This article attempts t? introduce the basic ideas ?nd tenants of psychotherapy. It starts b? introducing th? idea ?f th? psychotherapist, their training ?nd the profession. It th?n goes ?n t? introduce the psychotherapeutic relationship and ?ome ?f ?t? ideas. It ends b? introducing ??me ?f the m?st common psychotherapy theories.
The Psychotherapist:
A psychotherapist ?? someone wh? pr?vid?s psychotherapy t? clients ?n ? professional basis. This m?? be t? individuals, couples, families or ?n ? group setting. A psychotherapist ma? h?v? ?ther trainings ?r backgrounds. For ?x?m?le they ma? al?? b? a doctor, social worker, mental health worker, nurse ?r counsellor. However when ?eeing ? client for psychotherapy the? will onl? have th?t role w?th th? client ?nd n?t be providing th?m with an? other service.
Psychotherapists w?ll u?u?ll? h?ve had an intensive training whi?h i? generally betw??n 4-8 years in length. This training will h?ve involved a period ?f supervised practice ?? well a? their own personal therapy. Many psychotherapists w?ll then b? members ?f ? professional organisation ?uch ?? th? British Association f?r Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).
The Psychotherapeutic Relationship:
The psychotherapist is responsible f?r creating a relationship wher? psychotherapeutic change c?n occur. This involves ensuring that th? psychotherapy occurs ?n a private, comfortable ?nd safe environment. They w?ll offer to the client ? certain level ?f confidentiality whi?h ensures that th? client feels confident th?t they ??n open up t? th? psychotherapist w?th?ut the?r family friends, colleagues, or ?ther professionals b??ng informed about wh?t they ?r? discussing. The psychotherapist will al?? listen ver? carefully t? the client ?nd hel? th?m t? identify th??r goals and wishes for the work. It i? th?s active listening ?nd engagement b? the psychotherapist that helps create the psychotherapeutic relationship.
Psychotherapeutic Ideas:
The w?y that th? psychotherapist works w?th a client w?ll depend u?on th??r training and the theory that they u?? t? h?l? th? client. In general psychotherapy is attempting to h?l? the person live a mor? satisfying life by helping to: build the persons sense of th??r ?wn esteem; resolve issues from th??r past th?t ?re affecting th?m in th? present; them t? have healthier relationships; and to gain perspective ?nd skills to tackle the?r problems themselves.
Psychotherapeutic Approaches:
The main approaches to psychotherapy are:
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy - This ha? ?t? roots ?n psychoanalysis ?nd attempts to work with th? clients unconscious processes t? h?l? relieve distress and tension.
Person Centred Psychotherapy - This is based ?n th? work of Carl Rogers. Here th? psychotherapist offers th? core conditions of empathy, congruence ?nd unconditional positive regard to h?l? the client find th??r own solutions to the?r problems.
Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy - Here the clients thoughts ?nd behaviours ar? focused on ?nd maladaptive thoughts and behaviours ?r? changed to hel? the person move ?n fro the?r situation.
Integrative Psychotherapy - Here th? psychotherapist mat be trained ?n vari?us approaches and adjusts th? w?y th?? ?re working to suit the n?eds of th? client.
pinner psychotherapy
