery.
The psychological effect on women, their self-concept, self-image and self-esteem are clearly affected in relation to the woman herself and her environment. This is why specialist psychological support is important, in order to provide the stability and emotional support needed during these difficult times. All of this encourages the gradual recovery of self-esteem, an increased feeling of personal security and the relationship with oneself and their environment.