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Psychotherapists conduct individual, couple, family, and group therapies to help them overcome a range of mental and emotional health problems. They take care of everything from being overwhelmed with everyday life to sadness to specific mental disorders such as depression or generalized anxiety. Sometimes psychotherapy is used in conjunction with medications or lifestyle changes. However, psychotherapists cannot prescribe drugs, and they are dealt with by psychiatrists who often cooperate with them.
Psychotherapist – who is he?
A psychotherapist is a trained professional who helps people who suffer from stress, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, negative behavior patterns, debilitating feelings, and various other mental illnesses.
Overall, psychotherapists act as guides to help their clients find out how they really feel. Some clients find solutions to their problems after a few sessions, while for others, therapy may involve more work on themselves. People who will find the courage to talk openly about their problems and not hide information from a psychotherapist can achieve satisfactory results and ultimately improve their quality of life.
Psychotherapists are there to listen to us in a non-judgmental way. They are specially trained to not only listen to what is said to them, but also to pick out the subtle nuances, defense mechanisms, emotional reactions and psychological needs of their clients. By listening, the client can discuss matters in a way that allows them to find their own solutions, receive valuable emotional insights, and experience emotional repair.
See also: Definition – what is psychotherapy
Psychotherapist – qualifications
In Poland, a psychotherapist can theoretically be anyone who opens a business and appoints himself a therapist. Such a situation is possible due to the fact that there is no law regulating the profession of psychotherapist in Poland. However, in addition to the law, there is also the so-called professional ethics as well Regulation of the Minister of Health of 6 November 2013 on guaranteed benefits in the field of psychiatric care and addiction treatment, in which we can find a definition of a psychotherapist.
According to that regulation, a psychotherapist is a person who must fulfill, inter alia, the condition of completing postgraduate training of a selected modality (e.g. cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic) in the amount of at least 1200 hours. Training is most often carried out in the form of 4-year postgraduate studies. A student of psychotherapy studies acquires knowledge about the diagnosis of mental disorders, methods of therapeutic work or restoring the patient’s well-being. It should be added that schools require the student’s own work (e.g. psychotherapy) and gaining clinical experience.
At this point, it is also necessary to mention the certificate that a psychotherapist may have. The certificate is nothing more than the crowning achievement of psychotherapeutic studies and proof of passing the exam conducted by the society committee. Sometimes the psychotherapist says that he is in the process of certification, which means that he is trying to obtain such a certificate. Usually, this applies to people who have completed the second year of psychotherapeutic school, remain under supervision and start working with patients in the process of psychotherapy.
See also: The course of psychotherapy – contracts, goals, methodology, duration
Psychotherapist – types of therapy
Individual therapy
This type of therapy is what most people think of when they think about therapy. The idea of ”therapy through conversation” appeared in the second half of the XNUMXth century and was established by Sigmund Freud. Since then, therapy has had many incarnations, styles and theoretical trends. However, at its core, therapy still involves the therapist sitting with the person and discussing the person’s thoughts, feelings, and beliefs with the intention of healing and developing them.
The goal of therapy is to help those who need it. Individual therapy creates an environment in which to deal with emotional pain, deficits, or weaknesses before they negatively affect or further disrupt someone’s life. Individual therapy is counseling focused on the immediate or immediate future problems of the person; often individual therapy involves emotional work that is “intrapsychic” in nature and may involve the exploration of beliefs, thoughts, identity, nurture, barriers, and meaning.
A one-on-one session may consist of various theoretical approaches, including: cognitive behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy, logotherapy or narrative therapy, etc. During CBT, the therapist asks the client to focus on thoughts and patterns that may be a problem in their daily routine. life. The therapist can then examine with the client how his thoughts relate to his current attitudes or how he is behaving. Then the client may be asked to start creating correlations and actions based on what he wants to change in his life actions. The ultimate goal is to help people change patterns that are considered harmful.
Group therapy
The purpose of group therapy is twofold: it serves as a meeting place for many clients with similar experiences, and second, it provides an opportunity to explore “interpersonal” dynamics in an empirical way. This twofold approach allows you to develop your own identity and as a member of something larger. Interestingly, other group members often serve as a source of insight and support, while reinforcing the idea that no one is alone in their environment.
The goal of the psychotherapist in group therapy is to facilitate each meeting. Group therapy can provide a warmth and sense of community not easily found in other types of therapy. Additionally, this therapy offers the same confidentiality and affirmation that individual therapy offers, but takes place on a larger scale and with others who may have similar experiences.
Terapia par
Couples therapy is a type of psychotherapy for married couples or permanent partners. It aims to solve problems in a relationship, increase the level of intimacy, or help both parties cultivate better ways of establishing a relationship.
In group therapy, the role of the psychotherapist is to act as a mediator. In couples, the psychotherapist listens equally to both sides, working to ensure a healthy relationship. The therapist does not take sides: instead, he acts as an arbiter for our relationship and helps us as a couple get where we want to go.
Couples therapy is based on research that shows how individuals should function in a relationship in order to best fulfill their personal desires as well as the desires of relationships. Psychotherapists can be trained as couple therapists and help people release their own potential by identifying any specific symptoms that may affect all parties involved.
Premarital therapy allows couples to understand how to deal with problems and start conversations before they decide to get married. Another form of therapy for couples is honeymoon therapy, in which couples going through a life transformation or separation may wish to get help with any differences. Those seeking therapy for couples can find common ground by discussing arrangements for shared parenting and any issues with each other.
See also: Psychotherapy of couples and marriages – how much does it cost and how long does it last?
Family therapy
Family therapy is derived from the theory that families function in a “system”. This therapy is designed to help our family system function more effectively, allowing each of its members to have as many options as possible in it.
Being a family can be a challenge. The psychotherapist can comment on our specific family situation, allowing the family to determine for itself what changes can be made to improve its overall functioning. Each family is a separate culture with its own customs, codes and rituals. Effective family therapy takes into account the specific culture of our family and uses this knowledge in the appropriate course of treatment.
Psychotherapist – indications for a visit
Psychotherapists use conversation therapy to help us cope with everyday problems, including:
- relationship problems;
- anxiety or stress related to work or other situations;
- serious changes in life;
- unhealthy reactions in our lives,
- accepting a serious health problem;
- recovering from being used;
- sexual problems;
- sleep problems.
Sometimes these day-to-day problems can become more of a challenge. Psychotherapists treat most mental health disorders, such as:
- anxiety disorders;
- mood disorders;
- addiction;
- eating disorders;
- Personality disorder.
If we experience any of these challenges, we can benefit from psychotherapy. Our psychotherapist will help us solve these problems, thanks to which we will start to feel better.
See also: Toxic relationship – causes, characteristics of toxic partners. How to end a toxic relationship?
How to choose a good psychotherapist?
If we are considering therapy – be it for the desire to deal with a past trauma, to adapt to a new phase of life, or to improve mental health – finding the right therapist is the first hurdle to overcome.
At the beginning, it is worth looking for opinions about a given psychotherapist among people we trust and close to us. It is also good to use search engines, because many well-known psychotherapists post information about themselves on well-known portals, have their own websites or profiles in social media.
During our search, we should pay attention to whether a given psychotherapist has a certificate or is under certification. Let’s pay attention to which company it belongs to and in what areas it specializes. Another important piece of information about the psychotherapist is whether he or she is subject to supervision. Supervision means that a given psychotherapist attends regular meetings with a supervisor, i.e. another, experienced psychotherapist. Supervision helps the specialist to look at their own work and relationships with patients. This enables him to develop his own skills and methods, but it is also a support and space for reflection. It is recommended to choose just such psychotherapists who consult their work with more experienced professionals.
In addition to these very important aspects, it is also worth paying attention to, for example, the place of admitting patients by a given psychotherapist or the cost of one session, thanks to which we will be aware of the financial investment we have to prepare for.
See also: Psychotherapy – how much does it cost?
Psychotherapist – what to expect?
After finding the right psychotherapist, he will have an initial interview with us, which will allow him to understand us and our medical history. The first few sessions will help our therapist get to know us and our situation. The introductory stage is very important as it allows the best treatment to be determined.
Psychotherapists can treat both adults and children. These can be short-term treatment plans for immediate problems or long-term treatment plans for more complex challenges.
There are many types of therapy depending on your circumstances and preferences.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) helps people identify and change thought traps (thought and behavior patterns that may be harmful and / or ineffective) by replacing them with favorable thoughts and functional behaviors. It can help a person understand their current problems and solve them through study and practice and new skills. CBT can be used for a variety of disorders such as stress, anxiety, insomnia, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and eating disorders.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a type of cognitive behavioral therapy that helps regulate emotions. It is usually used to treat people with long-term suicidal thoughts and people with borderline personality disorder, eating disorders or post-traumatic stress disorder. Patients learn new skills that will help them take responsibility and change unhealthy or destructive patterns of behavior. It usually includes both individual and group therapy.
Terapia interpersonalna (IPT)
Interpersonal therapy (IPT) is a short-term treatment. It helps patients understand their underlying interpersonal problems, such as unresolved grief, changes in social life, or conflicts at work and in relationships that can be embarrassing. It can help people develop healthy ways of expressing emotions, improve communication, and resolve conflicts.
Psychodynamic therapy
Psychodynamic therapy is therapy that is based on the assumption that behavior and mental health are influenced by childhood experiences and inappropriate repetitive thoughts or feelings that the patient is not aware of. It helps patients to deal with these problems, improve self-awareness and change old patterns.
Psychoanaliza
Psychoanalysis is a more intense type of psychodynamic therapy. Sessions are usually conducted at shorter intervals than other treatments (three or more sessions per week).
Supportive therapy
Supportive therapy is a therapy in which a psychotherapist guides and encourages patients to develop their own resources, helping them to improve self-esteem, reduce anxiety, improve coping mechanisms, and improve functioning in society. Supportive psychotherapy helps patients cope with the underlying issues of their mental health condition for the rest of their lives.
If we are struggling with our mental health, consider contacting your doctor or psychotherapy specialist to discuss whether talking therapy would be helpful for you.
See also: Drugs and psychotherapy are no better at treating depression than placebo?
Features of a good psychotherapist
He’s actually listening to us
Listening must be the easiest part of a psychotherapist’s job, right? Not completely. Listening is a multi-faceted skill that involves much more than just waiting passively while someone else is speaking. A good psychotherapist signals that he not only accepts our words, but also understands them. The feeling that our psychotherapist is distracted as we speak is a sign that it may be time to change specialist.
It makes us feel that what we say is important
Our psychotherapist should verify our thoughts, emotions, actions and experiences. This does not mean that it aligns with everything we say or do. In fact, there is an important difference between validation and approval. Approval – along with its opposite, disapproval – is a value judgment. A good psychotherapist tries to avoid judging what we think, say or do.
He wants the best for us
A good psychotherapist offers appropriate knowledge and recommendations, and at the same time respects our opinion. We should never feel as if our psychotherapist is forcing us to do something we don’t want to do. This includes decisions we make about our own treatment, such as seeing another specialist or stopping treatment for several weeks. A professional psychotherapist will accept our decision, even if it means the loss of the client.
He can comprehensively convey information to us
Good psychotherapists listen more than talk. However, while listening is an essential part of the therapist’s job, it should not come at the expense of speaking skills. The psychotherapist is also an educator and as such should be able to distill concepts and explain their observations in a way that we can understand. Although some psychotherapists have completed years of study, their language should be accessible, not scientific. Moreover, a good psychotherapist will ask us questions to make sure we understand everything, and will take the time to reformulate their explanations if they have not.
He asks us for our opinion
Navigating the therapist-client relationship may be new to us. We may feel uncomfortable discussing certain topics with your therapist, such as treatment progress. As a trained professional, our psychotherapist should take the time to ask us regularly if we are noticing the progress and changes that are taking place in our lives with psychotherapy. Sometimes, however, we do not fit together. A good psychotherapist will encourage us to speak when something is not working. He may even advise us from another psychotherapist.
He devotes time to education
While our psychotherapist may be an expert in certain areas of human psychology, that doesn’t mean they know everything. Depending on how long he has studied and how specialized he is, some of the things we “bring” to the office may be new to him. This is perfectly normal. Our psychotherapist should openly admit it when he doesn’t know something. However, he can do everything in his power to learn more, delving into scientific literature, attending seminars and conferences, and consulting with the supervisor. A committed psychotherapist is constantly expanding his knowledge.
You see him as an ally
Our psychotherapist is not our best friend, guru or boss. Although the psychotherapist can guide us towards what we are looking for, his role is not to tell us what or how to do it. A good psychotherapist acts as an ally. From the first session together, she will work on creating a relationship with us based on mutual trust. This is called a therapeutic alliance.
He challenges us – with respect
Different styles of therapy choose different tactics to stimulate personal development. Psychoanalysis is about examining the unconscious, while the humanistic stream provides emotional support so that we can grow as an individual. Some styles of therapy involve challenging irrational patterns of thought. This should be done respectfully, without being unpleasant to mindsets that may not serve us. If our psychotherapist ever makes us feel stupid or guilty, it is worth discussing it with him.
See also: Humanistic psychotherapy – what is it?
Offers a range of solutions
There is no one-size-fits-all treatment plan. Sometimes techniques that work for one client – be it progressive muscle relaxation, goal setting, or meditation – just don’t work for another. While it is important to be willing and open to trying new things, if a particular way is not working for you, our psychotherapist should be able to present other options. It is there to offer us a range of possibilities, not just one option.
See also: What is Jacobson’s training?
It is open to alternatives
Our psychotherapist is here to help us identify our needs. Sometimes it can get confused in guiding us in a direction that is not what we really need at the moment. For example, if our therapist encourages us to explore aspects of our childhood, but a more pressing problem is interfering with our daily activities, he or she will focus on that problem.
Does not speed up healing
Both we and our therapist should be on the same side when it comes to treatment goals and an estimated timetable for achieving those goals. This is a discussion that we should have at the beginning of treatment. It is also important to re-evaluate this plan over time. If our treatment is not progressing as originally planned – perhaps we do not have much time to exercise between therapy sessions or the therapy is more difficult than expected – a good psychotherapist will be flexible and adaptable. Needs and circumstances change. Therapy should too.
He doesn’t talk about himself
It should be obvious, but our therapy is about us. Unlike friendship, it is not based on mutual exchange. A professional psychotherapist should never use our sessions to solve their own problems.
Of course, this does not mean that the psychotherapist cannot show his unique personality or share relevant personal experiences from time to time. Importantly, attention remains focused on us. If it is not, the red light should come on.
He gives us the tools to work
Therapy is a hard and painful job. We have taken a step to seek help from a professional and this is something to be proud of. However, seeking help is just the beginning. Although we mainly have to work on ourselves, using information on, inter alia, harmful mechanisms that accompany us in everyday life, a psychotherapist can provide us with appropriate support and knowledge, which will allow us to better understand certain situations, develop new skills and adopt new habits. In working with some patients, psychotherapists provide, for example, photocopies with tasks.
See also: Psychotherapist. How to choose it and what to expect from psychotherapy?
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