Therapy is an effective treatment for an array of physical and mental ailments. The comfort of sharing your thoughts and feelings with someone is a blessing in itself. Someone supportive, who cares about you, wants to ease the burden that is weighing you down, wants to listen to you, and has the healing words to make you feel better.
Though the help loved ones extend is beyond words, but there are times when you need someone else. This is because people around you aren’t able to deliver the assistance and support that you ache for. At such trying times, an outsider or an expert or professional who can render you his services can be a big boost. There are experts in the form of counsellors or therapists who can provide you with therapy. These professionals are trained in their field and can get to the root of problems, and assist you in overcoming challenges and making positive changes in your life.
Why you may need psychotherapist help?
You don’t necessarily need to have mental health disorders to seek a therapist’s help. These therapists provide help in matters that revolve around everyday issues; marriage issues, job-related stress, emotional conflicts, and many more concerns. But if you need to optimize the benefits of a therapist you need to choose the right therapist, someone whom you can trust with the secrets of your life. Someone who can make things better for you by lending you his services a skilled therapist can indeed be your support system.
Why do you need to seek therapy and not medication?
Just the thought of escaping the miseries surrounding you with the help of a pill spends appealing. However, the reality is different. Medications provide a cure for various health issues. Your emotional well-being stems from various reasons which cannot simply be healed by taking medications.
Medications are effective in providing widespread benefits but they have certain drawbacks too. Moreover, they cannot provide larger than life solutions. This is where the therapist steps in; because medications cannot fix relationships, cannot reduce your job-related stress, and cannot help you overcome self-doubt. Medications will not stop you from making unhealthy life choices.
It needs to be borne in mind that therapies are usually time-consuming. As the therapist gently scraps the past and soothes the wounds; they challenge the patient from within. The good news is that a therapist provides permanent relief, and enables the patient to live a meaningful and wholesome life by managing troubling relations, coping with the stress, and making healthy choices for you.
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Finding the therapist for you
Finding the right therapist can be a daunting task as it requires effort. But the efforts will surely pay you off. You need to have a good relationship with your therapist. He will be someone whom you will trust with your deep dark secrets that you do not wish to reveal in front of anyone else. Your therapy sessions will not be useful unless you develop this connection. This bond is vital to ensure successful therapy. So take your time and research for the right person.
Things that you need to consider before deciding on a therapist
There are many types of therapies and therapists available. To decide which one is the best for you can be mind-boggling. None of them can be termed as the best because each individual has different needs that only a therapist can decide to address. It’s the relationship between the therapist and the patient that is valuable and shouldn’t be compromised for anything else. Certain types of sessions are significant for addressing certain problems.
His experience matters most. How long has he been practising and what is the feedback of his former patients. You need to consider these before deciding on him. Check the therapist’s license because unless he is licensed by a certified board, he shouldn’t counsel anyone. This practice will do more harm than good to patients. Finally, trust your gut instincts. No matter how good the therapists’ profile is, if you are getting negative vibes, shun the idea.
Common types of therapy
Usually, therapists don’t stick to one particular method. They blend different techniques to suit the patient. This approach enables the therapist with various power tools, but he has the orientation which he uses towards a particular mindset.
- Individual therapy sessions
This form of therapy deals with traumatic experiences in the past. Self-harm inclinations, self-doubt occurrences, extreme negative thoughts, and many current problems that lead to an unhappy, discontented life.
- Family therapy sessions
These sessions involve the treatment of more than one member of the family. It revolves around the concept that family is a system, and if one member of the family changes his patterns, the whole system is affected. Therefore, every member should shift gears to accommodate the changing patterns. Such sessions are very helpful to deal with conflicts and perk up mutual interactions.
- Group therapy sessions
These sessions are beneficial for a group that is facing a mutual problem. A professional therapist works out issues like anxiety, substance abuse, depression, or other issues. Group therapies are helpful for peers undergoing the same crisis and seeing each other progress motivates the others in the group.
- Couples therapy sessions
These sessions involve two people who are committed to a relationship. Couples favour this form of therapy to resolve their differences and learn better communication by working on their relationships.
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What should you expect from therapy sessions?
As mentioned earlier, each therapist is different in his approach to deal with the patient. There is no structured rule. Normally sessions last for about an hour, weekly. For more intense cases, the sessions can be conducted often. Therapies are conducted in the therapist’s office, clinics, and hospitals, or in some cases, home visits are also possible. If you need more information regarding finding psychotherapy, BetterHelp.com has a great article on this.
You should expect the session to be a good fit between you and your therapist. It is not easy initially, but once you let it sink in, it should come spontaneously. Remember, psychotherapy is a two-way business. No matter how hard the therapist tries, if you are not cooperating, your efforts will go in vain. You have to be honest with him and act upon his guidance. You are the only individual who has to bring about the necessary changes because a therapist is merely a counsellor. The real power lies within your mindset. Unless you shift it, nothing will change. Don’t lose hope. Then only you will feel the change in your life. You shouldn’t let it stop and regularize your visits as often as possible.
