Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy
is the designation of psychological
treatment and there are various therapeutic
areas and many methods. The best scientifically
supported method is cognitive therapy.
It deals with the way that people
think. Psychotherapy is based on a
theoretical model, on clinical observations
and an equal cooperation between patient
and therapist.
If
you are depressed, you know a lot
about how it feels to be depressed.
The therapist on the other hand knows
a lot about the course of people's
reactions and how changes can happen.
The
psychotherapists specialise in the
the following areas:
- cognitive behavioural
therapy
- psychodynamic
theory
- systemic therapy
- existential
humanistic therapy
Cognitive
behavioural therapy
Cognitive
behavioural therapy's goal is to
- create a good
alliance between you and your
therapy
- make a thorough
assessment of your problem
- find realistic
goals for the treatment
- change the behaviour
- change the thoughts
- change the feelings
- help you achieve
the necessary changes
If
you are suffering from depression,
the therapist will teach you to
- use methods
that will reduce anxiety
- use methods
that will increase your activity
and mood
- build up your
social skills
- build up your
self-esteem
- regulate your
feelings
- solve problems
There
are different methods which correspond
to different mental problems and conditions.
It depends on the individual how much
therapy is needed. But an average
course of therapy is about 12-20 sessions
if you are suffering from moderate
depression.
Psychodynamic
therapy
The
treatment is based on Freud's theory
on psychosexual stages, unconscious
conflicts and defence mechanisms.
In supportive conversations, where
the therapist listens sympathetically,
the emphasis is on which strategies
"the conscious self" (the
ego) uses to defend itself against
anxiety.
The
therapist puts the emphasis on insight.
Your therapist furthermore uses methods
such as uncovering and interpretation,
free associations and interpretation
of dreams. The treatment usually lasts
for several years and from a scientific
point of view its effect has only
been documented as being limited.
Systemic
therapy
The
treatment takes its starting point
in your surroundings and relations
with others. The therapist often works
with your family. What is being said
- to whom and when? In systemic therapy,
you learn how you can change inappropriate
communication and problems in relation
to others.
Systemic
therapy is also suitable for working
with relations and communication in
organisations. The treatment varies
in duration and consists of solving
and advisory conversations. Not a
lot of research is being done in this
area.
Existential
humanistic therapy
Most
of the psychotherapeutic schools know
and use the ideas of the great humanists.
In existential humanistic therapy,
the therapist focuses on what is meaningful
to you and on your unique way at looking
at yourself and the world.
The
therapist works with the unpredictable
and transient aspects of your life.
The treatment consists of supportive
conversations, role play, psychodrama
etc. It is difficult to do any research
in this form of psychotherapy, as
the goals are not tangible and specific,
and we therefore don't really know
the effect.
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