OUR PSYCHOLOGIST

dr. sc. Maja Miljanović, PhD in Psychology, has many years of experience working in the field of clinical and health psychology with children and adults. She has collaborated with local and foreign scientists, has a number of published scientific articles and 1 book. She is continuously educating herself and improving her skills, and the most important role in her life is being a mother to 5 year old Rafael. Before that, she likes to travel, garden and enjoy dancing. She has been working in cognitive behavioural psychotherapy and psychodiagnostic treatment for 15 years.

PSYCHODIAGNOSTIC TREATMENT

Sometimes it is necessary to undergo a (neuro)psychodiagnostic treatment before entering the psychotherapeutic process, in order to determine whether certain neurological impairments or other disorders are involved. This is the systematic use of psychological tests to quantify the psychophysical behaviour, abilities and problems of an individual, i.e. the process of observing and describing behaviour using numerical scales or established categories.
It is carried out using psychological tests, which are validated, objective and reliable measurement methods that predict the most likely behaviour of a person in certain situations.
When do you need a psychological assessment?
People are often referred for psychological assessment by doctors of other specialties, such as neurologists or competent persons such as employers, etc., in order to test cognitive functions, motor skills, personality, etc. The reason why doctors of other specialties refer for testing is most often due to the existence of certain health problems, the aim being to determine whether they are to some extent conditioned by psychological and/or organic causes. An individual may self-initiate a psychological assessment if he/she believes that there are problems at the psychological level of functioning which may manifest themselves in various psychosomatic and other symptoms.
What does a psychological assessment involve?

The search is carried out using psychological tests, which are validated, objective and reliable measures that predict a person's most likely behaviour in certain situations. Psychological testing may include a psychological interview, which collects anamnestic data, the use and interpretation of intelligence tests, tests of specific cognitive abilities, personality inventories and questionnaires, and neuropsychological assessment, among other things.
The psychological assessment is carried out on an individual basis and may take between 3 and 5 hours.

PSYCHOTHERAPY

What is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)?
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is a type of psychotherapy that is scientifically based on the principle that our thoughts (cognition), emotions (body) and behaviour are interconnected. This means that as soon as we think about something, our body, our physiology and our emotions wake up and start behaving in a certain way. For example, if we think that nobody likes us and that we are a failure, we will start to feel sad, depressed and perhaps droopy, withdraw from society, go on sick leave, etc.
CBT is used for a wide range of problems.

For which problems can CBT be used?
CBT techniques can be used to overcome a variety of psychological disorders and can also be used by healthy individuals (and organisations/companies) to improve quality of life, business and social, leadership, assertiveness, communication and other skills.

Why choose CBT?
The sessions teach skills to overcome life's difficulties; the client is expected to be active and to apply what is learned during the sessions. In CBT we are guided by the saying "I will teach you to catch your own fish so that you will never go hungry again".
This form of independent work is very dynamic and short-term (usually 10-15 sessions), which is why many people choose it to overcome difficulties. In fact, you learn how to help yourself; you get a "toolbox" that you can use forever.

How is it done?
Individual and group counselling and training sessions are held in Croatian and English, in person and online.