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Psychotherapy is a dynamic process tailored to the unique needs of each individual. Its core revolves around the establishment of a trusting therapeutic relationship between the client and the trained psychotherapist. Through this bond, they collaboratively address specific challenges, be it mental health conditions or life's pressing stressors. While methods and techniques vary widely, they all emphasise open communication, fostering dialogue, and guiding clients in reshaping unhelpful thought patterns or behaviours. Delving deeper, we find an array of specialised approaches designed to cater to different challenges, ensuring every client finds the most suitable path to healing and growth.
Psychotherapy is a form of mental health treatment that typically utilizes talk therapy with a credentialed professional to help overcome problematic thoughts or behaviors.
Learn More: What to Know About Psychotherapy
While therapy can be used to find solutions across various fields (including physical health, mental health, marriage and family issues), psychotherapy focuses on the management of mental health or emotional issues.
Learn More: Types of Psychotherapy
Different approaches of psychotherapy may be used depending on the condition being treated, as well as the expertise of the mental health professional. The American Psychological Association classifies these approaches into five broad categories: psychodynamic therapy, behavioral therapy, cognitive therapy, humanistic therapy, and integrative therapy.
Learn More: What is behavioural therapy
Behavioral therapy is rooted in the principles of behaviorism, a school of thought focused on the idea that we learn from our environment. Unlike the types of therapy that are rooted in insight (such as psychoanalytic therapy), behavioral therapy is action-based where its goal is to teach people new behaviors to minimize or eliminate the issue.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of behavioral therapy that relies on behavioral techniques, but adds a cognitive element, focusing on the problematic thoughts behind behaviors.
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a modified type of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Its main goals are to teach people how to live in the moment, develop healthy ways to cope with stress, regulate their emotions, and improve their relationships with others.
A treatment plan refers to the specific goals you have for therapy and interventions your therapist might use to help you reach these goals. Typically, a treatment plan is created early on in the therapeutic process, and it serves as a guideline to drive your sessions in a way that fits with what you hope to achieve.
Counseling is generally used to denote a relatively brief treatment that is focused primarily on behavior. It often targets a particular symptom or problematic situation and offers suggestions and advice for dealing with it.
Psychotherapy on the other hand is generally a longer-term treatment that focuses more on gaining insight into chronic physical and emotional problems and thought processes.
