*2.5.3 The mythological nature of mass consciousness and its model of disease and therapy; psychotherapeutic aspect*

A comprehensive, experimental-psychological and historical analysis of the MBT of mass consciousness made it possible to: describe its historically formed multilevel structure and socially and personally determined dynamics; when studying the experimental and social regressive dynamics of MDT, to reveal the genetic affinity of superficial and deep structures. However, the momentary experimental regression of the formerly rational "model" transforming into "external–internal" and magical methods of therapy confirms the mythological essence of the modern MDT.

So, MDT is a mythological formation, and its hierarchical structure and dynamics are the structure and dynamics of mythology [21, 49, 50]. Since the MDT presents a systemic part of mass consciousness MW, the last is also a mythological formation. The lives of man and mankind are saturated with mythology.

The system of psychotherapy widespread in a certain society interacts satisfactorily with the actual MBT of mass consciousness. Such interaction is provided by adaptation of psychotherapy to the current MBT, generation of a connecting script and its subsequent exploitation. Psychotherapy, which qualitatively corresponds to the current MDT, inevitably is functioning as a mythological system. Thus, in a social context, psychotherapeutic systems are essentially mythological systems. The socially conditioned dynamics of MW and MDT generates the development of psychotherapy methods.

#### **2.6 Psychological component of psychotherapy**

Clinical psychotherapy is based on therapeutic communication between individuals or a group of individuals. Effective therapeutic communication triggers and maintains in the patient intrapsychic, intrapersonal mechanisms of psychotherapy, which provide the patient with the final result [21, 49, 50].

The intrapsychic mechanisms of psychotherapy are obvious, since without them the therapeutic result is impossible. The obviousness of the latter is combined with the mirror-like pseudo-transparency of the psyche's "black box," in which the involved observer will see the desired content, which often presents a reflection of the applied communicative-interpersonal component of psychotherapy. The real intrapsychic mechanisms of the psychotherapeutic process are hidden "behind the mirror" of the individual's psyche and may, probably, not coincide with the methodical prescriptions.

#### *2.6.1 Psychological communication in psychotherapy*

Psychological communication of psychotherapy is characterized by (a) a historically determined communicative style, (b) methodological goal-setting and instruments of therapy, (c) partial spontaneity of interpersonal interaction [21, 49–51, 65].

#### *2.6.1.1 Communicative style of psychotherapy*

The concept of communicative styles [65] was formulated by the author in relation to hypnotherapy, in a comparative analysis of directive hypnosis, Ericksonian hypnosis, and the author's method of Universal Hypnotherapy [66].

Communicative styles (of hypnotherapy) are determined by: (a) the approach to the use of the initial representations about the method of psychotherapy (hypnosis) among participants in therapeutic communication, (b) the peculiarities of the implementation of therapeutic communication at the verbal and nonverbal levels, (c) the ratio of the activities of the sides of psychotherapy (hypnotherapy), and (d) application of feedback by the therapist. It has been demonstrated that communicative styles of hypnotherapy are characterized by a natural historical sequence of appearance and development, from the Directive to Ericksonian hypnosis and, further, to Universal Hypnotherapy, since hypnotherapy translates historically relevant communicative styles of active influence of the mass consciousness [65]. Each communicative style has a characteristic profile of opportunities and limitations that work at the sociopsychological and psychological levels.

The concept of communicative style is applicable to any psychotherapy method. So, communicative styles are transferred to psychotherapy from everyday life, the historical dynamics of mass consciousness determines natural changes in therapeutic communication.

#### *2.6.1.2 Methodological goal setting and instruments of psychotherapy*

Psychotherapy as a methodology includes the methodological goal setting and methodological instruments [21, 49, 65–67]. The methodological component is determined by: theories underlying the applied methodological approaches to psychotherapy; methodological approaches embodied in specific psychotherapeutic techniques and patterns. Each method of psychotherapy reduces the general understanding of psychotherapy to this component.

#### *2.6.1.3 The spontaneity of interpersonal interaction in psychotherapy*

Despite the requirement to adhere to the therapeutic protocol, both sides of the therapeutic process are represented by living people, who inevitably bring an element of unique spontaneity to the methodically regulated process. Therefore, the spontaneous-communicative component characterizes the influence of the individual-personal characteristics of the participants in the psychotherapeutic process (therapist and patient) in their real communicative interaction on the results of psychotherapy. The influence of the psychotherapist's personality and his behavioral style on the results of psychotherapy has been widely studied earlier [21, 49, 68] and therefore is not the subject of our consideration.
