Lesson 26

Importance of Importance of PsychotherapyPsychotherapy

Why do we Need psychotherapy?Why do we Need psychotherapy?

Lecture 26Lecture 26

IntroductionIntroduction

We live in a world that is increasingly complex, We live in a world that is increasingly complex, intense, and stressful.intense, and stressful.

Many people wonder if they should consider Many people wonder if they should consider Psychotherapy.Psychotherapy.

See what response you give to the issues and See what response you give to the issues and situations below.situations below.

You want to live a more satisfying life. You want to live a more satisfying life.

You want to feel better about yourself,You want to feel better about yourself,

Feel less stressed, Feel less stressed,

Be more easily able to use your potential to Be more easily able to use your potential to reach your goals.reach your goals.

You want to feel more effective and You want to feel more effective and comfortable in your relationships.comfortable in your relationships.

You want to be better at communicating You want to be better at communicating and resolving conflicts.and resolving conflicts.

Life's stresses are getting you down. Life's stresses are getting you down.

You find yourself anxious or depressed, You find yourself anxious or depressed,

having difficulties at work or school, having difficulties at work or school,

having trouble concentrating or sleeping, having trouble concentrating or sleeping,

fighting with your family, fighting with your family,

not taking care of yourself physically, not taking care of yourself physically,

or generally suffer from bad mood under the or generally suffer from bad mood under the weather.weather.

These are some of the life experiences that These are some of the life experiences that lead people to seek psychotherapy. lead people to seek psychotherapy.

Perhaps some are familiar to you, or Perhaps some are familiar to you, or perhaps you wondered for other reasons perhaps you wondered for other reasons whether you might benefit from whether you might benefit from psychotherapy. psychotherapy.

Research shows that people can profit from Research shows that people can profit from psychotherapy – can learn, grow, and psychotherapy – can learn, grow, and change at any stage or age in life. It is never change at any stage or age in life. It is never too soon and never too late.too soon and never too late.

What is psychotherapy? What is psychotherapy? What does it offer?What does it offer?

Psychotherapy is a complex process that varies with Psychotherapy is a complex process that varies with each client. each client.

It is not a set of simple "technologies" or procedures. It is not a set of simple "technologies" or procedures.

Doing it well requires a high degree of education and Doing it well requires a high degree of education and training and a well-developed capacity for empathic training and a well-developed capacity for empathic listening. listening.

All psychotherapy, furthermore, depends on the All psychotherapy, furthermore, depends on the development of a safe, trusting, confidential development of a safe, trusting, confidential relationship between the client and the therapist. relationship between the client and the therapist.

Most methods of psychotherapy aim at helping clients Most methods of psychotherapy aim at helping clients change unproductive ways of thinking and behaving.change unproductive ways of thinking and behaving.

Psychotherapy is a process of discovery – a learning Psychotherapy is a process of discovery – a learning process. process.

The therapist and client can work together to discover The therapist and client can work together to discover what events, situations, and relationships in client’s what events, situations, and relationships in client’s current life or earlier life are leaving him/her with current life or earlier life are leaving him/her with uncomfortable feelings or distress. uncomfortable feelings or distress.

Work progresses toward acquiring new, effective, Work progresses toward acquiring new, effective, helpful ways of understanding client’s experiences helpful ways of understanding client’s experiences and the events in client’s life, his/her responses to and the events in client’s life, his/her responses to them, and the actions taken. them, and the actions taken.

Thus client’s actions can become less automatic and Thus client’s actions can become less automatic and more fully based on understanding and choice. more fully based on understanding and choice.

Client’s partner, child or entire family might participate Client’s partner, child or entire family might participate in the processes of discovery, learning, and change in the processes of discovery, learning, and change that are characteristic of psychotherapy.that are characteristic of psychotherapy.

Psychotherapy is an unfolding process. It begins by Psychotherapy is an unfolding process. It begins by creating the private, confidential context in which it creating the private, confidential context in which it can do its job. can do its job.

The work that is actually done depends on the needs The work that is actually done depends on the needs and desires of the client. and desires of the client.

In some cases the work is to uncover emotional In some cases the work is to uncover emotional experiences of the past that are brought to the surface experiences of the past that are brought to the surface by current events, situations, and relationships, so by current events, situations, and relationships, so that the present circumstances can be understood that the present circumstances can be understood and dealt with in a different way. and dealt with in a different way.

In the course of this exploring and re-understanding, In the course of this exploring and re-understanding, painful or uncomfortable symptoms such as painful or uncomfortable symptoms such as persistent depressed feelings, fearfulness, or persistent depressed feelings, fearfulness, or unwanted habits and thoughts often decrease in unwanted habits and thoughts often decrease in intensity and frequency, ineffective ways of intensity and frequency, ineffective ways of responding and acting can also be changed.responding and acting can also be changed.

Psychotherapy looks at the whole human being and at Psychotherapy looks at the whole human being and at the many complex factors that have contributed to the many complex factors that have contributed to making every person unique. making every person unique.

Symptoms such as anxiety or depression are viewed Symptoms such as anxiety or depression are viewed not just as a problem, but also as a sign that not just as a problem, but also as a sign that something is hurting inside – that some aspect of the something is hurting inside – that some aspect of the person needs attention.person needs attention.

Psychotherapy assumes that there are parts of our Psychotherapy assumes that there are parts of our lives of which we are not fully aware.lives of which we are not fully aware.

Psychotherapy affords an opportunity to uncover, Psychotherapy affords an opportunity to uncover, explore, learn about, and appreciate our perceptions, explore, learn about, and appreciate our perceptions, our hidden assumptions, the ways we have adapted to our hidden assumptions, the ways we have adapted to life-and how all these have evolved.life-and how all these have evolved.

Psychotherapy takes place in the context of a Psychotherapy takes place in the context of a solid, trustworthy working relationship between solid, trustworthy working relationship between the client and the therapist. the client and the therapist.

It helps create the context, the insight, and under- It helps create the context, the insight, and under- standing, the vision, and the support within which standing, the vision, and the support within which durable growth and desirable change can take durable growth and desirable change can take place. place.

Psychotherapy is not just advice-giving. Psychotherapy is not just advice-giving.

It empowers the client to come to useful personal It empowers the client to come to useful personal understanding, to make clearer choices, and to understanding, to make clearer choices, and to achieve durable independence.achieve durable independence.

As we become more aware and more appreciative of As we become more aware and more appreciative of what is inside us, we can resolve or come to terms what is inside us, we can resolve or come to terms both with our internal conflicts and our reactions to both with our internal conflicts and our reactions to people and external events; we feel in better people and external events; we feel in better possession of ourselves and more able to make possession of ourselves and more able to make positive and life-affirming decisions. positive and life-affirming decisions.

Creative energies no longer need to be spent on Creative energies no longer need to be spent on keeping old troubles in control, and there is more keeping old troubles in control, and there is more energy for love, work and play.energy for love, work and play.

We can see past and present events and people more We can see past and present events and people more clearly, and come to know more about who we are – clearly, and come to know more about who we are – independent of other people's definitions. independent of other people's definitions.

Some have referred to the psychotherapy experience Some have referred to the psychotherapy experience as as the awakening of the inner self.the awakening of the inner self.

Thus in the process of psychotherapy one can see Thus in the process of psychotherapy one can see beneath the surface and integrate intellectual beneath the surface and integrate intellectual understanding with one’s emotional experiences. understanding with one’s emotional experiences.

The confidential psychotherapy sessions encourage The confidential psychotherapy sessions encourage your thoughts and emotional experiences to flow your thoughts and emotional experiences to flow freely. freely.

You jointly examine these moment-to-moment You jointly examine these moment-to-moment experiences in a non-judgmental manner that provides experiences in a non-judgmental manner that provides new under- standing about your experience of the new under- standing about your experience of the world. world.

The process gradually becomes a part of your internal The process gradually becomes a part of your internal experience and goes with you after the therapy is experience and goes with you after the therapy is completed.completed.

Psychotherapy can be a powerful and life changing Psychotherapy can be a powerful and life changing experience.experience.

Awareness is the key that opens the door from the Awareness is the key that opens the door from the stuck or trapped place that a person feels in to a life stuck or trapped place that a person feels in to a life that embraces choice and relationship. that embraces choice and relationship.

The less aware we are of our motives, feelings The less aware we are of our motives, feelings thoughts, actions, perceptions, the more they control thoughts, actions, perceptions, the more they control us and the more we stay stuck in old patterns that us and the more we stay stuck in old patterns that don’t work anymore. don’t work anymore.

Relief from symptoms lies in discovering what our Relief from symptoms lies in discovering what our everyday reality is and how we meet and deal with everyday reality is and how we meet and deal with that.that.

Psychotherapy does not translate well into Psychotherapy does not translate well into sound bites. It is a broad discipline that holds sound bites. It is a broad discipline that holds several approaches to dealing with anxieties several approaches to dealing with anxieties and concerns to severe psychological and concerns to severe psychological breakdown. breakdown.

Symptoms that are often brought to a Symptoms that are often brought to a Psychotherapist include Psychotherapist include DepressionDepression, , AnxietyAnxiety StatesStates, , BereavementBereavement, , RelationshipRelationship issuesissues etc.etc.

Psychotherapy differs in two ways from the Psychotherapy differs in two ways from the informal help or advice that one person may informal help or advice that one person may give another. give another.

First, psychotherapy is conducted by a First, psychotherapy is conducted by a trained, certified, or licensed therapist. trained, certified, or licensed therapist.

Secondly, treatment methods in Secondly, treatment methods in psychotherapy are guided by well-psychotherapy are guided by well-developed theories about the sources of developed theories about the sources of personal problems.personal problems.

So we can Define Psychotherapy:So we can Define Psychotherapy:

As the intentional application of psychological As the intentional application of psychological techniques for obtaining pre-determined techniques for obtaining pre-determined changes, like changes in behavior, reduction of changes, like changes in behavior, reduction of psychological distress etc. psychological distress etc.

It is the treatment of emotional and /or related It is the treatment of emotional and /or related bodily problems by psychological means.bodily problems by psychological means.

Problems Treated with Problems Treated with Psychotherapy Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is an important form of Psychotherapy is an important form of treatment for many kinds of psychological treatment for many kinds of psychological problems. problems.

Two of the most common problems for Two of the most common problems for which people seek help from a therapist are which people seek help from a therapist are depressiondepression and and persistent anxietypersistent anxiety. .

Psychotherapy can often help people Psychotherapy can often help people overcome or manage these problems.overcome or manage these problems.

People experiencing an People experiencing an emotional crisisemotional crisis due to due to marital problems, family disputes, problems at work, marital problems, family disputes, problems at work, loneliness, or troubled social relationships may also loneliness, or troubled social relationships may also benefit from psychotherapy. benefit from psychotherapy.

Other problems often treated with psychotherapy Other problems often treated with psychotherapy include obsessive-compulsive disorder,include obsessive-compulsive disorder,

Personality disorders, Personality disorders,

Alcoholism and other forms of drug dependence,Alcoholism and other forms of drug dependence,

Problems stemming from child abuse, Problems stemming from child abuse,

And behavioral problems, such as eating disorders And behavioral problems, such as eating disorders and juvenile delinquency.and juvenile delinquency.

Mental health professionals do not rely on Mental health professionals do not rely on psychotherapy to treat schizophrenia, a severe psychotherapy to treat schizophrenia, a severe mental illness. mental illness.

Drugs are used to treat this disorder. However, Drugs are used to treat this disorder. However, some psychotherapeutic techniques may help some psychotherapeutic techniques may help people with schizophrenia learn appropriate social people with schizophrenia learn appropriate social skills and skills for managing anxiety.skills and skills for managing anxiety.

Another severe mental illness, bipolar disorder Another severe mental illness, bipolar disorder (popularly called manic depression), is treated (popularly called manic depression), is treated with drugs or a combination of drugs and with drugs or a combination of drugs and psychotherapy.psychotherapy.

Not suitable for Severe illnessNot suitable for Severe illness

Unwanted Effects of PsychotherapyUnwanted Effects of Psychotherapy

(1) Patients may become excessively dependent on (1) Patients may become excessively dependent on therapy or therapist.therapy or therapist.

(2) Intensive psychotherapy may be distressing to (2) Intensive psychotherapy may be distressing to the patient and result in exacerbation of symptoms the patient and result in exacerbation of symptoms and deterioration in relationships.and deterioration in relationships.

(3) Disorders for which physical treatments would be (3) Disorders for which physical treatments would be more appropriate may be missed.more appropriate may be missed.

(4) Ineffective psychotherapy wastes time money (4) Ineffective psychotherapy wastes time money and damages patient's morale.and damages patient's morale.

Ethical considerationsEthical considerations In helping their clients, all therapists follow a code In helping their clients, all therapists follow a code

of ethics. of ethics.

First, all therapy is confidential. First, all therapy is confidential.

Also, therapists avoid dual relationships with Also, therapists avoid dual relationships with clients—that is, being friends outside of therapy or clients—that is, being friends outside of therapy or maintaining a business relationship. maintaining a business relationship.

Ethical therapists also do not engage in sexual Ethical therapists also do not engage in sexual relationships with clients, and do not accept as relationships with clients, and do not accept as clients, people with whom they have been sexually clients, people with whom they have been sexually intimate.intimate.

Conclusion: The Therapist-Client Conclusion: The Therapist-Client Relationship Relationship

Effectiveness of therapy depends to a large Effectiveness of therapy depends to a large extent on the quality of the relationship extent on the quality of the relationship between the client and therapist. between the client and therapist.

The better the rapport is between therapist The better the rapport is between therapist and client, the better the outcome of and client, the better the outcome of therapy.therapy.

For clients, trusting that the therapist can For clients, trusting that the therapist can provide help for their problems is essential provide help for their problems is essential for making progress.for making progress.