Psychotherapy

PSYCHOTHERAPY

Introduction

Individual psychotherapy is a method of bringing about change in a person by exploring his or her feelings, attitudes, thinking, and behavior

Definition

 The Treatment of emotional or related bodily problems by psychological means. It is a process of helping a distressed person, which aims at facilitating a change in his feelings, attitudes and behavior by means of verbal and emotional communication. Therapy is conducted on a one to one basis, that is the therapist treats one patient at a time. Helps to understand themselves and their behavior

·         Make personal changes

·         Improve interpersonal relationships

·         Get relief from emotional pain or unhappiness

Indications

·         Stress related disorders

·         Alcohol and drug dependence

·         Sexual disorders

·         Marital disharmony

Therapy Process

·         The patient is encouraged to discover for himself the reasons for his behavior

·         The therapist listens to the patient and offers explanation and advice when necessary   Patient come to a greater understanding of self and to find a way of dealing with his problems

·         The phases includes introduction, working, and termination

Approaches

·         Psychodynamic therapy: based on psychoanalytic theory; when a patient has insight in to early relationships and experiences as the source of his or her problems they can be solved

·         Humanistic therapy: focuses on helping the patient to explore and his or her own feelings and choices

·         Behavior therapy: emphasizes the principles of learning with positive or negative reinforcement and observational modeling

·         Cognitive therapy: focuses on identifying and correcting distorted thinking pattern that can lead to emotional distress and problem behaviors

Objectives

·         Removing, modifying or retarding existing symptoms.

·         Changing disturbed patterns of behavior.

·         Promoting positive personality growth and development.

·         Finding out causes for emotional problems.   Environmental manipulation

·         To improve IPR.

Types of psychotherapy

Depth of probing into the unconscious mind.

·         Superficial / Short term / Supportive

·         Deep / Long term / Analysis

No of Patients Treated

·         Individual

·         Group

·         Family

Purpose of which it is given  

·         Supportive or Guidance

·         Re - Constructive

·         Re Build

Techniques

A.  Ventilation

It is the process of allowing the release of bottled emotions. It helps to express the suppressed emotions.Patient is allowed to talk whatever comes into his mind.

B.  Abreaction

It is a process of exploring a repressed emotions. Example: 'ok', than what happened?

C.  Reassurance

Supportive approach.Example: "you do not have a serious problem. I am confident that you ill get well”

D.  Explanation

Explanations are provided to remove misconceptions and to provide proper understanding of a problem.

E.  Suggestion

Suggestion is a process by which symptoms relief is achieved through positive statements made with a degree of firmness and authority.

F. Persuasion

Persuasion is a procedure in which therapist urges the patient repeatedly to change his behavior or to try new methods of dealing with his problem.

G. Reinforcement

Reinforcement or rewards are potent methods to enhance the desired behavior.They can be verbal or material in nature.

H. Recreation

It helps to break the monotony of work. It is essentially required for the patients who have developed emotional problems as a result of having to perform monotonous and hard work.

I. Work as therapy

When a person engages in work his preoccupation with emotional problems decreases..

It enhances self- esteem, and helps to resolve conflicts in many circumstances.

J. Relaxation       

 It is especially useful for the anxious individual. It is an effective intervention for many psychosomatic problems like, HT, PUD, BA and migraine.

Example: yoga and asanas.