Perfectionism is sometimes considered a healthy pursuit of excellence, reflected in the motivation to act, achieve goals, and be effective or efficient. However, it is also seen in dysfunctional and unrealistic standards leading to severe emotional distress. In this article, perfectionism is considered as a tendency to maintain overly high and rigid standards, associated with significant suffering and functioning impairment, which is referred to as clinical perfectionism. This type of perfectionism is called a “transdiagnostic” process that encompasses many types of disorders, the treatment of which results in their reduction. Research on perfectionism allows for a better understanding of its sources and the processes that sustain it and contribute to the development of numerous therapeutic techniques. The purpose of this article is to present clinical perfectionism, its definition, models, sources and consequences, as well as to define appropriate techniques used by therapists working within the cognitive-behavioural approach. These techniques target both cognitive processes, allowing for cognitive restructuring of negative automatic thoughts, principles, and beliefs of the patient (by recognising one’s own thoughts, cognitive distortions, and negative beliefs and modifying them to be more realistic and adequate), and direct changes at the behavioural level. The effectiveness of cognitive behavioural techniques is supported by scientific evidence.

Introduction and objective: Dialectical behaviour therapy is one of the most scientifically documented methods for treating patients with emotional dysregulation, tendencies towards self-harm, suicide risk. It is a programme that includes individual therapy, skills training, phone coaching, and consultation teams for therapists. Families and loved ones can benefit from participating in the Family Connections programme, which supports their knowledge of emotional dysregulation and coping strategies. This paper attempts to show how, within the framework of this therapy, the family can be involved in the therapeutic process of a teenager. Materials and methods: The basic principles of dialectical behaviour therapy and the methods and justification for involving the family at various levels of treatment for a young person are presented. Results: It is shown that dialectical behaviour therapy should be considered an effective approach for adolescents with severe emotional dysregulation and for their families. Based on the transactional model, involving families in the treatment process appears not only important but even essential. Neglecting the role of the family may significantly reduce the effectiveness of the therapy. Family participation in dialectical behaviour therapy interventions helps in identifying and managing emotions and impulses towards destructive actions, also improving family relationships and strengthening the sense of support. Parents involved in the programmes report an increase in the sense of control and a reduction in feelings of guilt. Conclusions: Scientifically proven, effective therapeutic methods, such as dialectical behaviour therapy, can be successfully applied to adolescents, taking into account the involvement of their families in forms such as multifamily skills training or participation in the Family Connections programme.

The aim of this article is to draw attention to the therapeutic potential of a group conducted in the cognitive behavioural approach. The group therapy has its origins in the psychodynamic model of pathology (early 20th century) and developed before the cognitive behavioural approach started to be implemented (late 1970s and early 1980s). What arouses great interest in working with a group is the concept of the process occurring between the members of this group, which is an important factor in therapeutic change. In turn, therapy in the cognitive behavioural approach is a series of healing interactions taking place in the cognitive and behavioural spheres of a person, the effectiveness of which has been scientifically confirmed. Working in this approach translates into improved functioning and mental well-being of the individual not only during the therapy but also after its completion. Taking into account the resources of both the process taking place in the group (e.g. establishing, maintaining, correcting interpersonal relations) and the impact of the cognitive behavioural approach (e.g. recognising the relationship between thoughts, emotions and behaviour; learning cognitive reattribution techniques, emotion regulation or behavioural exposures) – this paper reviews proposals for therapeutic programs in relation to common disorders, i.e. affective, neurotic, post-traumatic stress disorder and borderline personality. The author reviews some of the available data on the effectiveness of group therapy in this approach in relation to the aforementioned disorders, but also to the formula of individual therapy.

The article discusses the role of a patient’s past experiences and relationships, especially those from childhood, in shaping their beliefs about themselves, other people, and the world. A patient’s life history often provides answers to what has happened to them, why it happened, and how it contributed to the development of the difficulties and/or disorder that led them to seek therapy. Effective cognitive behavioural therapy requires, among other things, an understanding of the significance of a patient’s experiences and past relationships, particularly with important adults and peers. It is worth focusing on areas related to upbringing and the family home, on the nature of relationships within it, as well as on areas concerning relationships and coping at school and in building peer connections. It is precisely from these experiences and relationships that a patient’s beliefs about themselves, the world, and other people begin to form. The article provides and discusses examples of coping styles with beliefs in cognitive behavioural therapy. It also presents examples of life history analysis of a patient. Depending on the needs, the article can be used both for understanding a patient in the process of individual psychotherapy and for developing a case conceptualisation in written form.

Introduction and objective: Modern technologies such as artificial intelligence, virtual/augmented reality, telepsychotherapy and chatbots are playing an increasing role in psychotherapy. The aim of this article is to analyse the impact of these technologies on accessibility, effectiveness of interventions and ethical issues related to their use. Materials and methods: A literature review was conducted using PubMed, PsycINFO and IEEE Xplore databases. The analysis included empirical studies on the effectiveness and challenges of using technologies such as artificial intelligence, telepsychotherapy, virtual/augmented reality and mobile apps in different therapeutic contexts. Results: Research suggests increased effectiveness of therapies using these technologies, particularly in the treatment of anxiety disorders, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Virtual reality offers the potential for controlled exposure therapies, and chatbots offer ongoing support and monitoring of patients. However, the literature also highlights challenges, including the risk of invasion of privacy, ethical dilemmas associated with automating some aspects of the therapeutic process, and potential limitations due to the lack of direct patient–therapist contact. Conclusions: Digital technologies have significant potential to improve the accessibility and quality of psychotherapy. However, their implementation requires a thoughtful approach that takes into account the need to protect patient data, to train clinicians in the use of new tools, and to balance the use of technology with the maintenance of key elements of the therapeutic relationship.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) characterised by predominant obsessive thoughts without accompanying overt compulsions is traditionally referred to as pure obsessional OCD (“Pure O”). Its prevalence is relatively low, accounting for only about 2–4% of all OCD cases, which is why it is often omitted from studies evaluating the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions. The limited research available suggests that cognitive behavioural therapy offers relief to individuals struggling with “pure” obsessive thoughts, although its efficacy tends to be lower compared to other OCD subtypes. Patients struggling with this condition often experience intense shame, and alongside obsessive thoughts, they frequently exhibit covert compulsions or neutralising behaviours. Given the unique challenges faced by patients with this form of obsession, it is advisable to adjust standard therapeutic protocols for obsessive-compulsive disorder and tailor intervention strategies to better address their specific needs. The paper explores how obsessive thoughts are conceptualised within cognitive-behavioural models, offers recommendations for clinical practice, and outlines ways of adapting selected cognitive-behavioural techniques for working with patients experiencing pure O. It also reviews findings on the effectiveness of various CBT approaches in treating this subtype of OCD and highlights limitations that should be taken into account when interpreting and generalising the results. Due to the limited number of clinical descriptions of Pure O in Polish literature and the diagnostic challenges associated with this subtype of obsessive-compulsive disorder, the aim of this paper is not only to outline therapeutic approaches for working with patients experiencing pure obsessional symptoms, but also to promote greater awareness of the condition among clinicians and therapists. By doing so, it seeks to improve the chances of affected individuals receiving an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.

Introduction and aim: The aim of the article is to provide an overview of the characteristics of eating disorders and the possible experiences of individuals affected by them. The text presents schema therapy and its application in the treatment of eating disorders. Schema therapy is an integrative therapeutic model developed by Jeffrey Young. This theory takes into account temperamental, developmental, and personality factors. Materials and methods: Schema therapy has demonstrated its effectiveness in randomized studies for the treatment of personality disorders and other complex psychological problems. Current treatment of eating disorders, primarily through psychotherapeutic approaches such as cognitive-behavioural therapy, is mainly focused on symptom reduction. Its effectiveness is limited due to the complexity of the disorder. Results: New therapeutic interventions are needed, especially for patients who have not improved with previous treatments or who have discontinued earlier therapy. Schema therapy represents a reasonable option for such individuals. The article presents links between early life experiences, including trauma, and the symptoms of eating disorders. Early maladaptive schemas and schema modes characteristic of this clinical group are also discussed. The need for thorough diagnosis and comprehensive conceptualisation that considers eating disorder symptoms as well as comorbid problems and conditions is emphasised. Cognitive and experiential techniques of schema therapy are described, with a particular focus on the integration of behavioural techniques in the treatment of eating disorders. Conclusions: Preliminary studies examining the effectiveness of schema therapy in treating eating disorders are presented.

This article discusses the issue of somatic symptoms appearing in response to a traumatic event. Its goal is to present post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD (cPTSD), whilst including current diagnostic criteria as well as documented, from the point of view of psychotherapy, symptoms coexisting with traumatic experiences. In the analysis of this problem not only the occurrence of the traumatising event and its effects were taken into account, but also personality and social factors, which can affect the reaction to an event. Close attention was paid to physiologic responses towards traumatic events including neurophysiologic, hormonal, immunologic changes, resulting in somatic reactions, also somatoform dissociations and somatic symptoms responsible for flashbacks. Amongst the causes of somatic reactions appearing in response to traumatic events are immunologic reactions, prolonging activation of the autonomic nervous system as well as increased sensitivity to certain experienced symptoms. Another mechanism responsible may be the recollection of memories from the main autobiographic memory bank, which underlies a person’s sense of identity. It also describes the individual stages of psychotherapy, the role of the therapeutic relationship, emotional regulation, anchoring, interventions aimed at dissociative experiences, and describes the phases of therapy. A literature review was conducted pointing towards the complex phenomenon of post-traumatic stress, both in terms of diagnostics and therapy, and the studies conducted so far have shown the effectiveness of exposure and sensorimotor therapies. This area requires further studies, taking into consideration post-traumatic somatic symptoms, both diagnostically and psychotherapeutically.

The article presents the case of a 16-year-old patient who developed psychosis following prolonged use of tetrahydrocannabinol. The clinical picture is described in detail, including disturbances in perception, cognition, and affect, complemented by information obtained through interviews with the patient and his parents during inpatient psychiatric treatment. The course of cognitive behavioural therapy is outlined, with particular emphasis on the stepwise formulation and implementation of therapeutic goals in collaboration with the patient. Attention is drawn to the relevance of current evidence-based guidelines, highlighting the role of psychoeducation, relapse prevention strategies, and motivational work to support abstinence. This case illustrates the importance of early intervention, individualised treatment planning, and family involvement in the therapeutic process of substance-induced psychosis.

Schizophrenia is classified as a severe mental disorder. According to National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines, psychotherapy should be the standard for treating schizophrenia, in addition to pharmacotherapy. Cognitive behavioural therapy since the early 1990s, thanks to scientific research, has confirmed its effectiveness in the treatment of schizophrenia. Nevertheless, in the literature on the subject, there are few descriptions of therapeutic work with pregnant women experiencing psychotic disorders in the course of schizophrenia. To present the process of psychotherapeutic treatment in the cognitive behavioural therapy trend in a patient diagnosed with schizophrenia and pregnancy over a concurrent period of time. The following paper focuses on the presentation of psychotherapeutic work in cognitive-behavioural therapy in pregnant women experiencing psychosis.