Psychotherapy is an often misunderstood term. It can refer to a variety of therapy approaches. It’s often called talk therapy. Why? Because it consists of you talking with a psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker or other licensed mental health professional. In this article, I explain what it is, who can benefit, various types and how it works.

What is Psychotherapy?

Psychotherapy helps people with a wide range of emotional challenges and mental health conditions. It does this by helping you to identify, express and change unhelpful or distressing:

• Attitudes
• Emotions
• Thoughts
• Behaviors
• Habits 

Through this “talking work”, psychotherapy can help with symptoms that are troubling and often painful. As well, it can promote more constructive and adaptive ways of coping.

Some types of more intense psychotherapy can help identify root causes of your issues, often from childhood. The goal is to enable you to heal with enhanced emotional well-being, better functioning and an improved quality of life. 

Psychotherapy depends on the development of a supportive, constructive relationship with a trusted therapist. So it’s important that you feel comfortable with them.

Who Needs Psychotherapy?

You may wish to seek psychotherapy for many reasons. Among others these may include:

• Stressful life events such as sudden job loss or financial challenges 
• Loss or death of a loved one
• Family conflict and stress
• Supporting a family member with a mental health condition
• Relationship issues
• Anger management issues
• Impact of traumatic experiences in childhood or later in life
• Recovery from physical or sexual abuse
• Trouble sleeping
• Medical illness such as a terminal disease
• Anxiety or depression, among the most common mental health conditions
• Symptoms with no physical explanation. These may include changes in appetite or sleep, loss of interest in activities once enjoyed, irritability or a sense of hopelessness
• Referral from a health care provider who may suspect you have a mental health issue

If you have a mental health issue, most can be treated by psychotherapy, including:

• Anxiety disorders such as social anxiety, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), phobias and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia
• Substance Abuse Disorders such as addictions to alcohol or drugs, and gambling
• Mood disorders such as depression and bipolar disorder
• Personality disorders such as borderline personality disorder, narcissism
• Schizophrenia or other dissociative disorders

Types of Psychotherapy

Among the wide range of types of psychotherapy, the primary evidence-based approaches include:

Individual Therapy

• Psychodynamic therapy: Focuses on ways past (often out of awareness) experiences such as in childhood may impact current feelings, thoughts and behaviors. Once a person becomes aware of them, further inner work can be done to overcome their negative impacts.
• Psychoanalysis: Similar to psychodynamic therapy but more intense and prolonged, often lasting several years.
• Interpersonal therapy (IPT): Focuses on relieving symptoms by improving interpersonal functioning. It is a time-limited (12-16 weeks) approach that looks at current problems and relationships rather than childhood or developmental issues. Therapists are active, not neutral, supportive and hopeful, and offer options for change.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Helps you understand how their thoughts and behaviors can affect the way you feel and act. It focuses on reframing negative thought patterns to more positive ones and learning to express your feelings in a more constructive way. As well, it helps by teaching ways to modify approaches to interpersonal problems and acquire ways of managing them more constructively
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT): Developed initially for people with Borderline Personality disorder, it has since broadened to help other issues as well. It is based on some concepts from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy combined with mindfulness. It helps people be aware of and attentive to the current situation and moods to manage their sensitivities and interactions with others.
• Solution-focused Therapy (SFT): This is a short-term approach that focuses on goals. It incorporates positive psychology practices to help clients change by constructing solutions rather than focusing on problems. It is a hope-friendly, positive emotion eliciting, future-oriented vehicle for desired behavioral change.
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Centered around mindfulness, ACT assists you to stay focused on the present moment, suspend judgment and accept thoughts and feelings. It provides coping mechanisms based around your needs so you can focus on healing rather than on problems.

Other approaches include:

• Mentalization-Based Therapy (MBT)
• Schema-Focused Therapy (SFT)
• Transference-Focused Psychotherapy (TFP)
• Systems Training for Emotional Predictability and Problem Solving (STEPPS)
• Creative Arts Therapy
• Animal-assisted Therapy

Group Therapy

• Usually involves one therapist with a group of 5-15 participants who share similar concerns such as depression, chronic pain or substance abuse. Participants typically meet for an hour 1-2 a week and may also be in individual therapy. People benefit not only from interacting with the therapist but also with others experiencing similar challenges.

Online Therapy

• Many people are opting for the convenience of online therapy. It is particularly helpful for those with mobility issues, are challenged to fit therapy into their schedule, are remote from in-person therapists, or may not be comfortable in face-to-face sessions.

Family Therapy

• Intended to provide a safe space for family members together to express their views, examine difficult feelings, understand one another, build on existing strengths and find solutions to problems. This is most useful when problems arise from family relationships or if a child is having problems.

Couples Therapy

• Similar to family therapy, but focused on the relationship issues between couples, 

Main Goals of Psychotherapy

The goals of psychotherapy vary depending on the approach. In general, they are intended to help people gain relief from symptoms, maintain or enhance daily functioning, and improve quality of life.

How Does Psychotherapy Work?

Each approach has different working methods ranging from the near-silence of the neutral psychiatrist in psychoanalysis, to actively intervening in Solution-focused therapy. There are many specific techniques that trained, licensed therapists employ. It’s important to discuss this with your therapist when first considering what approach to take so you are comfortable with your choice.

Psychotherapy Timeline and Role in Mental Health Recovery

Timelines to symptom relief, improved well-being and recovery to health very greatly with the person, the therapy type and the therapist. This may range from 6-8 weeks for some CBT work to years in some psychoanalytic work. In general though there is a sequence which broadly speaking consists of the following:

• Acceptance/Starting Treatment:  For some this may be shortly after they realize something isn’t right and that they need help. For others, especially those with Substance Use Disorder, there may be a long period of denial before they come to terms with the need for treatment.
• Education/Insight:  Once the need for help is acknowledged, the first step is to learn about what’s going on with a person’s mental health. There are many books and online resources with a wealth of information that can help self-educate. The therapist will conduct a diagnostic assessment and discuss this. A diagnosis can answer questions you may have and help provide clarity and insight into your situation.
• Action/Changing: Now that you have developed insights into your situation and done some of the “talking work”, it’s time to take action. Through this action we begin to enact changes on the path to healing. There may be relapses of various kinds, but those are part of the journey, as you reflect on them and adjust.
• Finding New Meaning and Building a New Life: Psychotherapy is a process of developing insights that enable the construction of new meanings, strengthening resilience and eventually creating a better life. There is no timeline for this as each person’s process is unique. 
• Continuing Recovery/ Treatment: Change and recovery are processes and not static endpoints. Psychotherapy typically comes to an end once you feel better and can manage your symptoms, if they are not resolved.That’s when the resilience you’ve developed comes into play as you move forward on your own.

Corner Canyon Can Help

Treatment is available in Utah. Are you or a loved one looking for a compassionate space to heal from mental health issues? Our licensed professional therapists and counselors can provide compassionate help. Reach out to our Admissions team now at Corner Canyon Health Centers. We’re in a peaceful setting bordered by the beautiful Wasatch Mountains.

Sources

Jackson S. 2023. Stages of mental health recovery. mentalhealth.com