Psychologist Yulia Yuferova: Each session with a client is a game of chess, with the only difference being that the therapist plays on the client’s side

Publication Date: 23.05.2022

A global trend has been developing in Our Country over the past few decades. From the mid-90s, society began to accept the profession of psychologist and the entire branch of science in a new way. The rates of psychologists are introduced not only in social institutions – kindergartens, schools, law enforcement agencies – but also in ordinary business corporations. Psychologists write bestsellers, participate in TV shows. However, little is known about the professional path of these specialists. Healthy Food Near Me spoke with one of the prominent experts in the field – clinical psychologist, psychotherapist and author of therapeutic programs Julia Yuferova.

We are witnessing amazing changes. People are beginning to understand that psychotherapy is not something artificial. The stereotype is leaving: psychology is not a science and the lot of the weak. The layman is increasingly aware of the importance of a dialogue with a specialist. Do you agree with this?

Mental health issues are starting to be taken seriously. The situation has changed significantly over the past ten years: visiting a psychologist, or at least reading books on psychology, is now a matter of pride. Nothing to be ashamed of. If a person prioritizes taking care of his psychological state, then he is conscious and responsible, and not weak or sick. 

“At the same time, we observe that people without specialized education tend to declare themselves psychologists. We listened to several lectures, read a couple of popular books and conduct consultations. You graduated from the Moscow State Psychological and Pedagogical University (MGPPU) with honors. Then the master’s program of the Higher School of Economics (HSE). Does higher education affect the competencies of a modern specialist? 

– It does. A person acquires competencies in the process of continuous training. Beginners to practice without education are guided by the illusion of the ease of work of a psychologist. It seems to them: sit, listen, give advice at the right time. If psychotherapy worked in this way, then everyday experience would be enough for everyone who loves to philosophize.

Why, then, mastering the methods of different schools and hundreds of hours of supervision (the work of a psychologist with a more experienced colleague – Ed.)? The profession of a psychologist from the outside looks like communication. But in reality it is not. If you look for a suitable analogy, then every session with a client is a game of chess. The only difference is that the therapist plays on the side of the client. But in no case does he make moves for him. 

Task: to help the client to find out his style of play and offer to transform it in order to win. “Winning” in each case is an individual story.

– Despite several higher educations, you continue your studies. Your portfolio includes regular refresher courses, including international ones. For what?

— In psychology, as in any science, something new constantly appears. In addition, a lot of materials have already been created, they can be comprehended ad infinitum.

Psychology is a discipline entirely about man and human systems. On the one hand, a certain limit has already been reached in ideas about how the psyche functions, what determines behavioral and emotional strategies. We know how relationships are established in the family, based on the past experience of each of its members.

At the same time, clarifications and detailing in psychology will never exhaust themselves. The world is changing rapidly, creating unprecedented challenges. Methods for studying the functioning of the human psyche and human systems are becoming thinner and more accurate.

When I chose this profession in 2011, I understood that constant training is a condition for quality work. It attracted me: I wanted to absorb new knowledge with an inexhaustible appetite. It would seem that satiety should come. But it never happened! Of course, something is no longer as amazing as it was ten years ago. But advanced training has become a kind of prevention of professional burnout, in addition to the path of development.

– Rich experience, for sure, allows you to conduct independent pedagogical activities. What authoring developments and techniques do you teach other professionals?

— About four years ago I started developing webinars. Then courses on targeted, specific topics. The first webinar was dedicated to separation – building relationships of mature people with parents. The project, like the subsequent ones, was developed at the request of the audience: for people who, for some reason, do not want to go to a psychologist. Or is already visiting a specialist, but wants more food for thought.

Next was Anxiety management course. Based on the experience of working with clients with problems of excess anxiety. Gradually I began to notice thatоMost of the participants in my programs are psychologists or psychology students. Among the listeners are respected colleagues who successfully practice in the USA and European countries. For me, it has become a professional joy: to receive messages that my colleagues implement my developments from courses in their work with clients.

Over time, more and more requests come from colleagues. For me to share my experience, my approach to solving problems in therapy with a client. Specialists want to discuss the nuances of private practice, the prevention of professional burnout, issues of boundaries in therapy.

When prepared program for professionals, I was offered to conduct it by the Moscow Institute of Psychology. Incredibly exciting process for practicing psychologists! This work helped me evaluate my professional path.

— Programs, webinars and training courses for professionals, as well as just clients, are a modern trend. But do we have professional institutions in the field of psychology that evaluate such projects? To paraphrase, are there professional skill competitions for psychologists?

– Yes, they exist, but they are few, they are not popular in wide circles. Therefore, victory in such a competition acquires special value for specialists. In 2021, I participated in the profile competition “Psychology XXl” with my therapeutic program “Anxiety Management”. The Expert Council highly appreciated a number of my practical developments. The project became the winner in the nomination “Best Applied Psychology Project”. 

A separate professional joy for me: after the victory, I received an invitation to join the expert council of the Psychology XXl competition. Big honor! To contribute to the support and development of the scientific and professional activities of psychologists in the circle of honored scientists and professionals of the highest level.

— You founded the Association of Professional Psychologists and Psychotherapists (APPP). It helps specialized specialists and conducts psychological education of the society. Tell us more about the association, does it have analogues in Our Country?

— There were no such projects in our country. It was possible to create an organization that brought together beginners and experienced professionals. The former, as often happens after graduation, are in prostration and tension before starting practice. Experienced colleagues strive to improve and improve the quality of work.

We want to strengthen the professional community. In our field, this is directly related to improving the competence of specialists. It is also important to popularize psychological knowledge among ordinary people, specialized organizations, and social workers.

The project has different sections. For example, “Affordable Psychology” helps people who need specialist help, but there is no way to pay the full cost of services. We hold festivals of practical psychology. Twice a year we gather outstanding specialists for lectures and workshops. In the summer, festivals are held in parks – a special pleasure in the open air among colleagues to transfer high-quality knowledge to people who are interested in self-development and improving relationships in the family, in the team, with themselves.

We have assembled a professional ethics committee, provide legal support to our colleagues, and regularly recruit supervisory teams.

— The Association won a presidential grant in the nomination “Social Services”. What was it spent on?

— We have held dozens of webinars for specialists from five regions of Our Country. Half of the trainees are employees of psychological and social assistance, another third are medical workers. We wanted to raise the level of communication between specialists who provide palliative care (comprehensive care for the terminally ill – Ed.) children and their families.

We have a shortage of trained personnel in this area. This significantly affects the quality of such assistance, narrows the ways of disseminating reliable information and gives rise to myths. My colleagues, Dinara Gilfantinova and Zoya Uskova, made a thematic brochure called Space for Dialogue. It helps to develop effective communication between professionals, family, child and society.

— You have combined private practice and work in the public healthcare sector. Tell us about this period of your professional path.

– I worked in PKB No. 4 named after. P. B. Gannushkin as a medical psychologist. Four years ago, I was invited to work in her unit – the Center for Psychological and Psychotherapeutic Assistance (CPPP). She worked in a polyprofessional team – a psychiatrist, a medical psychologist, and a social work specialist help the patient in conjunction.

Part of the working time led pathopsychological diagnostics. It helps colleagues to see in more detail the picture of violations in the functioning of the higher mental functions of the patient. I described the rehabilitation potential, gave recommendations on psycho-corrective measures. Another part of the work was devoted to individual and family psychotherapy, the development and conduct of psycho-educational groups, and the training of cognitive skills.

Worked with patients with diagnoses of varying severity. I had to remain very flexible – in the methods and approaches to building a conversation with a person, establishing the boundaries of contact. The more severe the disease, the more disturbed the emotional, cognitive sphere. This means that I must establish firmer boundaries for the effectiveness of interaction.

An excellent experience in developing the skill of quick switching. During the work shift, I managed to work with five patients, then conduct a group or training. The load is high. But I liked the pace. Challenges at work and professional passion energized me. 

Particularly interested in working in a combined format. When the patient was initially referred for individual psychocorrection. I was able to involve his family in the therapeutic process. This significantly increased the effectiveness of the treatment. When a family has a mentally ill person, each family member has a role to play. Unfortunately, often not conducive to recovery. Since I specialize in systemic family psychotherapy, I connected these skills, knowledge and experience while working in the clinic.

– In addition to private practice, you conducted scientific work. What did you study?

– While studying at the Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, I conducted a large-scale empirical study by student standards for the defense of my diploma. Studied the role of perfectionism (the belief that an imperfect result has no right to exist – Ed.) in the context of marital relations. The conclusions are clear. Partners with pronounced and moderate perfectionism are less satisfied with their marriage and experience problems in the sexual sphere. They have higher marital stress levels.

For her master’s thesis, she studied the diagnostic tool “Scale of Mutual Adaptation in Pairs”, popular in the foreign professional environment. After my work in the diagnostic toolkit of -speaking family psychologists and psychotherapists, I arrived. More than 300 respondents took part in the study. Scientific articles on the topic have a high level of citation. With such a high-profile start, it would be logical to continue the scientific career. However, the desire to work in direct contact with living human stories, to help here and now, outweighed.

– When there are so many projects and aspirations around, is there time for private practice? If a person wants to become your patient-client tomorrow, will he be able to sign up for a consultation?

“Unfortunately not, unless he is willing to wait about a year. Private practice takes up 80% of working time. When a window appears in the admission schedule, it will not work to get into it right away – I write down a person from the waiting list there.

There is an opinion that in this case it is necessary to increase the cost of services. In my opinion, psychological help is not an area where the price per session can be allowed to skyrocket. In many ways, the ethical side of the issue.

– In the cinema, the image of a psychologist is idyllic: a luxurious office, a stable income. But it seems that in Our Country a psychologist is at best a representative of the middle class. Can a modern psychologist be a commercially successful specialist?

— I earn quite well, especially for a woman in Our Country. From a cross section of psychologists my age, my case is the exception rather than the rule. I think, in many respects thanks to working capacity and contribution to my education, social activities. I’m wondering how did this happen? There is only one answer: love for the profession and the desire to do your job even better every year.

– Among your practices, we noticed rather non-standard and relevant methods in the spirit of the times. For example, keeping a diary for 21 days, where on each date the author must reflect on a new aspect about himself. Tests to identify points of growth and auto-interviews. In fact, these are games for the client. What are they needed for?

— I actively use elements of the game in my practice, especially in online projects. It helps to bypass the natural resistance that a person has when trying to touch what is important inside himself. The element of the game helps to throw off the blinders, to relieve the tension from the “adult person is a serious person” attitude. Based on feedback from project participants, I see that the approach is working effectively.

– In recent years, there has been a growing fashion for guides – concise tutorials on a broad or specific topic, written in simple language. Interest in them has grown with the onset of the pandemic. Due to quarantines and self-isolations, people have increased their desire to educate themselves, to learn new things. How do you feel about such manuals in psychology?

– I develop guides and I can say that this is a great way to help a person start to better understand an important topic and move on to real actions to help themselves. For example, there is the problem of procrastination – it is difficult for a person to start an important or even urgent matter. Over time, this leads to failed goals, a halt in self-development, and a constant state of frustration, feelings of worthlessness, and depressive symptoms.

A person falls into the hands of my guide to co-management with procrastination. I briefly explain the nature of the phenomenon. Next – building a step-by-step map: what and how to do to get out of the trap and not fall into it again.

In such manuals, the main thing is the ability to present information without confusing, without overloading. So that a person has a clear route from point A, where there is a problem, to point B, where the problem is solved. When it is clear what exactly to do and how, success is inevitable.

Confirmation of this: a large number of reviews with stories of victory over procrastination. I receive responses daily. I see that for some people, independent work on the guide can replace consultations with a psychologist or not lead to it in the long term, since the problem will be solved before it becomes painful. 

– You actively conduct live broadcasts with the audience. Is it a mass consultation, wholesale psychoanalysis or a lecture on a given topic?

– Rather, concentrated lectures with a therapeutic effect. They are free. With each broadcast, I want to expand a person’s vision of my problem, maintain a positive self-attitude, and help to take a position of self-compassion.

When a person experiences psychological difficulties, he often gets angry and blames himself. This pattern only exacerbates the situation. It turns out a vicious circle. My broadcasts are an opportunity to see a wider picture of what is happening, a way to break this circle. The choice is towards self-support, not self-discipline.

Lectures are popular. Every time I am convinced that it is important to find time for broadcasts. I have heard stories more than once about how a person begins to send a recording of the next broadcast to relatives. This is how people get to know about my blog. Sign up, begin to be interested in psychology. Over time, they understand that this is not just a fascinating subject, but a tool to improve the quality of life.

Feeling good, loving life, having happy relationships, setting goals and having a stable motivation to achieve them, discovering and realizing creativity to make the world a better place are natural human desires. I see my professional task in helping to get rid of excess for my life through the author’s approach and the most effective developments.оmore.

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