A Psychotherapist Offers Helpful Treatment Options

By Harriett Crosby


The role of a psychotherapist is to help cure individuals who are afflicted with specific mental or emotional conditions. In other cases, such individuals teach the aforementioned patients to successfully manage their lives regardless of their disorder or condition. The primary objective is to assist clients to maintain a high quality of life. In addition, the therapy typically involves helping the person to reach a balanced and positive mental state. The majority of psychotherapy programs revolve around behavioral therapy and counseling, and center on effective communication regarding feelings and ideas.

Certain psychotherapists attempt to create more efficient communication channels between themselves and their patience who find verbal expression challenging. When this is the case, nonverbal communication methods are often used. In most clinical practices, basic plans center on two types of therapy: cognitive behavioral techniques and psychodynamics.

Reputable therapists with the appropriate skills typically aim to evaluate the psychological issues of their clients and tailor the therapy to those needs. They understand that subconscious resistance must be broken down in order for the patient to experience the full benefits of the therapy. When the client learns to change his or her behaviors and thought patterns, he or she can work on becoming whole.

Psychotherapy addresses a broad range of emotional conditions and mental illnesses. These include bipolar disorder, panic attacks, irrational fears and phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder, posttraumatic stress syndrome, depression, and schizophrenia. Treatment of this kind may also benefit those diagnosed with a condition called borderline personality disorder.

Understanding that more than one session will be necessary is essential. To experience initial benefits from such treatment, one must typically attend a minimum of 12 sessions. This is because it is necessary for a person to open up to the therapist in order for positive changes to be experienced, and this is unlikely to happen after a solitary session.

Although there is no specific time frame associated with such therapy, twenty sessions are generally necessary prior to the treatment offering major beneficial results. If there is no notable change by that time, other options should be pursued. The latter may include the use of medication or extensive behavioral therapy programs. Most therapists will make further recommendations if traditional methods do not provide satisfactory results.

The facet of psychotherapy that focuses on behavior and habits frequently calls for the patient to participate in exercises, both at home between sessions and in the office of the practitioner. Examples of such exercises are relaxing activities such as breathing techniques or visualization. Emotional disorders must be faced a little at a time in order to help the patient to gain freedom from the issues that are interfering with his or her ability to live a positive, happy life.

When the patient starts to feel better and more positive about his or her life, the psychotherapist will typically recommend that the sessions commence. How and when this is done will vary substantially from one individual to the next. If a relapse occurs in the future, a short series of therapy sessions is usually helpful with regard to getting the patient back on track. Those who feel overwhelmed by mental or emotional problems should seek therapy as soon as possible.




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