Solitudes that hurt, solitudes that accompany. The Complexity of Internal Criticism

Abstract

In any social, school or family context, and of course, in the psychotherapy practice, explicit statements loaded with self-criticism, severe judgments about themselves, and / or implicit questioning that suggest that something is wrong with them can be frequently heard from clients. Often, they are pre-fixated beliefs, which do not match the person that can be seen and appreciated. What they think of themselves and some frequent ways of behaving such as isolation, complacency, inhibition, passivity, perfectionism, internal demand... are repetitive, limiting, and harmful. They live in fear, anguish, shame, guilt, doubt, and they feel deeply alone, but they do not find a way to stop this internal criticism, to live in calm. This article will present some reflections and theoretical contributions from the Integrative Psychotherapy framework that endorse the need for an in-depth psychotherapy based on a syntonic therapeutic relationship that is safe, respectful, involved, and contactful. That will allow the person to understand the psychological functions of internal criticism and to dissolve the life script.