Psychotherapy refers to the treatment of psychological distress and mental health issues through the use of verbal and psychological techniques.
Psychotherapy may be an effective therapy choice for a range of psychological problems. You don’t have to wait until your life becomes so overwhelming that you can’t cope to ask for help. The sooner you reach out, the sooner you can get the help you need for a healthier and happier lifestyle.
In this process, a qualified psychotherapist helps the client address a specific problem by communicating and creating dialogue, and working to overcome problematic thoughts or behaviours.
If you want to start therapy consider the following issues:
- Clinical assessment is mandatory before starting psychotherapy to get a comprehensive view of the condition that is the first step to creating an effective management plan.
- Seek out someone qualified. People who could offer psychotherapy can hold a number of various titles or degrees. Some of the individuals who are qualified for psychotherapy include psychiatrists, psychologists and counsellors.
- When choosing a therapist, think whether you feel at ease disclosing personal information to the therapist. You should also assess the therapist’s qualifications, including the type of degree they hold and years of experience. Recommendations from friends and family can sometimes be a great way to contact a therapist who can help but sometimes it could be wrong. Clinical assessment could help you to define the type of therapy and therapist.
- Your symptoms should be part of the treatment and therapist you choose. Sever symptoms needs medication. For instance, if the best treatment for you would require prescription drugs, consulting a psychiatrist might be beneficial. If you would most benefit from some form of talk therapy without the addition of prescription drugs, you might go to a clinical psychologist or counselor.
- During the initial psychotherapy session, the therapist usually collects information about you and your needs. Your therapist will ask about your present and past physical and emotional condition. Your therapist may need several sessions to fully understand your situation and decide the best approach for your condition.
- Before you start therapy ask your therapist about the therapy:
- What type of therapy will be used
- The goals of your treatment
- The length of each session
- How many therapy sessions do you need?
- Don’t hesitate to ask questions anytime during your appointment. If you are uncomfortable with the first therapist you see, try somebody else. Having a good fit with your therapist is essential to make psychotherapy work.
- You’ll likely meet in your therapist’s clinic once a week or every other week.
Types of psychotherapy:
There are a number of effective ways to deliver psychotherapy. Some of them are more effective than others for treating certain disorders and conditions. Therapists often resort to a combination of techniques. Your therapist will take into account your specific situation and preferences to determine what approach might be best for you.
Although there are many types of therapies, some psychotherapy techniques have been shown to work:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which helps you identify unhealthy, negative beliefs and behaviors and replace them with healthy, positive ones
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, a type of CBT that teaches behavioral skills to help you handle stress, manage your emotions and improve your relationships with others.
- Acceptance and commitment therapy, which helps you become aware of and accept your thoughts and feelings and commit to making changes, increasing your ability to cope with and adjust to situations
- Psychodynamic and psychoanalytical therapies, which aim to increase your awareness of unconscious thoughts and behaviors, develop new ideas about your motivations and solve conflicts.
- Interpersonal psychotherapy, which focuses on addressing problems with your current relationships with other people to improve your interpersonal skills ,how you relate to others, such as family, friends and colleagues
- Supportive psychotherapy, which reinforces your ability to cope with stress and difficult situations
- Art therapy , which uses of creative techniques for self expression and resolve internal conflicts.
- EMDR, Which has a direct effect on the way that the brain processes traumatic memories
Psychotherapy is available in various forms, including individual, couple, family or group sessions, and can be effective for all age groups.
During psychotherapy
For most kinds of psychotherapy, your therapist encourages you to talk about your thoughts and feelings and what’s bothering you. Don’t worry if you’re struggling to talk about your feelings. Your therapist can help you gain more confidence and comfort along the way.
Because psychotherapy sometimes involves intense emotional discussions, you may end up crying, feeling upset or even feeling angry during a session. Some people may experience physical exhaustion after a session. Your therapist is there to help you address these feelings and emotions.
Your therapist may ask you to do “homework” activities or practices that build on what you learn during your regular therapy sessions. Over time, talking about your concerns can help you improve your mood, change the way you think and feel, and improve your ability to handle problems.
Length of psychotherapy:
The number of psychotherapy sessions you need ,as well as how frequently you need to see your therapist ,depends on such factors as:
- Your mental illness or specific situation.
- The seriousness of your symptoms.
- How long you’ve had symptoms or have been dealing with your situation
- How quickly you make progress
- How much stress you’re experiencing
- How much your mental health concerns interfere with day-to-day life
- How much support you receive from family members and others
It may take only weeks to help you cope with a short-term situation. Or, treatment may take a year or more if you have a long-term mental illness or other long-term problems.
Make best use of psychotherapy:
- Make sure you feel comfortable dealing with your therapist. If this is not the case, seek out another therapist you feel more comfortable with.
- Think about therapy as a partnership. Therapy is most effective when you are an active participant and part of decision-making. Make sure you and your therapist agree about the major issues and how to tackle them. Together, you can set objectives and track progress over time.
- Be open and honest. Success depends on readiness to share your thoughts, feelings and experiences, and to consider new insights, ideas and ways of doing things. If you’re reluctant to talk about certain issues because of painful emotions, embarrassment or fears about your therapist’s reaction, let your therapist know.
- Continue with your treatment plan. If you are depressed or have a lack of motivation, it can be tempting to skip psychotherapy sessions. It may interfere with your progress. Try to attend all sessions and to give some thought to what you want to discuss.
- D should not expect instant results. Working on emotional issues can be painful and may require hard work. You may need several sessions before you begin to see improvement.
- Do your homework between sessions. If your therapist asks you to document your thoughts in a journal or do other activities outside of your therapy sessions, follow through. These homework assignments can help you apply what you’ve learned in the therapy sessions to your life.
- If you don’t feel that you’re benefiting from therapy after several sessions, talk to your therapist about it. You and your therapist may decide to make some changes or try a different approach that may be more effective.
- -Don’t be afraid of trying various therapists. Psychotherapy is an art and a science at the same time. If your sessions do not feel useful or if you do not seem to “click” with your current therapist, it is OK to try therapy with someone else. Keep searching until you find a professional that you feel comfortable with.