Verified By Dr Namita Singh November 27, 2021
3210Mental disorders are medical conditions that affect an individuals’ mood, thinking, and behaviours. Other than medication, Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, uses psychological methods to treat mental problems and is usually carried out by a psychiatrist, psychologist, or other qualified mental health professionals. The methods primarily focus on regular personal interaction to understand your behaviours to help you function better and increase your well-being by making changes to behaviours.
During a psychotherapy session, you will understand your moods, feelings, thoughts, and behaviour, which will help you take control of your emotions and life to better respond to challenging situations and develop healthy coping techniques and skills.
There are different types of psychotherapy, and each one has its own approach. The type of therapy adopted may differ with each person and is usually based on the individual’s behaviour. In certain cases, some approaches may be considered better than others, and the therapist chooses a suitable approach. Some of the most effective psychotherapies include:
Supportive psychotherapy: This type of therapy helps in strengthening your coping skills during stressful and difficult situations.
Mental illness is very common, and psychotherapy helps in the treatment of these mental health problems, including:
Bipolar disorder, depression, dementia are to name few of the many mental health related disorders
Even though in certain cases psychotherapy can be as effective as medications, depending on the situation, it may not be sufficient to treat a health condition.
Therapy sessions can be conducted for an individual, family, couple, or a group. Psychotherapy is suitable for both children and adults, and is usually conducted in sessions. The therapy becomes successful only when both the individual and the therapist are actively involved. Here is how you can prepare for therapy:
The number and frequency of sessions vary with individuals and is usually based on the following:
Sessions may last for a few weeks or up to a year in the case of severe mental health conditions.
Psychotherapy sessions encourage you to open up regarding your thoughts, concerns and feelings even if you find it hard initially. The therapist helps you gain more confidence and comfort with each session. As psychotherapy involves intense discussions, you may find yourself crying, upset or may even have an outburst as a result. The therapist will help you cope with all these emotions, and may even ask you to do certain exercises or participate in particular activities during the sessions. With time, you should feel more comfortable opening up to the therapist and after a few sessions, your ability to cope with problems will improve.
Every session with the therapist is highly confidential. The information shared during the sessions is not disclosed unless the therapist feels there is a threat to you or someone else, and judicial laws require therapists to report such concerns to the authorities.
It is important to feel comfortable with your therapist for the therapy to go well. Being active and honest in the sessions are extremely important for your progress. If you find it difficult to open up about certain matters of your life, let your therapist know.
Psychotherapy doesn’t offer instant results. Any progress comes gradually, and it is essential to be patient throughout the therapy. If you feel like the sessions are not helping, convey the same to the therapist. Psychotherapy may not completely cure your problem. However, it will help you cope with challenging situations in a healthy manner. As adaptation and learning improves for most individuals, with sessions the quality of life enhances. The individual usually is more aware and skilled with better coping mechanism, calmer and confident to deal, move forward in life progressions.
Ph.D. in Psychology, M.Phil.-Specialization Neuropsychology, Consultant Psychologist, Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad
March 8, 2023