Nowadays, there are numerous methods of treatment and therapies, thanks to technological advancements in the medical field. However, psychotherapy is still one of the most effective ways known because of the emotional and mental support it gives its patients. Mental health problems are an underrated issue that only psychotherapy can address.

Psychotherapy And What It Means

The field of psychotherapy offers a range of methods that can help patients who have psychiatric disorders, difficulty in handling emotions, and mental health issues. It encourages being in touch with one’s feelings to be able to understand and cope with what they’re going through.

Psychotherapy is also known as “talk therapy” because that’s what happens in all consultations. A patient speaks about something that they’re going through, which can sometimes hinder them from functioning normally, and a psychotherapist makes use of the information to determine the proper approach. 

Unfortunately, society sees psychotherapy as taboo, which is why people think twice before consulting a specialist. In an article published by Web MD, psychotherapy is one of the main approaches to treat bipolar disorder. 

What Can You Expect In Psychotherapy?

As mentioned earlier, psychotherapy is a talking therapy because specialists see the value in voicing out your emotions rather than or before prescribing medications. 

Sessions last depending on the patient’s status. It can last for a few weeks, while others take up to months or years. According to a study conducted by Bruijniks et al., patients who religiously attend psychotherapy sessions and exert effort in treatment show promising and positive outcomes.

The Advantages Of Consulting A Psychotherapist

People need to know about how consultations can help with several problems and issues. Below are some emotions and feelings that psychotherapy helps address:

• Unending worry about unnecessary things, people, or situations.
• There is a constant feeling of never being able to do anything right.
• A pessimistic outlook wherein patients think the situation or person never changes or improves, even with help from loved ones.
• They can't face and solve everyday inconveniences.
• They are having a hard time focusing on tasks, work, or school.
• Depression.
• There is excessive alcohol or medication intake.
• Drug addiction.
• Being increasingly aggressive that ultimately does harm to both the patient and the people around him/her.

Overall, there are numerous mental and emotional health issues. But psychotherapy can be the tool to understand and uncover the reasons behind the uncontrollable outbursts and emotions.

Different Approaches In Psychotherapy

Before the therapist can finalize on which approach to take, a patient must first express and talk about what’s bothering them no matter how complicated it might seem. Although there are many approaches, the four most common are cognitive-behavioral, humanistic, psychodynamic, and behavioral.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

This type of therapy lets patients identify and learn more about the patterns and habits that negatively affect them. It is a short-term therapy that recognizes the beliefs and feelings that the person has toward himself/herself. The therapist sees these emotions as the reason why a patient experiences stress in the first place.

Humanistic Therapy

This type focuses more on the patient’s ability to decide for himself. The goal of the approach is to let a person have a better understanding of their personal experiences and, at the same time, let the therapist guide him/her to interpret their feelings on their own. Sessions consist mostly of patients being allowed to be themselves fully, and toward the end of therapy, they will be able to practice self-acceptance.

Psychodynamic Therapy

This therapy came from one of the most popular and well-known approaches known as psychoanalysis. This type of treatment lets the therapist know about how a patient’s actions came to be according to their dreams, thoughts, and behavior. Relationships may also be a part of the evaluation if needed. Sessions may take years, depending on the severity of the situation and the connection between the unconscious mind and a patient’s actions.

Behavioral Therapy

From the word itself, behavioral therapy tackles the development of a person’s behavior based on what happened in the past. Unlike other treatments, this type of approach looks for ways that a patient can change their behavioral patterns by doing different methods.

Will It Work?

Yes. Studies show that psychotherapy can help reduce symptoms of mental health issues. Also, using psychotherapy can help specialists know what kind of therapy suits the patient overall. Psychotherapy can be a critical part of someone’s road to recovery.

Conclusion

Most of the time, therapies work not because a specialist has the skills or experience. Instead, it is a combination of both the patient and the expert’s efforts. Please continue to help yourself, and the results will be worth it in the long run.

Citations:

Brazier, Y. (2009, July 4). What Is Psychotherapy? Retrieved February 20, 2020, from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156433

Psychotherapy: The Four Main Approaches. (2018, September 4). Retrieved from https://shinwellness.com/psychotherapy-the-four-main-approaches/

Raypole, C. (2019, March 1). A Guide To Different Types Of Therapy. Retrieved February 20, 2020, from https://www.healthline.com/health/types-of-therapy