Day-to-day life problems and coping strategies - Importance of psychotherapy

Abstract

This study is intended to gain an insight into the problems Austrians experience in their lives and the strategies developed to overcome them. One of the most intriguing questions was how psychotherapy is assessed as a method for giving professional help. All the persons polled had no higher education and did not work in the psychosocial field. Life-related problems turned out to be, first and foremost, problems at work and existential anxiety, followed by problems concerning relationships within families and physical troubles. As could be expected, each problem area has its own specific solution pattern; however, there seem to be three preferred strategies applied in all areas: self-help, personal talks, and seeking advice at public counselling centers. The underlying attitudes to psychotherapy were almost invariably ambivalent or even negative. Resorting to psychotherapy is perceived by many people as a threat to their social image and self-confidence. What is more, those surveyed frequently complained about costs being too high. Positive comments on psychotherapy were made less often and referred to psychotherapy as something that helps people cope with their lives or develop their personality, or simply as an opportunity to talk. One of the study’s main findings is that measures facilitating access to psychotherapy are needed. Further studies on elucidating the question why there is still so much suspicion about psychotherapy among the population are encouraged.

Keywords:
Life-related problems, coping, psychotherapy, psychotherapeutic research, image of psychotherapy.