Therapy – a chance to change lives

Psychotherapy is sometimes stigmatized in some societies and considered useless, because it is commonly referred to as an ordinary conversation, but for money. Fortunately in Poland therapies are beginning to experience a renaissance and more and more people decide to talk about their problems to a specialist. There are many psychotherapies, which are designed to find out as much as possible about your problem and help you solve it.

Types of psychotherapy

There are several types of therapy, and it is selected depending on the condition and needs of the patient, types of disorders such as personality dis orders, etc:

1. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps in treating various disorders including anxiety, depression, trauma related disorders, eating disorders. CBT helps a person with depression recognize and change negative thought patterns or behaviors that contribute to depression.
   
2. Interpersonal therapy (IPT) is a short-term form of treatment that enables patients to understand underlying interpersonal issues, such as unresolved grief, changes in social or work roles, and conflicts with others. During ITP, the therapist will teach ways to express emotions and improve communication with others. Interpersonal therapy is most commonly used to treat depression.
   
3. Psychodynamic therapy assumes that good behavior and well-being are influenced by childhood experiences and inappropriate, repetitive thoughts or feelings that are unconscious (outside the person’s awareness). The therapist helps the patient improve self-awareness and change old patterns in order to fully take control of their life.
   
4. Dialectical behavioral therapy helps regulate emotions. It is often used to treat people with chronic suicidal thoughts and those with borderline disorder, eating disorders and PTSD. Through it, the patient will learn new skills to help take personal responsibility for changing unhealthy or destructive behavior
   
5. Supportive therapy uses guidance and encouragement to help patients develop their own resources. It helps build self-esteem, reduce anxiety, strengthen coping mechanisms, and improve social functioning. Supportive psychotherapy helps patients cope with problems related to their mental health conditions, which in turn affect the rest of their lives.

What a session looks like

Therapy sessions can be individual, family, couples or group. It is designed for both adults and children. Sessions usually take place once a week. The patient and therapist must be active and engaged. Trust and a good relationship between the two are essential to working together effectively and benefiting from psychotherapy.

Therapy can be short-term, which may last a few weeks, and long-term, lasting months or even years. Treatment goals and arrangements, such as how often and how long to meet, are planned together by the patient and therapist.

It is important to mention that confidentiality is a basic requirement of psychotherapy. Also, although patients share their own feelings and thoughts, intimate physical contact with the therapist is never appropriate, accepted, or useful.

A way to deal with phobias and neuroses

The first symptoms of social anxiety syndrome usually appear between the ages of 10 and 19. Genetic and environmental factors contribute to this. Adults with phobia are afraid of embarrassing themselves in front of other people, and symptoms of such anxiety include dry mouth, trembling voice, shaking, racing heartbeat, nausea, sweating. In addition, there is a fear of situations involving unknown people, which can trigger panic attacks, crying, and tantrums. People who are affected by this disorder avoid such situations or experience constant distress during them.

The best method to treat social phobia is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or medication. It often takes both therapy sessions (12 to 16 at 60 or 90 minutes each) and medication. The goal is to build your confidence and learn skills to cope with stressful and frightening situations. Therapists gradually expose patients to the scary situation and suggest ways to cope with the fear.Through therapy, social phobia will be able to be reduced or completely cured. A person who has developed symptoms of neurosis will be treated in a similar manner. Cognitive behavioral therapy will also be used in this case.

Photo Cottonbro/Pexels