The investigation of the personal niche for supportive psychotherapy

According to the ecological theory of Willi 1996, people create and maintai n their psychic wellbeing through constant shaping of their environment, i. e. setting up a personal niche. The personal niche in turn responds to, gui des and challenges further personal development. This study explores what k ind of solutions single patients with psychiatric invalidity can find in or der to form their environment as a niche in which they may develop effectiv eness and use it for their psychic regulation. 30 people were questioned wi th a semi-structured interview:they were patients of a psychiatric out-pati ent's clinic, living alone and psychiatrically invalided (2/3 with schizoph renia of the residual type). The results were ranked after their increasing demands in a relational and in an activity inventory. The more relationshi p is based on mutuality expectations of others, personal disclosure and bin ding the more the subjects feel overstrained. The investigation of these in ventories serve as a technical aid in supportive psychotherapy.