Psychotherapy often seems like a mysterious process where past and future, biology and emotions intertwine. But when viewed through the lens of Integrative Strategic Psychotherapy (ISP), the human psyche appears as a sophisticated, multi-level system. In this long-read, we will explore how our personality is formed, why we act the way we do, and how therapy helps to reassemble this complex puzzle.

Modern science claims: all psychotherapeutic approaches are efficient. Why? Because each of them illuminates only "one slice of the hologram" of the human soul.

The human brain is an extremely complex system possessing the quality of plasticity. It is neuroplasticity that makes change possible. But for these changes to occur, a foundation is needed: the therapeutic alliance. This is a partnership agreement where both parties agree to work together. Psychological difficulties always depend on our relational environment, so relationships are a core ingredient of healing.

In ISP, personality structure is viewed as a system of concentric circles growing out of one another. Imagine this as a multi-layered sphere:

Let's look at how this structure forms from birth.

Stage 1: Neural Competition and Needs Before birth and in the first three years of life, our brain experiences a boom—a genetically driven over-production of neurons occurs. Synapses literally compete with one another: those that are used (encode experiences) survive, while others disappear.

During this time, the child is driven by Fundamental Needs (according to Maslow's pyramid): physiology, safety, love, belonging. The child does not yet think in words; they have proto-cognitions. The chain looks like this:

Need → Emotion → Behavior. For example: "I am crying (behavior) → I feel bad (sensation)."

Stage 2: Assessment of the World The child begins to analyze the environment's reaction to their tears or laughter. The first unconscious questions arise:

Stage 3: General Conclusion and Internal Working Model Based on repeated experiences, the child draws global conclusions that become their life script or Internal Working Model (IWM).

Here is how destructive beliefs are formed:

Thus, a script is born: "To be loved, I must always be good" or "If I don't look perfect, I will be made fun of."

Standing between our vulnerable, often traumatized "Core Self" and the outside world is the Plastic Self. Its main function is to stabilize the "Core Self" and filter information to avoid cognitive dissonance.

Example of the Plastic Self at work: If deep down a person believes: "I am stupid and I can't learn English", but reality shows success, the Plastic Self will filter the success by saying: "Yes, but I don't speak English well". It distorts reality to make it fit the internal map, even if that map is negative.

On the very surface lies the External Self. This is our conscious component, our "interface" for interacting with the environment through behavior. This is the part others see, but it often hides turbulent processes occurring deeper within.

In Integrative Strategic Psychotherapy, the therapist creates a case formulation, using multiaxial analysis. This helps understand not only what is happening (the symptom) but also why and how it is maintained.

The therapist explores the client through five main axes:

People have a vital need to organize their world in order to understand it. Our "mental maps" determine the way we perceive reality. Integrative Strategic Psychotherapy helps to become aware of these maps, see the work of one's Plastic Self, and ultimately rewrite outdated scripts that no longer serve our well-being.

It is a journey from the unconscious "The world is not safe" to the conscious choice of one's own reality.

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