WEEK 2 :Psychotherapy with Individuals

WEEK 2 :Psychotherapy with Individuals

Psychotherapy can provide help with a range of problems, from depression and low self-esteem to addiction and family disputes. Anyone who is feeling overwhelmed by their problems and unable to cope may be able to benefit from psychotherapy. Its aims to improve an individual’s well-being and mental health, to resolve or mitigate troublesome behaviors, beliefs, compulsions, thoughts, or emotions, and to improve relationships and social skills. NURS 6640 wk 2 Psychotherapy With Individuals Essay

Psychotherapy is a professional relationship between a therapist and a client that is based on therapeutic principles, structure and technique. It differs from other relationships in several ways. There are over a thousand different psychotherapy techniques, some being minor variations, while others are based on very different conceptions of psychology, ethics (how to live) or techniques.

 

Relationship between a Psychotherapist and a Client/Patient

This is an important point. Psychotherapists are mental health professionals who are trained to listen to a person’s problems to try to find out what’s causing them and help them find a solution. The relationship between a therapist and a client is strictly professional.

As well as listening and discussing important issues with client, a psychotherapist can suggest strategies for resolving problems and, if necessary, help them change their attitudes and behavior. Therapists are trained to understand what a client/patient say, their words, how they say them and which ones they do not use. They pay attention to body language and voice tone to fully understand their speech. NURS 6640 wk 2 Psychotherapy With Individuals Essay

A therapist will treat sessions as confidential. This means a client can trust them with information that may be personal or embarrassing. The communication between client/patient and therapist is not equal. Therapists rarely will reveal their opinions or stances on various issues, such as abortion or politics.

Types of Psychotherapy

The type of psychotherapy used depends on the psychological issue the person is dealing with; not all forms of psychotherapy are appropriate for all cases.

There are a number of styles and approaches in psychotherapy:

  • Behavioral therapy – Behavioral therapy helps clients/patients to understand how changes in behavior can lead to changes in how they feel. It focuses on increasing the person’s engagement in positive or socially reinforcing activities. It can help people whose emotional distress stems from behaviors that they engage in.NURS 6640 wk 2 Psychotherapy With Individuals Essay
  • Family Therapy – A family therapist looks at symptoms in the family context. Some conditions require the treatment of the family unit. Cognitive therapy, behavioral therapy, and especially interpersonal therapy may help. Family therapy generally involves discussion and problem-solving sessions with the client and the family, as a group, in couples, or one-to-one.
  • Group Therapy – A group therapy session usually involves 6-12 clients and one therapist. The participants have similar problems, and they benefit from the therapist and by observing how others handle their issues and respond to feedback. Getting feedback from other people with related problems can give a new perspective and help to facilitate improvement and change.
  • Biomedical Therapy – The last therapy is biomedical therapy. This form of therapy is conducted by a psychiatrist, a medical doctor who specializes in psychological issues, or other medical professionals. The most common form of this therapy is through medication, such as Prozac or Wellbutrin that are used to treat depression. Once the doctor has diagnosed the individual, they will prescribe medication that can treat the biological issues that may be causing the psychological issue. NURS 6640 wk 2 Psychotherapy With Individuals Essay

Some non-Western indigenous therapies have been developed. In African countries this includes harmony restoration therapy, meseron therapy and systemic therapies based on the Ubuntu philosophy.

Benefits of Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy can be used to help a range of people. The following feelings are signs that an individual might benefit from this type of therapy:

  • Overwhelming feelings of sadness or helplessness.
  • An inability to cope with everyday problems.
  • Difficulty concentrating on work or studies most of the time.
  • Drinking too much, taking drugs, or being aggressive to an extent that is harming themselves or others.
  • A sense that problems never improve, despite receiving help from friends and family.
  • Feeling constantly on edge or worrying unnecessarily.

Historically, psychotherapy has sometimes meant “interpretative” (i.e. Freudian) methods, namely psychoanalysis, in contrast with other methods to treat psychiatric disorders such as behavior modification. NURS 6640 wk 2 Psychotherapy With Individuals Essay

What is individual therapy?

Individual therapy is a psychotherapy implemented by a trained professional, usually a therapist or psychologist, to help a client work through a problem. The ways that individual therapy is implemented varies widely depending upon the psychological problem experienced by the client, the personal beliefs and practices of the therapist, and the individual needs of the client.

Below is a summary of the major forms that individual therapy can take and the mental illness or psychological problem they have been most successful in treating. Not all therapies described below will be offered by all psychologists.

A point to keep in mind is that the more you believe you can change and that therapy can make a difference, the more positive and successful your treatment will be. This concept of self efficacy will be discussed in more detail later in the article.NURS 6640 wk 2 Psychotherapy With Individuals Essay

What is involved in individual therapy?

The overall length of time taken for individual therapy varies widely. Usually a minimum of eight sessions are needed to make sure all aspects of the illness have been touched upon. However, your therapist may recommend more or less sessions depending on your progress. An important part of therapy is making sure that you come back for follow up sessions after one month, six months and 12 months so your psychologist can monitor your condition and make sure it is under control.

The first session will usually involve you and your psychologist “getting to know” one another. Your psychologist will ask questions about you and your past experiences, current situation, family, job and friends. Your psychologist will not push you to delve into private matters, but does need to obtain enough information about your individual needs in order to determine a course of treatment. In some cases, the problem will be quite evident to both you and your psychologist (e.g. if you are anorexic and are seeking help to fight it). However, in some cases there may be an underlying issue you are not aware of (e.g. you may be depressed, anxious or angry without knowing why). NURS 6640 Psychotherapy With Individuals Essay

It is important for your psychologist to assess the problem and decide the best plan of action. The first step is to determine what the problem is. Once you and your psychologist have both developed an awareness of the situation, you can start to work together to determine why the problem is present. From here, your psychologist will implement a program to try to solve the problem.

Remember that, although your psychologist may be directing the sessions, you are the one in control. If you feel that the therapy should take a different direction, discuss this with your psychologist. He or she has selected a program to best suit your needs, but will still be very responsive to any feedback that you have. However, keep in mind that psychologists are highly trained professionals that have a lot of experience in their field. By trusting that your psychologist has your best intentions in mind, you will benefit more from the therapy. NURS 6640 wk 2 Psychotherapy With Individuals Essay

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