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What is “Psychotherapy?”
How does Psychotherapy differ from other treatments?
Although Psychotherapy is sometimes simply referred to as "talk therapy," it is often the crucial component of healing. There may be some advantage in combining therapy with prescribed medications. There are many techniques of psychotherapy, ranging from supportive counselling, whereby the counsellor provides a compassionate ear and reassurance to more specific Psychiatric techniques, such as psychoanalysis, whereby the Psychiatrist or Psychoanalysist listens to the patient and interprets the unconscious meaning of what the patient is saying or how they are interacting.
Often psychotherapy is a combination of techniques or an eclectic approach, which allow the therapist to use the benefits of different techniques to help the individual. Psychotherapy should be a cooperative process whereby the therapist assists or guides the patient through the journey of reassessing life experiences, perhaps making the realities of the adult world more obvious. In childhood we are exposed to various unpleasant situations or people that generally results in some degree of anxiety, sometimes progressing to fears or changes in interpersonal interactions. One goal is to understand the various psychological defense strategies developed in childhood and often shared amongst family.
Why is Psychotherapy important?
When one feels anxious, apprehensive, or nervous, it is a signal that discomfort exists within the individual and, if not addressed, may progress to an overt state of panic. These uncomfortable feelings may be associated with altered mood states, such as depression or dysthymia (a term that describes a lower-than-average mood). It is sometimes “difficult to see the forest for the trees,” which is why people often benefit from discussing things with a trained unbiased individual. Anger, irritability, or frustration are other associated factors and indicates not having optimized one’s defense strategies. Disturbances in sleep is another aspect that requires assessment.
There is a strong connection of mind and body. If someone is not coping well with the stress or anxieties in their life, their body will find some way of signalling to the person that things are unwell. The physical symptoms, such as fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, irritable bowel syndrome, impaired sexual function, headaches, fibromyalgia, or chronic pelvic or back pain are sometimes easier for one to accept when they are viewed simply as physical symptoms. In order to treat these symptoms or conditions properly, it may be important to tease out what function the mind is playing.
What is the difference between a Psychiatrist and a Psychologist?
Many mental health workers provide counselling or guidance – whether it is a counsellor, who learned on the job, a social worker, a psychologist, or a psychiatrist. Either of the latter two may carry the title of doctor, but the psychologist would do so because of the years of clinical psychology training at university that has earned them a PhD degree, whereas a psychiatrist has a medical degree with specific psychiatric training and has a broader background of knowledge for determining how the mental and physical problems may be related. A GP psychotherapist is a General Practitioner (aka Family Physician) who has taken special Psychiatric training. The only mental health providers licensed to prescribe medications are those with a medical degree.
How long does Psychotherapy take?
Duration of therapy varies. Psychotherapy tends to evolve, just as a puzzle comes together. Optimally, weekly appointments will be scheduled, reserved especially for you and kept within the one hour allotted time. Initially data is collected about the past, inevitably to help deal with the present and prepare for the future. In some cases, the complexities as to how one learned to cope with the world may take months to years to unravel. Interpretations or assumptions that one makes in childhood should yield to the truths or realities of the world. Learning about psychological coping strategies – why they worked reasonably well in childhood, yet less so in adulthood, is sometimes easier from an adult perspective, but sometimes shielded by habits or persistent childhood beliefs.
One pivotal factor of psychotherapy is the unique professional relationship between patient and therapist. In order to maximize awareness and insight, it is imperative this relationship remain strictly professional. The therapist will attempt to create and maintain a safe climate wherein the patient can feel at ease to express feelings and emotions and thus enable the patient to talk about, rather than act upon, their feelings. Successful therapy depends on a number of factors. Expectations and personality traits of both patient and therapist may enhance or deter success, depending on the recognition of feelings and the ability to discuss and interpret them.
What are the drawbacks of Psychotherapy?
Medications are not used without a risk of experiencing side effects or complications, sometimes resulting in the person having to deal with not only the original problem, but also things, such as weight gain or sleep disturbances. Psychotherapy, or talking about one’s problems, is not risk-free, either.
Dealing with emotional issues is not always a smooth journey and sometimes things may appear worse before one reaches a higher level of understanding. If you are feeling frustrated or develop negative feelings in therapy or between sessions, it is important to commit to another visit in order to discuss the issues. Termination of therapy should be mutually agreed upon and the details and plans for the future should be discussed at a final scheduled session.
What should I do if I cannot make an appointment?
Inevitably complications may interfere with the planned schedule of appointments on either part of therapist or patient. If you opt to cancel an appointment, it would be appreciated if at least 24 hours notice be given, so that an extra session to compensate can be scheduled and the cancelled slot can be used by someone else in need.
How confidential is the information that is discussed?
The information collected at these therapy sessions and the notes recorded will be treated with the utmost confidentiality. Two relatively uncommon circumstances may possibly supersede confidentiality: (1) a court order; and, (2) suspicion that serious harm may come to yourself or others.
What are the goals of Psychotherapy?
One goal is to deliver optimal care, in a timely fashion, in accordance with the ethics and guidelines purported by the Canadian Psychiatric Association (CPA) and the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CCFP). With permission of the patient, sessions can be taped, either audio only or video. This allows opportunity for supervision and teaching. Recording sessions is voluntary and receiving Psychotherapy is not contingent on authorizing such recording.
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