Psychotherapy is one of a wide range of therapies used to ease psychological suffering. These can generally be divided into psychotherapy and counselling. Psychotherapists undergo rigorous training with a recognised organisation which is usually affiliated with a particular “school”. These schools are related to the particular methodology and techniques of their founders. These include: Freudian analysis, Jungian analytical psychotherapy, psychodynamic psychotherapy, humanistic approaches, cognitive-analytical therapy, psychosynthesis and gestalt, amongst others.
Psychotherapy generally involves encouraging clients to talk about their experiences and express emotions that have been repressed. Trained practitioners are able to identify the importance of not only what clients say, but of what they do not say, and to suggest links between present behaviour and past events. In time, most clients are able to assimilate past events and feelings, and so move on psychologically and emotionally.
See Also:
- Stress in the Workplace
- Counselling
Treatment is especially useful in treating the following conditions:
addictions, anorexia nervosa, anxiety, AIDS, bereavements, bulimia nervosa, cancer, compulsions, depression, grief, phobias, obsessions, redundancy, sexual and relationship problems, stress.
