What is Psychotherapy?

Psychotherapy is the treatment, by psychological means, of problems of an emotional nature, in which a trained person deliberately establishes a professional relationship with the patient in order to: 

• Eliminate, modify, or delay pre-existing symptoms
• Mediating disturbed patterns of behavior
• Promote positive personality growth and development

Wolberg LR «The technique of psychotherapy». New York: Grune y Stratton, 1977.

Who could benefit from psychotherapy?

Basically anyone who needs help to make a decision, someone who wants to change some aspects of their life. Psychotherapy is indicated when the person feels their ability to live, work or love in a pleasant way is interrupted.

Who refers to Psychotherapy?

In children: a teacher, pediatrician or parents may see the need for the minor to receive psychotherapy. In adults: a doctor or the patient himself may see the need to consult a professional when any symptoms persist.

When to seek psychotherapy?

In vital crises, situational crises, griefs, losses, physical illnesses, family situations, etc.

What are some of the benefits of Psychotherapy?

Psychotherapy can reduce your stress level, alleviate symptoms of depression, and help you develop tools to better cope with, handle, or tolerate certain situations. As you work to overcome certain fears, you may be able to choose healthier relationships and / or improve your relationship.

As your therapeutic process progresses, you will enjoy your job or career more.

In short, the aim is for the person to develop their ability to live, work and love in a more pleasant way.

What is the DSM-IV?

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders is a manual published and created by the American Psychiatric Association. It is the standard classification of mental disorders used by mental health professionals. DSM-IV is the fourth edition, published in 1994 and revised in 2000.

Are there many types of Psychotherapies? How do I know which one to choose?

Yes, there are many schools in psychotherapy with different methodologies. There is cognitive therapy, behavioral therapy, psychoanalysis, systemic therapy, etc. Those are some of the best known schools. They are similar in that they all provide a therapeutic context that facilitates development and change in the person seeking treatment.

You will be able to find a wealth of useful information on the Web, but from my point of view it is best to consult your GP to help you decide which approach is the most appropriate for you. The recommendation of a friend, family member or coworker can also be very useful in selecting the psychologist with whom to start your psychotherapeutic process. Anyway, and beyond school, my suggestion is that you have two or three interviews and see where you feel most comfortable, since empathy is one of the fundamental tools for therapeutic success.

Who is qualified to do Psychotherapy?

Graduates in Psychology. The profession that qualifies for psychotherapy is the Bachelor of Psychology. Psychiatrists are doctors who have a specialty in psychiatry and are also qualified to do so.

What can I expect from psychotherapy?

Beyond the reasons that prompted you to request psychotherapy – either to focus on a specific issue or for a chronic situation, to receive assistance, to improve the way you connect with others, or to request help in a process of transition – at first, what usually appears is a certain degree of anxiety. Anxiety decreases as confidence in the therapist and in the therapeutic process builds.

The first treatment interviews are dedicated to getting to know each other, collecting data, trying to identify the reason for the consultation and its occurrence, frequency and intensity, and then establishing therapeutic goals.

Do Brief Therapies of Default Goals Serve?

Brief therapy is understood to be one that lasts between 12 and 20 interviews, and I think its effectiveness depends a lot on the patient and their type of disorder. Many people are able to find what they are looking for in just a few interviews. For others, however, the issue (s) may be so deeply ingrained that an approach with the brief therapy modality is simply not enough.

Brief therapy, as I understand it, means therapy aimed at resolving conflicts posed as «predetermined goals.» These objectives are built, they are established in contact with the patient in the first encounters. It is brief because the interventions are specific and are linked to the reason for consultation. It is neither abbreviated nor fast!