Psychoanalytically Oriented Psychotherapy Online in the Oncological Context

How online counseling helps cancer patients and their loved ones cope

Eugene Riaboshtan (Master of Psychology, Université Côte d'Azur)

 Cancer is not only a medical diagnosis but also a crisis that affects all levels of human existence: physical, emotional, social, and symbolic. Patients and their loved ones face not only pain and fear but also existential uncertainty, a disruption of body image, and a loss of control over their lives. In this context, the need for professional psychotherapeutic support grows, becoming an integral part of comprehensive care.

 The development of online counseling has opened new opportunities for such forms of support—especially where physical movement is limited or finding a specialist with the right profile is difficult. Psychoanalytic therapy, in particular, plays a significant role here, as it focuses on working with the unconscious, transference, and deep inner conflicts that intensify in the face of illness.

The Psychoanalytic Approach: What It Offers in an Oncological Crisis

 Psychoanalysis provides a space to explore feelings, fears, and fantasies without the immediate need to “resolve” them. A cancer diagnosis activates powerful unconscious processes: fear of death, loss of boundaries, the perception of the body as damaged, and regressive tendencies. In such states, a person may lose contact with themselves, their loved ones, and reality.

 One of the most painful consequences of cancer is the disruption of body image and the symbolic meaning of the body. The loss of a breast, hair, patches of skin, or the presence of scars can deeply affect a person’s sense of identity, desirability, and belonging to the feminine or masculine. The body, once perceived as an expression of life, beauty, or sexuality, becomes a reminder of illness, pain, and vulnerability. These changes often lead to a sense of alienation from one’s own body, feelings of shame, and a loss of language with which to speak about one’s sexuality or attractiveness. In this way, corporeality becomes a bearer not only of physical but also of symbolic losses—making it a crucial theme for therapeutic work.

 Illness affects not only the physical body but also the symbolic order: the familiar system of meanings, roles, and identities. A person may suddenly shift from being “a mother,” “a professional,” or “a beloved partner” to “a cancer patient” or “stage N”—a label that pushes aside all other social and personal definitions. Death, now a real possibility, threatens not only the body but also symbolic existence: the fear of being forgotten while still alive, of leaving no trace, of disappearing from others’ memory, of falling out of the system of meaning. People often encounter newly formed “voids,” insomnia, and somatization, where words fail.

 The psychoanalyst’s task is not to comfort or distract but to be present with the patient in their anxiety, aggression, and feelings of helplessness. Through bearing witness to these states and helping to symbolize them, an internal restructuring becomes possible. The person finds new footholds, learns to live with the illness without being completely destroyed by it.

 Therapy helps bring the illness back into language, transforming it into signifiers that, in turn, help the person continue living and fighting the disease.

Classic psychoanalytic writings on the significance of transference, regression, and primary objects in crisis situations gain particular relevance in the context of oncology.

 Loved ones also experience a loss of orientation. Often unsure how to behave, and unable to cope with their anxiety, they may adopt defensive behaviors: denial of the illness, avoidance of conversations, excessive rationalization, or overprotectiveness. This can deepen the inner conflict of patients, who feel the seriousness of their situation acutely but do not encounter spoken, emotionally validating support. Wider social circles—colleagues, neighbors, acquaintances—often distance themselves from both the illness and the patient, unsure how to engage. This amplifies isolation and reinforces the sense of losing social significance.

 Psychoanalytic therapy thus becomes relevant not only for patients but also for their relatives—those who are present daily, caring, striving to “hold it together,” but who remain in the shadow of the diagnosis. Relatives often experience chronic stress, suppressed anger, guilt, anxiety, and a complete redefinition of their role in the family. Caring for the patient can become a heavy burden, leaving little room for their own emotions, which they are forced to set aside, freeze, or hide under a mask of “strength” and “rationality.”

 This is especially acute for adult children caring for sick parents. Often, they must simultaneously manage their own lives, careers, and families while taking on physical and emotional responsibility for vulnerable parents. Their internal dynamics are fraught with conflicts: love and anger, compassion and irritation, fear and exhaustion coexist, evoking strong ambivalence and guilt.

 Spouses and partners face similar challenges, as they must not only provide support but also reimagine intimacy, boundaries, and their shared future. Sometimes illness disrupts not just daily rhythms but also the deepest symbolic anchors of their relationship—sexuality, care, and the ideal of a “real family.”

 The psychotherapeutic space allows these individuals not just to “vent” but—more importantly—to acknowledge the complexity of their feelings, understand their place in the new system, and rethink the impossibility of total control. Such work helps them avoid disintegration from caregiving, preserve emotional vitality, responsiveness, and sometimes even save their relationships. The result is a more resilient and mature support system, where everyone has the right to their own experience.

Online Counseling: A New Access to Support

 The COVID-19 pandemic radically changed society’s attitude toward online interactions. What was previously deemed impossible or unethical became the new norm: education, work, medicine—and psychotherapy—moved massively into the digital sphere. This shift not only broadened conceptions of possibility but also created new accessibility for those previously excluded from therapeutic spaces for objective reasons.

 For cancer patients and their families, the online format has been a breakthrough. Frequent trips to clinics, weakened immunity, and side effects of chemo- or radiotherapy make offline visits physically impossible or extremely exhausting. Online consultations reduce physical strain, maintain regular contact, and flexibly adapt to the patient’s condition.

 Moreover, the remote format removes numerous barriers that previously prevented participation in psychotherapy. Patients undergoing aggressive treatments often feel self-conscious about their appearance: hair loss, skin changes, swelling. Even the simple need to “show up” can provoke anxiety and shame. The online setting creates a sense of safety—a chance to stay in one’s room, in comfortable clothes, without leaving home—and thus facilitates engagement in the therapeutic process.

 Online therapy also benefits caregivers—children, spouses, relatives. These individuals often juggle caregiving, work, and household duties, leaving little time or energy for regular visits to a therapist. The ability to join a session from home or during a work break, without hours spent commuting and waiting, makes psychoanalytic support realistic and achievable. As a result, they can preserve their resilience, emotional resources, and capacity to care without internal collapse.

Thus, online counseling is not just convenient—it challenges the stereotype of psychotherapy’s inaccessibility for cancer patients and their support networks. It makes possible what once seemed impossible: regular, high-quality, meaningful therapeutic work amid extreme physical and emotional vulnerability. If oncology treatment protocols recognize the importance of psychoemotional support, such a synchronized model could become a new standard of comprehensive care.

An Online Space for Psychoanalytic (Psychotherapeutic) Support: Expanding the Horizons of Care

 All of the above—from the exacerbation of inner conflict in a cancer diagnosis to the overload of family members, from body shame to the inability to attend offline sessions—points to the need for a systemic, accessible, and sensitive approach to psychotherapeutic care. In today’s world, this can take the form of a specialized online space that thematically and substantively encompasses the full spectrum of psychoanalytic support in the oncological context.

—flexible, open, and evolving. Its essence lies in creating conditions where psychoanalytic therapy and related support are accessible and meaningful for people experiencing severe illness and those around them.

·       Regular online consultations with specialists (psychoanalysts, art therapists, clinical psychologists)

·       An archive of video lectures and seminars on topics such as living with illness, loss, guilt, ambivalence, bodily changes, and parent-child dynamics in illness

·       Educational materials for professionals working with cancer patients, including doctors, caregivers, nurses, and social workers

·       Supportive formats for caregivers: groups, lecture series, individual sessions

·       Research and clinical texts presented in a popular-scientific format to give participants intellectual support and understanding of their emotional states

This space is not only about “treatment” but also about helping people endure, listen, and remain themselves. It can become a “third place” between medical institutions and personal circles, where individual voices are heard and where there is no need to hide fear or “put on a brave face.”

 The online format makes this space particularly flexible and inclusive: participants can connect from a hospital bed, their home, or even their workplace. This helps avoid isolation and restores a sense of belonging to a human, thinking, feeling community—to culture itself.

 Creating such a space is not only a technological or therapeutic project. It is an ethical choice for life—where the suffering person has a voice, presence, and support.

Oncology requires a comprehensive approach. Medical treatment is crucial but not enough. Psychoanalytic therapy is not an alternative—it is a necessary complement that helps people preserve their inner integrity, dignity, and ability to live—even in the face of mortal threat.

 Online spaces make such therapy accessible, flexible, and personalized. Integrating psychoanalysts and art therapists into cancer care is not only a humanistic task but also a strategic investment in quality of life and medical efficacy itself.

 This approach deserves support: institutional, financial, and research-based. Foundations, for example, could sponsor targeted therapy within such spaces—transforming them into sustainable models of care.

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The Maturational Processes and the Facilitating Environment

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Advancing psychosocial care in cancer patients

In 2025, Shopify continues to assert itself not just as a platform for e-commerce—but as a fully integrated ecosystem for digital entrepreneurship. With the release of its 

Here’s an in-depth breakdown of the most significant updates and what they mean for merchants, developers, and partners.

The heart of the Summer 2025 Edition is the launch of Horizon, a next-gen design system built for speed, modularity, and seamless AI integration. Horizon includes:

This overhaul is not just cosmetic—it reflects Shopify’s shift toward headless commerce that remains user-friendly.

2. AI-Powered Store Creation with Theme Magic & Store Builder

One of the most ambitious updates is the 

, which empowers users to generate entire storefront themes by simply describing their business or design preferences in natural language.

“I sell minimalist home decor with Scandinavian aesthetic” → Shopify instantly creates a clean, modern theme with matching fonts, layout structure, and hero banners.

 takes it a step further, auto-generating:

These tools are aimed especially at entrepreneurs launching new stores or rapidly validating MVPs.

3. Shopify Sidekick: AI Assistant Becomes Business Copilot

Sidekick, Shopify’s AI-powered assistant, now supports:

This places Sidekick as a direct competitor to AI assistants like Microsoft Copilot or Notion AI, but tailored specifically for commerce.

Shopify’s POS (Point-of-Sale) system received a major redesign:

—where your physical store experience is just as data-driven as your digital one.

5. Expansion-Friendly Tools for Global Merchants

Cross-border commerce remains a challenge—Shopify addresses this through:

, and comply effortlessly with regulations in over 175 markets.

6. Search That Understands Your Customers

, a company known for applying Large Language Models (LLMs) to ecommerce search.

This upgrade significantly boosts conversion rates, especially on mobile devices where shoppers tend to use conversational queries.

7. Developer Experience & App Store Evolution

Developers are now building AI-powered Shopify apps for:

The Future: Shopify as a Commerce Operating System

With Horizons, Shopify is moving closer to being not just a platform—but a 

. AI is deeply integrated, performance is prioritized, and global growth is within reach for even solopreneurs.

Whether you're launching your first store or scaling across continents, Shopify in 2025 is faster, smarter, and more autonomous than ever before.

Shopify Horizons 2025: AI, Global Growth & the New Era of Commerce

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer an emerging concept—it’s a transformative force redefining business, society, and the very nature of how we work, communicate, and make decisions. As we enter a new decade shaped by rapid digital innovation, understanding the trajectory of AI has never been more essential for companies seeking a competitive edge.

AI is now embedded in our daily lives in ways both visible and invisible. Search engines understand intent, email clients filter spam with precision, and voice assistants perform increasingly complex tasks. In the business world, AI is driving a new era of automation, intelligent decision-making, and hyper-personalized experiences.

Recent breakthroughs in generative AI—such as ChatGPT, Midjourney, and Copilot—have accelerated adoption by making advanced AI capabilities accessible to non-technical users. These tools are transforming creative processes, coding, marketing, product design, and more.

Generative models are now being deployed across industries to create content, code, images, and even entire products. In marketing, for instance, AI tools can generate campaigns tailored to different customer segments in seconds. In software development, AI can write boilerplate code or suggest optimizations on the fly.

Thanks to no-code and low-code platforms, AI is becoming accessible to small businesses and startups. Cloud-based AI-as-a-Service (AIaaS) offerings allow companies to implement complex models without in-house expertise.

AI is increasingly moving from the cloud to the edge. Devices like smartphones, smart cameras, and industrial sensors can now run lightweight models locally, enabling faster responses, offline functionality, and enhanced data privacy.

As AI plays a bigger role in decision-making, calls for transparency, fairness, and ethical AI are growing louder. Governments are introducing regulations, and companies are investing in tools that explain how models arrive at their decisions to avoid bias and ensure accountability.

The rise of AI also brings new threats. Cybersecurity teams are adopting AI to detect anomalies, respond to threats in real time, and simulate attacks. At the same time, malicious actors are using AI to automate attacks, making this a constant arms race.

For organizations willing to embrace AI strategically, the potential benefits are significant:

Despite the enormous potential, AI presents real risks that businesses must navigate:

The future of AI is not just about technology—it’s about leadership, responsibility, and strategy. Forward-thinking companies are already positioning themselves to harness AI not just to optimize their current operations, but to imagine entirely new business models.

The organizations that succeed in the AI age will be those that:

AI is not a silver bullet—but it is a powerful tool. Used wisely, it can unlock tremendous value and enable companies to thrive in a fast-changing digital landscape.

The Future of AI: What Lies Ahead for Businesses and Technology

Crafting a captivating online presence is more than a trend — it’s a key to success. Your website or web app design is the frontline of your digital identity. Recognizing the power of web design is unlocking a pathway to effective online engagement for your business. It’s not just about looks; it’s about creating an immersive experience that resonates with your audience, fosters exploration, and drives conversion. In a world where first impressions matter, investing in web design is not just wise — it’s essential. Elevate your brand, engage your audience, and set the stage for digital success through thoughtful and impactful web design.

You may be wondering why web design matters and how to create an effective layout when you’re developing a web app. How can you make sure you’ve covered every important aspect of website design?

The point is, there’s more to developing and designing websites than meets the eye. It significantly affects how the customer perceives your brand in general and is no less than a key factor determining whether they have a positive or negative impression when exploring your web app.

Future trends promise to be exciting, ranging from simple, minimalist designs to animated elements that captivate and excite your web app’s users. Examining current developments and their potential benefits is a fine way to create the most effective design for your company’s web solution.

Skilled artificial neural networks are used by AI picture producers to generate original pictures. Such generators are capable of producing unique, lifelike images from information given in natural language. Being able to combine styles, themes, and features to create visually striking and contextually appropriate work is what sets them apart from the others. Generative artificial intelligence, a branch of artificial intelligence that specializes in content production, makes this feasible. For example, DALL-E 3 is the latest version of OpenAI’s advanced AI system that generates highly detailed and accurate images from text descriptions.

Meta recently released a new AI image generator — Emu — which was trained on 1.1 billion Instagram and Facebook photos.

Using tools like these, businesses can benefit and make content creation, prototyping and design, personalization, creative campaigns, data augmentation and many more much easier and faster.

Taking inspiration from the concept of bento boxes, web designers in 2024 may embrace a modular and organized approach to layout and content presentation. Like the carefully arranged compartments of a bento box, websites could feature well-defined sections, each serving a specific purpose or content category. This modular design not only enhances visual appeal but also contributes to a more user-friendly experience, allowing visitors to navigate seamlessly through different elements of the site.

Similar to the variety in a bento box, websites might incorporate diverse content types within their modular structure — ranging from text and images to videos and interactive elements. This modular design philosophy not only aids in maintaining a clean and structured layout but also facilitates easier updates and modifications, ensuring adaptability to changing content needs.

A stellar example of Bento Box design is showcased on the Linear App website, where the meticulous arrangement of compartments seamlessly blends form and functionality. This design not only prioritizes visual harmony but also ensures optimal organization and accessibility.

Micro-animations can be described as little movements that connect different parts of a screen or a layout. In other words, they are visual signals based on the customer feedback, improving the accuracy of the user experience approach and ensuring that the user interface accurately depicts your activities.

Micro-animations are not quite the same as micro-interactions. Animations result from micro-interactions, and micro-interactions are activated by an impulse and are developed into a series of visualized commands.

Micro-animations in web design include toggle switches, entrance/exit animations, progress bars, hover effects on buttons, and fade in/out effects. These subtle touches enhance user engagement and provide visual cues, making the interface more dynamic and user-friendly.

Payment infrastructure service Stripe has a perfect example of this trend on their website and inside their solutions. Stripe incorporates microanimations in its user interface, such as subtle transitions between different sections and interactive elements. These animations contribute to a smooth and delightful user experience.

The alterations that take place on a website when you move your mouse over an element are known as hover effects. It could be as simple as a size or color adjustment, or it could be a more intricate animation or transition. Regardless of the outcome, it gives your website or user interface an additional degree of engagement that can improve the user experience.

The Hover Animation function may draw attention to important content on your website, improve user interaction, draw visitors in, and motivate them to take action. Depending on your goals and the layout of your website, you have the opportunity to select the most suitable ones from a wide variety of hover animations.

Hover animations, for example, can encourage readers to fill out a form in order to enhance sales. Moreover, you may apply Hovers to motivate visitors to place an order, press on social media symbols, and fulfil any “call to action” that appears on a button.

A website’s background appears to remain motionless as the foreground moves either vertically or horizontally. Such visual effect is known as parallax scrolling. A website can captivate users and add visual interest while they navigate across pages by using parallax scrolling.

The backdrop and foreground of a parallax scrolling effect are both moving, but the background usually flows considerably more slowly, creating a sense of space. When parallax scrolling is done right, it creates an engaging and smooth virtual environment.One of the most inspiring example full of brilliant graphics and inventive parallax effects is Webflow web design & art history microsite.

In the realm of web design, the integration of three-dimensional elements has become a pivotal aspect of creating visually engaging and dynamic online experiences. By introducing shades and textures to features like dynamic text, interactive scrolling, and images, designers add depth and realism, transcending the traditional two-dimensional confines.

One popular application of 3D design on websites is its utilization to draw attention to specific elements such as words, images, or key features. This technique serves as a strategic means to highlight calls to action, spotlight important details, and enhance overall user engagement. The dynamic nature of 3D design brings a sense of vitality and interactivity, contributing to a more immersive digital environment.

A compelling example showcasing the power of 3D web design is evident in the innovative approach adopted by Dala Website, a groundbreaking AI search tool. The entire website serves as a captivating three-dimensional space, inviting users to explore various sections in a manner that transcends traditional navigation. This unique and immersive design not only captures attention but also provides an enriching and interactive experience for visitors.

Thanks to the Dark Mode Toggle, using just one mouse click, visitors of the website can effortlessly transition from light mode to the dark one. The purpose of this addition is to improve browsing, particularly at night or in dimly lit areas, by offering a more pleasant and visually appealing light and colors of the screen.

Usually, the case is that you want to create a darker theme because you currently have a light one. Or perhaps you are about to create a website for your company, so you need to consider including both themes from the start. One theme needs to be specified as the standard one, which visitors see when they first come to the website, which is typically the light theme. A button for switching the themes should be easy to detect and click. Made in Evolve Website offers a dark mode toggle, allowing users to switch between light and dark themes. This feature is not only aesthetically pleasing but also reduces eye strain, especially in low-light environments.

The criteria of your project will determine the “correct” approach. For instance, you might use CSS attributes if you are working on a big endeavor. However, if your project must support older browser versions, a different strategy will have to be used.

Overall, it all depends on your audience and the peculiarities of your product. There are situations when using a mix of techniques will provide the best results.

Web designs are constantly changing, the same as any other digital invention. The desires and tastes of the audience, along with aspects of society and modern technology, all have an impact on them.

The entire process of creating a professionally designed website involves several steps, and the above-mentioned ones are only a few of the current innovations. As a result, the website design agency you choose to deal with needs to be entirely acquainted with the nuances of both online design and marketing as well as website development.

Top 8 Web Design Trends of 2024

Rich Media banners are interactive and animated ad formats that stand out compared to traditional static ads. They engage users through motion, sound, video, and gamification. Instead of simply displaying a message, they create a small interactive experience that builds emotions and strengthens brand recall.

Over the years, we have developed thousands of Rich Media banners for a wide range of brands and campaigns, exploring various formats from 3D animations to chat-based interactions.

Rich Media is more than advertising — it’s storytelling and interactive brand experiences packed into a banner. These formats:

Having produced thousands of such banners, we’ve seen first-hand that Rich Media is one of the most effective tools in digital marketing. It turns ads into creative micro-platforms, making brand communication engaging and modern.

Cubes, cylinders, and other geometric shapes that animate automatically or can be rotated by user interaction (click, swipe, mouse movement). A powerful way to showcase products from different angles with a “wow” effect.

3D Banners

Embedded videos within an iFrame or full-screen view. They work like a mini-cinema right inside the banner — no need to leave the page to watch.

Video Banners

Small branded games such as shell games, Pac-Man–style chases, or catching items in a basket. Gamification keeps users engaged longer and associates the brand with fun.

Game Banners

Timers counting down to an important event: store opening, new smartphone pre-order, or launch of a sale. This creates urgency and boosts conversion.

Countdowns

Seamless loop animations that subtly attract attention. A simple yet effective way to stand out compared to static formats.

Animated Banners

A built-in mini chat where users choose answers and continue the dialogue. Perfect for personalized product suggestions and interactive storytelling.

Chat Banners (Chatboxes)

A small element expands into a full-screen immersive banner — often a video or dynamic animation. Maximum impact with complete user focus.

Full-Screen or floating 

For example, a delivery scooter riding across the bottom of the screen or a product flying through the page. Playful formats that make brands memorable.

Rich Media Banners

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