What is psychotherapy ?
As human beings, we all develop our own coping strategies to help us interact with and make sense of the world around us and of our own lives.
In many cases, these mechanisms appear to serve us well for many years until suddenly we find ourselves feeling lost, stuck or behaving irrationally.
Often we know that our behaviour is counter-productive or even directly harmful, but we feel unable to change it on our own, and that is when psychotherapy can help.
What does Psychotherapy Look Like in Practice?
Psychotherapy is a term which is used to describe a treatment for emotional and psychological disorders which generally have a significant and often debilitating effect on our lives and often emanate from the past.
It is a talk-based treatment during which the thoughts, feelings and behaviour patterns of the patient are explored and more healthy coping strategies are learned. By discussing current and past experiences, patients develop an understanding of how they themselves contribute to the successful and unsuccessful outcomes in their lives and so acquire the tools to make lasting change.
Unlike drug therapy, therefore, which can only treat the symptoms of psychological or emotional illness and is only effective whilst the medication is being taken, psychotherapy offers the opportunity to make a positive and life-long impact on behaviour and thought patterns.
Depending upon the individual circumstances, they may also recommend that psychotherapy sessions take place on an individual basis or as part of a group.