Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is the interaction between a therapist and one or more patients which attempts to relieve suffering and psychological disability by inducing changes in patient's attitudes and behaviour (Frank and Frank, Persuasion and Healing).
Counselling is drawing on what people already have available to them; therapy is interventional. Psychotherapy is effective, but not in all patients. Different techniques work better than others for different conditions. Patients as well need to want to change.
There are many types of psychtherapy, differing from others in technique or theoretical framework. Therapists are drawn to one type or another based on exposure, training opportunities, personality style, belief system, etc. Types of psychotherapy include:
Common Tasks of Psychotherapy
- clarify symptoms and problems
- inspire hope
- help patient to express and experience feelings
- taching new coping strategies
- alleviate the patient's sense of powerlessness and demoralization (important)
- encourage self-reflection
people often have mixed feelings about change
- desire to change things
- fear of change
- resentment of being told what to do
The Therapist
An essential part of psychotherapy is to have a positive relationship, which has:
- healthy boundaries
- awareness and tolerance of feelings in the room, both in the patient and the therapist
- a sense of how the patient's problems might be approached
- ability to inspire confidence
It is important to acknowledge feelings such as judgment and frustration (counter-transference).
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