Mental health has come forward as one of the most prevalent health concerns, affecting a large percentage of the global population. The stigma that surrounds the subject of mental health and people struggling with psychological distress has made it important to shed light on all possible effective therapeutic solutions.
Emotional trauma is more common than one might assume, and it can have a tremendous impact on an individual’s life. Not being able to share and resolve their mental distress leaves people feeling caged within their own minds. If you have been struggling with mental health issues, the first step is to understand that you are not alone. There are people out there who care about your mental health and want you to get better.
Counseling Dublin City Centre provides the remedy clinic facilitating effective and affordable psychotherapy and counseling services in a safe and comfortable environment. They have dedicated and experienced wellness and mental health professionals who are focused on helping every client to live up to their best potential.
What Is Psychotherapy?
Psychotherapy, also referred to as talk therapy, is a collective treatment procedure for resolving mental health problems through the implementation of scientifically validated psychological and verbal techniques. Psychotherapy provides a positive and supportive environment where the mental health professional and the client work together to identify and challenge the problematic thoughts and behavioral patterns that are affecting the emotional wellbeing of the person.
Psychotherapy can help control or eliminate distressing symptoms so that the individual can function normally and increase healing and wellbeing. Issues that might be resolved in a psychotherapy session include challenges in coping with everyday life, medical illness or loss, dealing with the impact of trauma, specific mental illnesses, such as anxiety and depression, and dealing with the death of a loved one. It can also help in conditions like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and drug addiction.
What Are Therapy Sessions Like?
Therapy might be conducted in an individual, group, couple, or family setting and can help both adults and children. Psychotherapy or counseling sessions are usually held for about 30 to 50 minutes once a week. Both the therapist and the patient are actively involved in the process of psychotherapy. The trust and connection between the individual and his/her psychotherapist are critical for the sessions to work effectively and for the person to benefit from the experience.
Psychotherapy may be short-term, involving only a few sessions, or long-term, dealing with complicated problems. The objectives of the therapy sessions, as well as the arrangements for how long and how often to meet, are decided collectively by the therapist and patient. Confidentiality is a critical aspect of psychotherapy. Also, while patients share private thoughts and personal feelings, intimate physical contact with the therapist is never acceptable.
What Are the Types of Psychotherapy?
There is a wide range of therapeutic approaches that exist in the practice of psychotherapy. Each particular approach or methodology serves as the roadmap for mental health professionals. It guides them through the process of understanding their patients, their struggles and develops appropriate solutions to work through them.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
The cognitive approach is based on the idea that dysfunctional thought patterns are responsible for problematic behaviors. By challenging and altering these thoughts, an individual can change what they do and how they feel. Cognitive-behavioral therapy helps people identify and change behavioral and thinking patterns that are ineffective or harmful, replacing them with more functional and rational behaviors.
Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)
IPT is a brief treatment that helps people understand the underlying interpersonal conflicts that are dysfunctional. It is used to resolve issues like unresolved grief, conflicts with partners, changes in social or work life, and any other issues connected to others. It can help people develop healthier ways to express their emotions and improve their communication skills. It is also a common approach used in the case of depression.
Psychodynamic and Psychoanalysis Therapies
These approaches are targeted to change dysfunctional behaviors, thoughts, and emotions by uncovering their motivations and unconscious meanings. Psychoanalytically motivated therapies depend on a close working relationship between the patient and therapist. Over the course of psychotherapy, patients get to explore their interactions. The goal is to improve the patient’s self-awareness and to transform old and dysfunctional patterns of thoughts and behavior.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) treatment is a specific type of cognitive behavior therapy that is used to regulate emotions. The primary objective is to equip people with the skills they need to manage their emotions, improve relationships, handle stress in a functional manner, and live mindfully. Originally created to treat individuals with borderline personality disorder DBT is now used to treat numerous mental conditions and is considered to be effective for people dealing with intense and uncontrollable negative emotions.
Supportive Therapy
Supportive therapy uses encouragement and guidance to help individuals work on their own resources. It helps lower anxiety, build self-esteem, improve social functioning, and strengthen coping mechanisms. Supportive therapy enables people to manage problems associated with their mental health conditions which consequently have an impact on their lives.
There are several different types of psychotherapy that is offered by different therapists in different situations. The choice of therapy depends on the specific circumstances and the particular mental illness of the patient as well as their preference. The psychotherapist may also use an integrated approach by combining certain elements from different approaches to design an optimally effective treatment for the patient.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this article gave you some insight into psychotherapy and how it may benefit you. If you want professional help to manage your depression, anxiety, or any other mental health condition, remember that you are not alone. The world of psychotherapy might seem confusing and vast to someone new. Use this guide to familiarize yourself with the different types of psychotherapy and surround yourself with the help that you really need.