Psychotherapy

What is Psychotherapy?

Throughout our lives, at one point or another, everyone has to deal with challenges, stress, and unhealthy behaviors. We work through these challenges to the best of our ability, but it can be hard to identify toxic thinking and repeating behaviors without the help of an impartial expert. Many times, we try to apply old solutions to recent problems, but not every problem is alike and if the old solution didn’t face the problem in a healthy way, we end up repeating damaging habits.

It is through the work of therapy that we learn how the past can affect our present. We gain an expanded understanding of ourselves, our “hot buttons”, and use it to optimize the various aspects of our lives: relationships, successes, physical health, processing grief, and issues in the workplace.

Psychotherapy can help us adapt and aims at strengthening our tool set, so we can cope with the challenges of life and find ways to grow with them. This can overall help an individual to function in their daily life while also working to alleviate symptoms and conditions. Psychotherapy may be used in tandem with medication or other therapeutic practices.

Common Uses for Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy can be used to treat a wide assortment of conditions, disorders, and emotional limitations. Not everyone who receives psychotherapy is diagnosed with a mental illness or condition. In some cases, a diagnosis may not be given throughout your treatment, as one may not be needed. Diagnosis and issues that may benefit from this treatment may include:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• OCD
• PTSD
• Bipolar Disorder
• Addictions, including alcohol, substance use, gambling, etc.
• Eating disorders
• Personality disorders
• Schizophrenia
• Conflict resolution
• Coping with major life changes
• Anger management
• Coping with serious health conditions, such as Cancer, Diabetes, or Heart Disease
• Abuse recovery
• Sleep issues, such as insomnia

Psychotherapy Sessions

Therapy sessions can be in an individual, couple, or family setting. They require active conversation and listening from both the therapist and the patient(s). The goal of your sessions is to work together with your doctor to make gains in your mental and emotional health. Your doctor will guide you through conversations, exercises, and other treatments to help you achieve these gains.

In Your First Sessions

Your first few sessions will focus on acknowledging your problems and building trust with your therapist. Your therapist is a medical professional who has the knowledge and experience to help guide you toward improvements in your mental and emotional health. But first, building trust is an important step. Furthermore, your doctor has to get to know you, and what you are dealing with. Opening up, being vulnerable, and exploring your emotions can be painful. And it may take time for you to be comfortable expressing your feelings. But remember that your therapy sessions are a safe, judgment-free space for you to explore your inner thoughts and feelings. It can also be important to discuss your own goals for your treatment, and what you hope to accomplish during therapy.

Medication and Treatment

Psychotherapy can often be used in combination with medication, especially for those with diagnosed mental health conditions. For some diagnoses, medication may be the best-proven option, but not always. While not necessary for every patient, medication may be a part of your treatment journey. Not every treatment plan involves prescription medication, for example. When symptoms are too painful and disruptive, we can use medication as a kickstart. You will likely not need to be on medications forever if you get them.

Psychotherapy and Confidentiality

Conversations with your therapist are confidential and secure. Even telemedicine appointments are done through secure and confidential means. Your therapist can answer questions or concerns about confidentiality. Please note that a therapist may break confidentiality if there’s an immediate threat to safety or when state or federal law requires reporting concerns to authorities. This will generally only occur in extreme safety cases.