Psychotherapy is the application of mental techniques, especially when geared toward improving specific problem solving skills, to assist a person change behaviour, improve satisfaction with life, and overcome dysfunctional difficulties. Psychotherapy and counseling are considered to be an essential component in mental health care. According to the American Psychological Association, “The effective treatment of mental disorders relies on the collaboration between the patient and his/her psychotherapist or counselor.” In general, professional psychotherapy and counseling are provided by qualified professionals in a health care setting. Counselors are expected to be skilled in communication and psychology.
When a person is suffering from a mental disorder, it can be overwhelming and can cause significant disruptions in the lives of the patient and those that he/she is interacting with. When a therapist asks you to participate in psychotherapy sessions, he/she will try to help you to understand your own thoughts and feelings, as well as those of others. In turn, you will need to work at changing your own thought processes in order to cope with the situations you find yourself facing in your everyday life. If psychotherapy does not include a structured plan for you to follow, you may find that it is very difficult to cope or you may not get the desired results.
Although there are many different kinds of psychotherapy available today, the most common types include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), interpersonal therapy, and psychodynamic therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy is often used to treat disorders like depression and anxiety. CBT requires the therapist and the patient to confront and challenge both their negative and positive thinking patterns. Interpersonal therapy sessions allow the therapist to coach you to talk in a manner that is appropriate to you and your situation. Psychodynamic therapy is often used to treat disorders like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Psychotherapists are licensed and trained psychologists. They usually work in private practice, but there are some who work in hospitals and clinics. Some psychologists also attend therapy sessions in private, but most work in group settings. Their job is to provide the support and treatment needed by clients with mental health issues. Most psychologists have doctoral degrees and are affiliated with mental health counseling associations.
When a psychologist helps you to change your beliefs and behaviors, you will need to regularly schedule psychotherapy sessions. This will be a time for the psychologist to talk to you about your feelings and ways to cope with them. In the therapy sessions, the therapist will teach you how to deal with problems in your life by changing your beliefs and behaviors and replace them with new ones that make you feel better.
In addition to psychotherapy, you may also need help to manage your depression. If you suffer from depression, then you probably already know that it can make you feel miserable and empty. Fortunately, depression can be treated. Your depression therapist will teach you how to live with and cope with your depression. They will teach you how to read your body, what foods trigger your depression symptoms and how to prevent those triggers.
Because psychotherapy has been proven to be effective in treating long-term feelings and behaviors, it has been used as a long-term treatment option for mental health problems for decades. Many clinical studies show that psychotherapy works well for chronic pain, weight problems, sleep problems and feelings of depression or anxiety. It may take several months or years for these changes to become noticeable, depending on the severity of your disorder. Sometimes they will not show up right away, while at other times they will make an impact over the course of many years. However, you may feel healthier, stronger and more able to care for yourself after completing psychotherapy treatment.
If you suffer from one or more of the disorders psychotherapy has been proven to be effective for, your next step is to find a qualified therapist who specializes in the disorder. While there are many psychotherapists to choose from, not all therapists are trained in all areas of psychology. In most cases, you will need to choose anapist who specializes in your field of psychiatric disorder.
