PSZICHOTERÁPIA
A professional journal of practice based on psychotherapeutic methods
A quarterly publication, 34rd year, issue 4, November 2025.
Table of contents
Editorial
Judit Csürös, Krisztina Pál
STUDIES
Theoretical study
Zsófia Esperger, Péter Kovács: The Role of Psychologizing Subjective Illness Theories in the Psychological Care of Oncology Patients I. Theoretical Study
Methodological study
István Platthy: Silhouettes of the Soul
Theoretical study
Tamás Treuer: Risks and Adverse Effects of Psychotherapy: A Literature Review
WORKSHOP
Workshop study
Dorottya Csurgai: Tracing Queer Space-Time: Gender Identity and Gender Issues in Group Analysis
Experiences and Explorations from a Transgender Support Group
Comment
Commentary on the workshop study „Artificial Intelligence in psychotherapy” by Máté Szondy, Ágnes Magyary, Noémi Mészáros, and Ágnes Zsila – László Bártfai ♦ Ágnes Riskó ♦ Gabriella Vizin
PROFESSIONAL LIFE
Interview
Ars Poetica -– Interview with Gábor Szőnyi -– Judit Csürös, Lili Valkó
Debates
Is there a need for a psychotherapy care network in Hungary, and if so, why is it not publicly funded? – Károly Oriold
Debate
Quality assurance and supervision – István Ormay ♦ Ildikó Rózsa ♦ Júlia Hardy ♦ Tamás Treuer ♦ Gabriella Vizin
Roadmap – for future psychotherapists
Volunteering – Hanna Demetrovics, Zita Kakuk
Reviews
Summary of the Delegates’ Meeting of the Psychotherapy Council Association
Conferences – Noémi Krammer-Németh ♦ István Tiringer
Book reviews – Boróka Gács ♦ Gábor Kelemen ♦ István Tiringer
List of professional books and periodicals
Professional programs
Editorial announcements
STUDIES
THEORETICAL STUDY
Zsófia Esperger, Péter Kovács
The Role of Psychologizing Subjective Illness Theories in the Psychological Care of Oncology Patients I.
Subjective illness theories encompass the knowledge, beliefs, and fantasies that patients associate with the origin, course, and possible treatments of their illness. In the context of oncological diseases, these theories often include psychologizing elements that simplify the complex, scientifically grounded somatic origins of cancer. The search for psychological causes behind cancer has deep cultural and professional-historical roots, remains vividly present in popular psychology, and thus forms an integral part of contemporary public thinking. These inherited explanatory frameworks may interact with social and psychological processes — including normative mental phenomena, psychopathological states, and transference–countertransference dynamics. During acute crises, psychologizing explanations may be linked to adaptive coping strategies; however, their prolonged persistence can be considered maladaptive when it leads to difficulties in cooperating with oncological treatments, adjustment disorders, psychological stagnation, or the deepening of comorbid mental disorders. Identifying maladaptive coping requires the clinician to elaborate their own position toward psychogenic explanations — a stance that can be significantly influenced by omnipotent fantasies projected onto psychological care and by the normative expectations conveyed by psychotherapeutic culture. The aim of this paper is to facilitate this self-reflective process by exploring the formation, functioning, and short- and long-term psychological effects of psychologizing explanations in the context of cancer.
Keywords: subjective illness theories – psychologizing explanations of illness – psychosocial crises – psycho-oncology – popular psychology
METHODOLOGICAL STUDY
István Platthy
Silhouettes of the Soul
I work with traumatized and emotionally neglected children and adolescents living in children’s homes and residential homes within the child protection system.
The innate mode of expression is an inborn potential that, through the aid of inner vision, provides the opportunity to articulate ourselves and our relationship with the world. This potential blossoms in early childhood and preschool age, developing into a skill spurred by societal engagement. Historically, it continues into adulthood through folk and tribal art. Unfortunately, this ability gradually fades from children’s creations during their school years, leading to the phenomenon of a „drawing rupture” in adolescence. Fortunately, however, this capacity is not eradicated but merely recedes.
In this study, I aim to present a projective art psychotherapy method that I have developed, aimed at reawaking this ability and suitable to be applied with great success to school-aged children, adolescents, and adults alike. The method is based on an ancient East Asian drawing pedagogy from a thousand years ago. With its help, creators can once again utilize their inner vision, which brings forth unconscious inner content. Their traumas can be expressed through visual metaphors, allowing them to be organized into a personal narrative. Emotions are projected onto the forms created by the individual, thereby releasing their internal tension. Conflicts are resolved symbolically and involuntarily, which makes the process much easier and can facilitate healing.
The interpretation of these specific artistic expressions will also be demonstrated through several examples of drawings by traumatized, emotionally injured adolescents living in children’s homes.
Keywords: art therapy – evocation of inner vision – innate mode of expression – projection
THEORETICAL STUDY
Tamás Treuer
Risks and Adverse Effects of Psychotherapy: A Literature Review
The effectiveness of psychotherapy is supported by robust clinical and empirical evidence. However, the systematic exploration of its potential negative consequences has only gained prominence in the professional literature over the past fifteen years. The structured analysis of side effects, therapeutic harm, and unwanted outcomes is now essential for assessing the safety and ethical foundations of psychotherapeutic practice.
The aim of this study is to provide a critical overview of the potential forms of adverse effects that may emerge during psychotherapy, along with their psychodynamic, relational, and systemic background. The applied methodology is a qualitative conceptual synthesis, which integrates empirical findings with clinical insights and illustrative case examples.
A targeted review of the literature has identified eight distinct categories of risk and adverse effects: (1) therapeutic regression and emotional overload, (2) reactivated traumatic memories, (3) development of therapeutic dependency, (4) ethical or relational boundary violations, (5) stigmatizing or inaccurate diagnostic labeling, (6) therapeutic shame, (7) harmful interpretations and communicational failures, and (8) hypermentalization. Some of these outcomes result from inadequate timing or framing of interventions, while others are rooted in the therapist’s personal blind spots, deficits in case management, or institutional dynamics.
This paper aims to reinforce the credibility of psychotherapy by increasing awareness of its risks and promoting their prevention through professional dialogue, reflective practice, and quality assurance.
Keywords: psychotherapy – adverse effects – therapeutic harm – ethical dilemmas – quality assurance
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