Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is talk therapy that involves the therapist helping the client gain insight and/or change thoughts, behaviours, and feelings that are causing them distress. Psychotherapy can also help clients address mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, personality disorders, compulsion, eating disorders and many others. Psychotherapy can help individuals, couples, and families as psychotherapists also help individuals explore and change the dynamics or patterns that are occurring between two or more people.

In psychotherapy the central change agent is the quality of the relationship between the client and the therapist. That is why when you are looking for a therapist fit between you and your therapist is so important. The therapist provides a safe non-judgemental atmosphere where clients can explore thoughts, feelings, and behaviours that they otherwise may not feel comfortable discussing.

The term psychotherapy also encompasses many different types of therapy. For example, psychotherapy can involve Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy, and many other types of therapy. Different therapeutic modalities have different theories about what causes client issues which inform the direction the therapist takes in session and the techniques they use to help the individual resolve their concerns. The modality the therapist chooses will depend on the client’s concern and whether the modality fits for the client.

It is also important to know what psychotherapy is not. Psychotherapy should not involve the psychotherapist telling you what decisions you should be making about your life, invalidating your feelings, or denying your trauma. Tools and techniques are suggested but should not be forced upon you if you are uncomfortable with them. In addition, although psychotherapy involves validation another part of a psychotherapist’s job is to gently challenge clients in order to help them grow. If you are totally comfortable in therapy all the time you may not be benefiting from it. If you have concerns about the direction of therapy a therapist should be open to hearing your feedback.

What can you expect in psychotherapy? You can expect your psychotherapist to review confidentiality with you, complete an intake process with you, and conduct a history during the first few sessions of therapy. You can also expect the therapist to collaborate with you on goals for therapy and to create a plan with you to help you achieve those goals.