What is Psychotherapy?

There might be times when you need a course of treatment to deal with depression, anxiety, eating disorders, phobias, or substance abuse. Psychotherapy is the treatment of mental and emotional disturbances and disorders.

Psychotherapy may last for just a few sessions, or treatment may last for several years, depending on your needs. Don’t worry, you will have complete support during this period for however long it takes. You can be sure that there is a way out. Therapy may involve just one individual at a time or a group. Depending on your needs, psychotherapy may be used alone or in conjunction with other therapies and treatment methods.

How does Psychotherapy work?

Unlike some other therapies, psychotherapy makes use of conversations. It does not include drug therapy or other physiological treatment methods but uses “talk” to help deal with distress and traumas.

Research shows that most people who receive psychotherapy experience symptom relief and are better able to function in their lives. About 75 percent of people who enter psychotherapy show some benefit from it. Psychotherapy has been shown to improve emotions and behaviours and to be linked with positive changes in the brain and body. The benefits also include fewer sick days, fewer medical problems, and increased work satisfaction.

With the use of brain imaging techniques researchers have been able to see changes in the brain after a person has undergone psychotherapy. Numerous studies have identified brain changes in people with mental illness (including depression, panic disorder, PTSD and other conditions) as a result of undergoing psychotherapy. In most cases, the brain changes resulting from psychotherapy were similar to changes resulting from medication.

An individual seeking psychotherapy will usually meet with his or her chosen therapist for a period of days, weeks, months, or years. The treatment methods used vary with each therapist. To get the most out of psychotherapy, approach the therapy as a collaborative effort, be open and honest, and follow your agreed-upon plan for treatment. You also need to follow through with any assignments between sessions, such as writing in a journal or practising what you’ve talked about.

Is Psychotherapy for me?

You decide. Globally, a great number of psychotherapists take an eclectic approach to treatment, combining different methods and techniques, to make sure that they give you the best. Often, this approach allows therapists to tailor treatment methods to the needs and personalities of their clients.

Sometimes psychotherapy is used to treat more than one person at a time. In such cases, methods effective in group, family, and couple's therapy may be employed. At times, a therapist may choose to meet with group therapy patients individually, as well as in the group setting.