Psychotherapy as a word on its own often conjures images of old antiquated asylums with doctors performing strange experimental treatments on catatonic patients. But in reality, psychotherapy is a common treatment for people suffering from a range of conditions or even just having certain symptoms. Psychotherapy is really just another name for therapy through talking. Let’s dive into some of the greatest benefits of undergoing psychotherapy.
Who Can Psychotherapy Help?
Psychotherapy is one of the most prescribed treatments for clinical depression, but the list doesn’t stop there. Even if someone hasn’t been diagnosed with a formal disorder and simply has symptoms such as feeling helpless, difficulty paying attention, or constant worrying and obsession with failure, talking it out with a licensed psychotherapist can help.
Types of Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy can be a many-headed beast to tackle, depending on the stress and feelings a person may be dealing with. For example, an individual may benefit from seeing a therapist alone, with their family or loved ones, or a combination of both. Taking a look at a person’s behaviours, actions, and thoughts may not be as simple as just taking one session of therapy either. In addition to your therapist, a doctor, nurse, or psychologist may be treating you as well. You might end up taking medication to improve yourself concurrent with psychotherapy. When it comes to certain situations, it may work best to involve family or spouses together to help one individual or to help improve family dynamics and relationships as a whole.
Psychotherapy can also be useful when done in a group setting, where you can share your thoughts and feelings with a group of others who have had similar experiences or are dealing with similar issues as you, along with a therapist. Seeing others dealing with their own struggles can help you both relate to them, and put your own issues into a new perspective. Some people have trouble being open to group therapy, but it is one of the many effective methods of psychotherapy commonly used today.
How is Psychotherapy Different?
Psychotherapy, as opposed to other treatments or medication, is extremely useful for targeting specific issues or disorders. It could be a fear or phobia related condition, which medication may have no effect on. Or it might be past events from your life or from your childhood causing adverse behaviours or effects that simply need to be talked about or put into perspective. This specific and directed therapy has proven beneficial to many in the past.
Is Psychotherapy Right For You?
Psychotherapy, in the end, is a form of treatment that you can try out or be recommended for. If you don’t see results immediately don’t be discouraged, it can take time to see results and you may consider another therapist if you feel it is a missed connection between you and the professional. In the end, give it a chance and you will likely see some great results and make great progress.
