What is psychotherapy?
As a registered psychotherapist, one of the more common questions I receive is ‘What is psychotherapy?’
To put it in its simplest definition, psychotherapy is an opportunity for individuals, families, or couples to talk openly with a trained mental health professional who can provide guidance on how to address personal difficulties. Psychotherapy is about building a relationship between therapist and client, helping to create a dialogue to overcome problematic thoughts, difficult behaviours, and troublesome feelings.
When Is Psychotherapy Helpful?
Psychotherapy is helpful in situations that may be causing stress and anxiety, if you are experiencing intense or uncomfortable feelings, if your behaviour is problematic to you and your needs, if the thoughts you are thinking are hard to understand or disturbing to you, if you are struggling with a relationship issue or family conflict, and/or if you are undergoing a difficult life transition such as a life crisis.
As a psychotherapist, it is my ultimate goal to help clients increase their sense of well-being. I am sensitive to my clients’ needs and employ a diverse set of skills and techniques to facilitate the goals of the client.
If you are considering psychotherapy for yourself, please know that you are not alone. According to the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), more than 20 percent of Canadians will experience a mental health problem this year. Also, approximately 8 percent of adults will experience a major depression at some point in their lifetime. These types of things affect people of all ages, education levels, income levels, and cultures.
If you are struggling, seeking psychotherapy can help get through debilitating problems. Through psychotherapy, it’s possible to live more fulfilling, happier lives. Individuals may come to psychotherapy with different goals. Alongside a psychotherapist, you can build the skillset required to live happier, healthier, and to be more productive.
Psychotherapy is an opportunity to receive guidance and instruction on how to move forward beyond the limitations you might currently be experiencing. Engaging with a psychotherapist in a supportive environment can provide objective, educational insight into thought and behaviour patterns in need of change.
Imagine being able to overcome troublesome behaviours, compulsions, thoughts, or emotions, to improve social skills and relationships, and to gain strength in one’s own being. Psychotherapy builds on psychological methods to accomplish these things and more.
What Does A Psychotherapist Do To Help?
Psychotherapy may be used to accomplish a number of goals. If you are ready to take action to improve the terms of your life, now is the perfect time to contact someone to begin the healing process. Don’t let isolation, depression, anxiety, or anger be your reality. By talking to an experienced and educated psychotherapist, you can build your life into one that cultivates connections, joy, peace of mind, and kindness among one’s self and their environment.
Throughout the years, I have gained expertise in mental health assessment and treatment. When it comes to psychotherapy, a strong therapeutic relationship between psychotherapist and the client is needed. That’s why it’s recommended to have the first meeting and see if it’s the right fit. In that initial meeting, the main goals for one’s psychotherapy can also be established.
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