Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed, wishing that people around you understand you? Or do you have difficulty being vulnerable with others? Your feelings are not unique to you. According to experts, millions of people seek psychotherapy each year with the hope of sharing their thoughts and feelings with someone who can empathize and help them gain insights into their conflicts, fears, and anxiety. However, finding the right therapist can be difficult, and determining which type of therapy to pursue is arguably even more difficult. There are numerous therapists and psychological schools of thought from which to choose. It’s all too easy to feel overwhelmed by the abundance of choices.
Various mental health specialists can provide therapy. Psychologists have doctoral degrees, either a PhD or PsyD, and received specialized training in studying the mind and human behavior. Mental health counselors and clinical social workers are masters-level clinicians who provide talk therapy, also called counseling, but do not diagnose or prescribe medication. Psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners can prescribe medication such as antidepressants, and many of these are also qualified to provide counseling.
Learn More: counselling in Adelaide.
Seeking Psychotherapy
Tasks of individuals seeking psychotherapy is choosing which therapist to see and the type of therapy they want to get. However, many clients are unsure what to expect from their initial therapy session. When most people think of therapy, they think of Sigmund Freud, a leather couch, and a protracted psychoanalysis session. Modern treatment, however, does not always mirror its early foundations. Psychotherapy has changed dramatically over the last few decades; it’s no longer a one-size-fits-all model.
Experts claim there are many different sorts of therapy, which fall into different schools of thought, each with its own theory, beliefs, and techniques. There are a lot of different forms of psychotherapies that individuals can utilize to address a problem, just as there are different types of medications or classes of medications for various kinds of mood disorders.
Dividing psychotherapy into two main philosophical models: psychodynamic and cognitive/behavioral. Psychodynamic therapies help the client delve into memories that may provide insight into current problems by focusing on the client’s unconscious processes. Specifically, encouraging the individual to freely explore and express their thoughts and feelings that may originate in early childhood. Psychoanalysis is a long-term therapy that clients typically attend multiple times per week. In contrast, short-term psychodynamic therapy has a 20-session regimen.
Cognitive/behavioral therapies, on the other hand, aim to determine how dysfunctional patterns in certain areas may lead to a broader life problem by understanding one’s current thought process or actions. Clients can work with therapists to improve their thought patterns by becoming aware of them. Cognitive/behavioral therapies are more structured than psychodynamic therapies and are usually shorter in duration, depending on the individual’s needs and preferences.
Types of Psychotherapies
Generally, psychotherapy, often known as talk therapy or counseling, can help those with mental illness or psychological problems cope with their symptoms and live a better life. In most cases, talk therapy alone can help individuals reach their goals, and in other instances, they may require both counseling and medication to recover from their mental illness.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, one out of every five adults in the United States has a mental disorder. However, less than half of these have received mental health treatment due to a lack of access to mental health services, the stigma around mental health, or not knowing what type of therapy to seek or where to start. There are various sorts of treatments available. To best address the needs of the person seeking treatment, many mental health professionals may offer eclectic psychotherapy, including different approaches and techniques to tackle various clinical symptoms, presentations, and client preferences.
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
Therapists use this method to assist clients in identifying unconscious beliefs that might affect their emotions, coping mechanisms (also called defenses), and behaviors. For example, a child who’s reprimanded for any grade below an “A” may develop an unconscious fear of being punished for anything less than perfection later in life.
The idea is to gain insight into the unconscious forces that drive their behaviors and feelings. Once insight generation is achieved, the person can make behavioral changes because they now understand why they do certain things and what purpose their behaviors serve. This type of therapy is typically a good fit for someone who is curious about themselves and others and enjoys the process of exploring deeper thoughts and feelings.
Behavioral Therapy
Behavioral therapy, unlike psychodynamic therapy, focuses on the current behavior. There is a greater emphasis on changing a habit or behavior. Moreover, the goal is to understand how that conduct is reinforced rather than why it began.
Among the several types of behavioral therapy are:
- Systematic desensitization: This technique gradually exposes you to things you might be afraid of, such as spiders or flying
- Aversion therapy: The goal of aversion therapy is to create consequences for behaviors you want to stop, such as biting your nails.
- Flooding: A more direct approach to dealing with phobias, flooding puts you in a situation where you’re confronted with your fear or phobia, allowing you to tolerate your discomfort and fears.
Individuals suffering from phobias, substance abuse disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can all benefit from behavioral therapy.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive-behavioral therapy combines some behavioral therapy techniques with the theory that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are all interconnected and influence one another. Talking with your therapist about your thoughts is integral to cognitive-behavioral therapy. Your therapist will inquire about what you were thinking and feeling at the time. The goal is to replace maladaptive (unhealthy) thought patterns or behaviors with more rational ones. Cognitive-behavioral therapy may be beneficial for those with mood disorders, anxiety, eating disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
This style of therapy, which was initially designed as a treatment for borderline personality disorder, focuses on developing skills to deal with intense emotions. Dialectic behavioral therapy aims to teach the client how to tolerate distress and modify unhealthy behaviors (e.g., self-harm gestures) through a dialectical lens. The therapist shows acceptance and empathy toward the client’s distress while challenging the client’s decisions. DBT aids in developing skills such as mindfulness, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness, promoting the regulation of unpleasant emotions and the development of healthy relationships.
Humanistic Therapy
Humanistic therapy, which focuses on people’s abilities and aspirations, can help them achieve their goals and feel more fulfilled in life. It is less concerned with treating symptoms and problems. This type of therapy can be beneficial to someone who functions well in life yet wishes to advance or feels a lack of purpose. Sessions are less organized than other therapies and are ideal for people who want to talk about existential themes such as “what’s a purposeful life?” It can assist you in comprehending your worldview and achieving self-actualization. Anyone suffering from low self-esteem, relationship problems, depression, or anxiety may benefit from humanistic treatment.
Getting familiar with the different types of therapy may help you think about what approach would be a good fit for you based on your preference, availability (short versus long-term psychotherapy), and treatment goals. It’s hard to know which approach will work best for you unless you give it a try, and along the way, you may find a therapist who will make you feel understood and respected. And this is you will change happen.
