When people hear What is psychotherapy?, many imagine a scene where someone stretches out on a couch, talks about their childhood, and gives a therapist insight. So what exactly is psychotherapy, and what is it not? Psychotherapy is the process of safely revealing your emotions, thoughts, beliefs about yourself and others, and your personal experience with the help of a trained specialist. It is talk therapy. Psychotherapy aims to help you understand the challenges or problems you face, increase your motivation to change your thoughts and behaviors, and find appropriate ways to make those changes.
What Are The Features That Distinguish Psychotherapy From Other Treatments?
The relationship between the therapist and the client is a professional, client-focused, ethical, and therapeutic relationship. The therapist does not criticize you, make judgments, or give advice. This psychotherapy treatment helps you carry out your own functions. By working together to reach the targeted changes, it enables an exchange by using knowledge and experience. Thus, the therapist does not directly place you at your goal; on this journey, the psychotherapist simply accompanies you.
When Is Psychotherapy Needed?
Psychotherapy methods are used all over the world for psychiatric problems such as depression and anxiety disorders (obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder).
In addition;
- If you feel unhappiness, hopelessness, and inadequacy,
- If you have emotional difficulties and anxiety and fear negatively affect your life,
- If your behaviors have started to harm you or other people,
- If you are in conflict with your family because of the emotional difficulties you are experiencing,
- If you have concerns about the effectiveness of your functioning, psychotherapy is recommended.
Who Is A Psychotherapist?
A psychotherapist is a psychologist or psychiatrist working in this field. Today, when psychotherapy is mentioned, various professional groups or practices are also referred to (life coaching, counseling, etc.). However, the only professional group that can provide therapy is those who have completed psychology or psychiatry training. In addition, because a psychotherapist (clinical psychologist or psychiatrist) goes through a long and deep learning process, they can carry out a broader scope of work for clients. At this stage, psychotherapy is distinguished from “counseling.”
What Awaits You During Therapy?
In the first session, the therapist tries to get to know you and understand the reason for your visit. They get to know you by asking various questions and using tests. In light of this information, a treatment plan is created. Since every person is different, the content of the following sessions will vary depending on the individual. Your psychotherapist supports you in sharing and exploring your feelings and experiences, and encourages you for success. What are the commonly used psychotherapy methods?
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Focuses on the effects of our unhealthy and negative thoughts on our emotions and behaviors. It aims to systematically examine these thoughts and adopt healthy and positive ideas. It is important for gaining skills such as self-confidence. Breathing exercises and emotion techniques are used during applications. Homework has an important place in this method where both the client and therapist are active. This is a solution-focused and short-term approach.
Gestalt Therapy: This therapy method, which gives importance to the concept of now and here, works with the senses and body language that engages the client’s awareness. It argues that change occurs through awareness. This action-focused method can be applied individually or with a group.
Psychoanalysis And Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy: States that unconscious processes affect human behavior and that emerging problems stem from childhood experiences. The aim of this approach, which uses methods such as free association, analysis, and interpretation of dreams, is to help the client understand themselves. Therapeutic sessions are frequent and long-term studies.
Family Therapy: Its focus is understanding the interaction between family members and couples, solving problems, and improving communication with one another.
Play Therapy: It is designed to understand a child’s problems, reveal their feelings and views, and find solutions. It is frequently used for concerns such as anxiety, fear, obsessions, self-confidence, shyness, impulsivity, aggression, school adjustment problems, behavioral problems, sleep problems, eating issues, and toilet problems.
Psychodrama: It helps people see their past and present problems and conflicts, future expectations, anxieties, and difficulties in a dramatic way, and improves their skills in overcoming difficulties. As a primary activity, psychodrama helps people become gentle, flexible, free, empathetic, and responsible. It generally helps people gain social skills. It can be applied in groups.
How Is Psychotherapy Applied? If you would like to get information about it, you can click the relevant link.
