Melinda Medgyaszai
Psychotherapist, Cognitive Behavioral Therapist, Microbiologist
I am Dr Melinda Medgyaszai, psychotherapist, cognitive behavioural therapist. My journey to get here was an interesting one. I started a family at an early age. At that time, as a mother with young children, my choice of profession was influenced by the desire for a predictable, manageable, off-call, but at the same time engaging job that can be built to a high standard quality.
That is how I became a microbiologist. Then, when my path led me towards public health, and later to health organisation, I had no idea that in 2011, I would return to what I preferred as a mother of young children. However, after all those years of working with people, I was no longer satisfied with the world of microorganisms and had a long-standing desire to work with the human soul on a professional level. I returned to the classroom and, after theoretical and practical training, became a psychotherapist, more specifically a cognitive behavioural therapist.
And why did I choose the cognitive psychotherapy approach?
The Stoics have always been close to me, and I have often relied on them in difficult times. And the basis for cognitive therapies lies somewhere in ancient Stoic philosophy. As Epictetus said,
"it is not events that disturb people, it is their judgements concerning them."
Cognition is the thinking process involving perception, reasoning and remembering. Cognitive therapy sees the origin of our psychological problems in our thinking. We are born with a certain character into a certain environment - we adapt to it, and we continue to work with the patterns emerging from this adaptation for the rest of our lives. Unless - we go to therapy.
At the same time, each person has a different world, a unique personality, an unrepeatable history. Therefore, the therapy also adapts. Although the basics are the same, the complementary methods, tools and emphases are different. In my opinion, a mutually defined, personalised, even eclectic therapy serves the patient's best interests.
You may have noticed the website's phoenix logo, which is not an accidental choice. It depicts a recovery from cancer that I have experienced as a patient. I know what I have been through and what I have endured during this battle and with this experience I can genuinely offer mental support to my patients in similarly difficult situations.
The epidemic of the coronavirus has shattered the lives of many people and families. Working through this period in online therapies, it became clear to me that the development and course of infections and the functioning of the immune system is an unknown area for most people, although its psychological implications and consequences are not negligible. As a microbiologist, I have been able to help many of my patients, in addition to psychotherapeutic tools, simply by interpreting their body's reactions, explaining the battle between pathogens and the human defence system, and exploring what can and should be done.
Being born into the health care network - my mother and brother are both doctors - I have engaged with burnout basically since my childhood. Therefore, I also welcome colleagues from all areas of the service sectors who wish to help themselves and the people around them.
