Author: Charles Frank

Psychotherapy: Definition, Types, Efficacy

However, for many therapies, research involving large numbers of patients has provided evidence that the treatment is effective. These evidence-based therapies have been shown to reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and other mental disorders. NIMH’s health topic pages list some of the evidence-based therapies used to treat specific disorders. Some types of psychotherapy work better than others in treating certain disorders and conditions. Your therapist will consider your situation and preferences to determine which approach or combination of approaches is best for you. A distinction can be made between those based on a medical model and those based on a humanistic model.

How do I find a therapist?

  1. While the prospect of searching for a therapist can indeed be daunting, several online tools can make the process significantly easier.
  2. First being examined by a health care provider can help rule out a physical health issue.
  3. Writing a mini-memoir can stimulate the recognition of experiences that have shaped your life in positive ways and help you recapture happiness.

Returning to Heather and Jeff, we hope Heather encourages Jeff to find a therapist he trusts, who can provide insight, connection, and tools for navigating his life in a growth promoting, adaptive way. By Kendra Cherry, MSEdKendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the “Everything Psychology Book.” Cognitive therapy is centered on the idea that our thoughts have a powerful influence on our mental well-being.

Confidentiality

Referrals from friends, referral services, and online therapist directories can also be a great way to find a therapist. You might realize that psychotherapy can help with life’s problems, but it can still be difficult to seek help or to even recognize when it is time to talk to a professional. Psychotherapy comes in many forms, but all are designed to help people overcome challenges, develop coping strategies, and lead happier and healthier lives.

Psychotherapy Effectiveness

In fact, sometimes you might want to try different approaches first before settling down with one. Regardless, Jeffrey M. Cohen, PsyD, believes it’s important to always work with a therapist who sets goals. Unlike many myths about psychotherapy, this type of space isn’t for “severe” cases only. Explore Mayo Clinic studies of tests and procedures to help prevent, detect, treat or manage conditions.

The Common Core of Psychotherapy

More recent research has shown that psychotherapy is an effective form of treatment for some anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and eating disorders as well as grief and trauma. Surprisingly, Wampold suggested that the type of therapy and the theoretical basis of the treatment do not have an effect on the outcome. The disagreement has motivated researchers to continue to examine and study the effectiveness of psychotherapy. The humanistic approach to psychotherapy focuses on helping people maximize their potential and stresses the importance of self-exploration, free will, and self-actualization. NIMH provides information on and examples of technology used for mental health treatment.

Over time, discussing your concerns can improve your mood and change the way you think and feel about yourself. For most types of psychotherapy, your therapist encourages you to talk about your thoughts and feelings and what’s troubling you. Your therapist can help you gain more confidence and comfort as time goes on.

Psychotherapy may be that space that allows you to work on your mental health. The primary assumption of psychoanalysis is the belief that all people have unconscious thoughts, feelings, desires and memories. It aims to release repressed emotions and experiences (making the unconscious conscious).

When should I see my healthcare provider or mental health professional while doing psychotherapy?

Your mental health professional will work with you to determine a treatment plan that works best for you. Psychotherapy can be short-term (a few sessions), dealing with immediate issues, or long-term (months or years), dealing with mental health conditions and/or complex issues. Together, you and your therapist will determine the goals of treatment and arrangements for how often and how long you’ll meet. Psychotherapy needs to be adapted to meet the developmental needs of children. Depending on age, it is generally held to be one part of an effective strategy to help the needs of a child within the family setting.122 Child psychotherapy training programs necessarily include courses in human development.

The Division of Intramural Research Programs (IRP) is the internal research division of the NIMH. Over 40 research groups conduct basic neuroscience research and clinical investigations of mental illnesses, brain function, and behavior at the NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland. Use these free digital, outreach materials in your community and on social media to spread the word about mental health. Use these free education and outreach materials in your community and on social media to spread the word about mental health and related topics. NIMH statistics pages include statistics on the prevalence, treatment, and costs of mental illness for the population of the United States.