Just last week we talked about the “Ecouteurs de Rues” project which involves France psychologists that are made available to people free on the street to give them support by organizing a series of meetings one Saturday a month.
And in Italy? Is there something similar? Well yes, in fact we have the project “Open Psychotherapy” born with the aim of make psychological therapy accessible to anyoneeven to those who, due to economic difficulties, cannot afford to pay the standard rates.
A project born in 2018
The idea was developed by Luigi D’Elia, psychologist and psychotherapist, together with a promoting committee, in 2018. Since then, the portal has seen extensive growthwith the participation of numerous professionals throughout Italy. Currently around a thousand psychologists and psychotherapists are part of the network, offering more than 3000 therapeutic courses at controlled rates in 374 Italian cities.
The service was created as a response to the growing demand for psychological assistance, which often does not find adequate responses either in the public or private sector, especially for those in most vulnerable populationsuch as the unemployed, precarious workers and young people.
Private therapy, in fact, can be prohibitive for many, with rates ranging from 50 to 120 euros per session. This means that those in financial difficulty often find themselves having to give up the psychological support necessary for their mental well-being.
“Open Psychotherapy” instead offers an accessible alternative. The portal allows citizens to seek a psychologist or psychotherapist member in your area via a geolocation map, independently choosing the most suitable professional.
It is the citizen who chooses the psychologist to turn to
Sessions can take place both in person and onlinewhich makes the service accessible even to those who live in areas not covered by the network of psychologists. This innovative approach, which does not involve intermediaries between user and professional, guarantees a direct and transparent experience.
The project does not aim to replace the National Health Service (NHS), but to integrate the therapeutic offer, especially in a context where long public sector waiting lists represent an obstacle for many. Furthermore, psychotherapy often requires a continuous commitment over time, which the NHS is not always able to guarantee.
For professionals, joining “Open Psychotherapy” represents an ethical and deontological commitment. Every psychologist participating in the project decides voluntarily to dedicate part of their timethus helping to make psychological well-being accessible to an ever-increasing number of people.
Compared to other portals that offer low cost therapies, “Open Psychotherapy” stands out in that it is the citizen himself who chooses the Professional to turn towithout filters. Furthermore, participation by Psychologists and Psychotherapists in the project is totally free and preceded by the sharing of the charter of intent which regulates the participation of professionals and ensures that the service maintains high quality standards.
It is therefore not something totally free as happens in France, but “Open Psychotherapy” represents a concrete response to the need to make psychological care accessible to all just as these types of services should be.
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