What is Psychotherapy?
Psychotherapy is the process of treating the root cause of a negative behavioural pattern using various psychological tools. It raises self-awareness and provides "insight" into behaviours that may be physically or emotionally harmful or self-destructive. A qualified psychotherapist is responsible for helping their clients unravel the root of the problem they are experiencing by encouraging them to open up their thoughts and feelings.
As an expert in human emotions, a psychotherapist listens, analyses and imparts their knowledge in a non-judgemental way to help the client face up to deep-rooted behaviour patterns that no longer serve them. That way, they can unchain themselves from the pains of their past and move forward with their life.
How Does Psychotherapy Work?
The direction a psychotherapy session takes depends on where the client wants to go. No two treatments are ever alike because everyone's issues are unique. A psychotherapist employs a variety of approaches to get to the root of a problem, including:
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy focuses on changing undesirable thoughts and behaviours into positive ones. Facilitating this change helps a client respond to situations in their life more positively and peacefully.
Educational Psychology
This type of psychotherapy aims to improve the learning process of an individual in various settings such as school, work and community, among many others. It provides different coping mechanisms to help one deal more effectively with their learning difficulties.
Interpersonal Therapy
Designed to improve the quality of a person's relationship with others, this approach provides helpful communication tools and strategies which a client can use to balance their emotions and be able to express themselves more calmly.
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
This type of therapy helps a person resolve problematic behaviours or habits that affect the choices they make and the people around them. A psychotherapist guides the client into their subconscious mind to identify the root cause of these behaviours and make the necessary changes.
Relationship Counselling
This type of talk therapy helps married couples or romantic partners improve their relationship. This counselling approach allows each party to explore their behaviours and what needs to be changed to improve the way they treat their significant other.
Group Therapy
Under the facilitation of a therapist, a group of people facing the same problem and aiming for a common goal, talk about their struggles and receive feedback from other members in the group. This approach is commonly used for addressing addictions and other behavioural issues.
Family Therapy
This type of therapy aims to bring love and respect back into a family unit. It helps family members improve their communication and listening skills so that they can express their concerns and respond to others in a calm and loving manner.
In some cases, listening devices are used to break old patterns such as the Biofeedback Technique. Psychological Testing can also be used, and in extreme cases, medication is prescribed. Mostly, however, Psychotherapy is purely creating change by talking through problems and issues.
What are the Benefits of Psychotherapy?
Everyone can benefit from understanding more about their life, and what factors have been influencing the choices that they've made in the past. This eye-opener can lead to a host of benefits including:
- Self-confidence and self-awareness
- Better communication skills
- Improved health and wellness
- A loving relationship with family members
- Less stress and anxiety
- Healthier behavioural patterns
- Better sleep quality
- Satisfying relationships with friends and colleagues
- Improved empathetic skills
- Eliminates addiction
What Can You Expect from a Psychotherapy Session?
Psychotherapy is a non-pharmacological therapy, so it doesn't involve the use of medications. It's a talking treatment, with each session carefully tailored to suit a client's specific needs.
Most people undergoing psychotherapy would see their psychotherapist once or twice each week. The number of sessions a client has to attend depends on the depth of their problem. Some would see results after a couple of months, while it takes others years.
A psychotherapy session may be held one-on-one or in groups depending on the client's preference. There are also online psychotherapy for people who needs more privacy.
Is Psychotherapy Safe?
Psychotherapy is a holistic, safe and effective treatment for a range of mental and emotional health issues. While other treatments involve the use of antidepressants and other medications to relieve unpleasant feelings, psychotherapy takes you to the root of the problem so that you can resolve it then and there.
