What is psychotherapy?
Psychotherapy is generally a discussion between a patient/client and a professionally trained and licensed mental health practitioner, such as a psychologist, psychiatrist, social worker and/or marriage and family therapist. The purpose of psychotherapy is to identify specific concerns and problems that a patient has and to develop solutions that would bring satisfactory results. There are many different schools of psychotherapy but, generally, the shared purpose between all of those schools is to help the patient experience less stress and increased control and personal freedom in their life.
The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language defines psychotherapy as “the treatment of mental and emotional disorders through the use of psychological techniques designed to encourage communications of conflicts and insight into problems, with the goal being relief of symptoms, changes in behavior leading to improved social and vocational functioning, and personality growth.” However, Dr. Jones describes it as a process in which ordinary people, who are having difficulty in life, take the opportunity to change. Dr. Jones states, “Self-knowledge is critical for a healthy life. I would not hire anyone, vote for a president, nor marry someone who has had less than three years of therapy. People need to understand themselves before they can make good decisions in life.
Psychotherapy is the process of entering into a structured relationship with a psychotherapist toward gaining assistance with problems of living. Psychotherapy usually includes increasing a client’s individual sense of well-being as well as reducing distressing experiences. Psychotherapy is designed to improve the mental health of a client or to improve relationships, such as in couples or families. Please view my personal philosophy for a more detailed description of my beliefs about psychotherapy.
Psychotherapy is an educational, or more precisely, a re-educational endeavor between two individuals. While one may be designated the therapist and the other the patient, psychotherapy becomes a true partnership in which each participant brings different skills and information to the table. Neither partner can succeed without the active participation of the other. I frequently think of psychotherapy as being very much like two people working a jigsaw puzzle together. The patient has previously tried to fit the pieces of his life together in a meaningful way but has had difficulty in obtaining satisfying results. He has finally decided to dump all the pieces back in the box and take on a partner who is interested and experienced in helping people assemble their puzzles. It is the patient’s responsibility to put all of the pieces of the puzzle on the table, hopefully face up. It is the therapist’s job to make the therapeutic environment a safe place for the patient to reveal the most pe
Psychotherapy usually addresses development disorders (sometimes more immediate circumstances or trauma) that might express themselves emotionally, mentally or spiritually. Various techniques and tools are used to encourage communication of conflicts and illuminate insight into problems, with the goal being relief of symptoms, changes in behavior leading to improved social and vocational functioning, enhanced, renewed or changed personal values and ultimately growth of character.
