The COVID-19 pandemic has been a collectively traumatic event, profoundly altering the psychological balance of the world's population. Its consequences have manifested themselves in a wide range of emotional and behavioral reactions: anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, feelings of loneliness, irritability, and, in the most severe cases, symptoms of post-traumatic stress. Beyond the purely clinical symptoms, what the pandemic has truly shaken is the very perception of safety, continuity, and control, which individuals have found themselves questioning. The prolonged period of uncertainty, the constant fear of contagion, and the invisible threat of the virus have triggered a state of prolonged alert, a "background anxiety" that has affected the nervous system and the collective unconscious. The mind, deprived of fixed points and routine, has had to redefine its reality boundaries, often oscillating between denial, hypervigilance, and emotional withdrawal. In this sense, the lockdown was not only a physical confinement, but also a psychological one: many people experienced inner isolation, a detachment from the world and from themselves, with difficulty making sense of time and events. The real or symbolic loss of loved ones, freedom, projects, and prospects generated a widespread sense of grief and vulnerability. Repressed emotions, such as fear and anger, found expression in psychosomatic disorders or a general sense of existential weariness. At the same time, constant exposure to dramatic news amplified the perception of helplessness and instability, contributing to a state of "pandemic stress" that affected every age group, albeit in different ways. However, for some individuals, this global crisis also represented an opportunity for introspection and redefinition of personal values. The obligation to pause made the gap between what one did and what one truly desired more evident, leading some to rediscover often-overlooked inner dimensions. In this sense, the pandemic has not only destroyed existing balances, but also revealed how fragile and potentially transformable they were. Within this context, a study is being conducted on the effectiveness of interventions conducted at the Primary Care Psychology Clinic of the ASST of Lodi using funding from the Wellbeing Fund.

Ivana Cacciatori is a distinguished clinical psychologist and Adlerian psychotherapist currently serving as the head of the USSD clinical psychology department at ASST of Lodi, Italy. She holds a master’s degree in legal psychology and psychopathology of criminal conduct from the department of psychology, University of Parma. She was appointed Equality Councilor for the Province of Lodi by Ministerial Decree No. 212 on October 29, 2021, and previously served as a counselor for the Lodi Consortium for Personal Services. Her work is deeply rooted in advancing psychological well-being, ethical practices, and gender equality. In academia, she has contributed extensively as a contract professor in the degree course in nursing sciences, teaching courses in clinical psychology, applied psychology, developmental and educational psychology, and clinical nursing in neuropsychic disability. Her teaching appointments span from 2012 to the ongoing academic year 2025, at both first and second-year levels. She is actively involved in scientific research focused on occupational well-being within the healthcare sector. She has collaborated with the department of work and organizational psychology, University of Pavia, under the leadership of Prof. Piergiorgio Argentero. Notably, she was a scientific partner in a regional research project (2014) evaluating the relationship between healthcare provider well-being and user satisfaction, approved by the Ethics Committee of Cremona-Mantova-Lodi (Protocol No. 10444/2014ps). She has since led multiple scientific research initiatives (2020–2021) evaluating occupational well-being at ASST Lodi, in collaboration with the University of Pavia. Currently, she participates in the National Research Project REWIRE, in partnership with the University of Bologna (Company Resolution No. 689, dated May 8, 2025). Additionally, she serves as a member of the practical evaluation commission for qualification tests at San Raffaele University of Milan, reflecting her ongoing commitment to the development of future healthcare professionals. Her career exemplifies a harmonious integration of clinical practice, academic instruction, scientific research, and public service, making her a respected figure in the field of psychology and mental health.