Many patients do not know how psychotherapy works before they find themselves in a psychiatrist clinic. Before we go to a psychotherapist, we ask ourselves important questions:
- How does psychotherapy work?
- Is psychotherapy going to help me?
- How long will the therapy last?
Every one of us would prefer to know what to expect when going to a therapy session. Images from movies and TV series come to our mind, which can create unrealistic expectations as to what such encounter with a psychologist looks like. Sometimes even after the visit we feel unsatisfied. Especially when we seem to think that one visit will resolve all our problems, and the specialist will literally tell us how to continue with our lives. However, the reality is totally different, and how psychotherapy works can differ from our perceptions. What should we expect from a visit?
Who is psychotherapy for?
Psychotherapy is the application of psychological methods through interpersonal contact between a patient and therapist. It makes it easier to cope with various problems that affect us and hinder normal functioning. It can concern a loss of loved one, sudden changes in life or annoying behaviours. People who need psychotherapy can have intrusive thoughts, obsessions or emotional problems. There are many reasons of going to therapy and such need may arise in everyone’s life. People of all ages can go to therapy, as methods and form of therapy are chosen individually for the patient. Unfortunately, many people postpone their visit. This happens because they do not know how psychotherapy works and how it can help them.
How does psychotherapy work – answer
Psychotherapy influences our understanding of our feelings and emotions, helps change our attitudes, motivation and mindset in relations towards others in the direction of bolder, calmer and more satisfying ones. During subsequent meetings, the person undergoing therapy learns to notice their emotions, differentiate them, acquires the ability to emotionally regulatethemselves. On the neurobiological level, changes are similar to those caused by medication, however they are more durable and have definitely longer lasting effect. This difference stems from the fact that psychotherapy in larger degree targets treating unconscious causes of emotional ailments, while medication mainly work on the symptoms i.e., the effects. Above all it should be mentioned there are many techniques and methods of psychotherapy, and therapists usually specialize in various forms of them, to acquire additional knowledge of how to help their patients.
Psychotherapy influences our understanding of our feelings and emotions, helps change our attitudes, motivation and mindset in relations towards others in the direction of bolder, calmer and more satisfying ones. During subsequent meetings, the person undergoing therapy learns to notice their emotions, differentiate them, acquires the ability to emotionally regulatethemselves. On the neurobiological level, changes are similar to those caused by medication, however they are more durable and have definitely longer lasting effect. This difference stems from the fact that psychotherapy in larger degree targets treating unconscious causes of emotional ailments, while medication mainly work on the symptoms i.e., the effects. Above all it should be mentioned there are many techniques and methods of psychotherapy, and therapists usually specialize in various forms of them, to acquire additional knowledge of how to help their patients.
Psychotherapy is a method of treatment which relies on planned and systematic actions, whose goal is to improve internal emotional functioning. It also has crucial impact on improving interpersonal relations.
Psychotherapy usually requires regular meetings with one or several specialists. Meetings usually take place weekly and last about 50 minutes. The length of the therapy depends on the needs and goals expressed by the patient. The whole process can last several months,sometimes even more than a year. Some disorders require simultaneous psychiatric treatment as well as including pharmacological methods.Psychotherapy and medications can complement each other, sometimes on the long road to mental health.
