The term “therapy” has come to recollect images of therapists sitting in chairs taking notes while occasionally nodding in agreement with patients who are lying on couches confessing their darkest fears and fantasies. Therapy comes in a wide variety of forms, and the majority of them don’t resemble the stereotype in any way. However, talk therapy is most likely what comes to mind when a layperson hears the word “therapy.”
So, how does this Talk Therapy work?
People who are suspicious of therapy may wonder why you would need a stranger to talk to about your feelings when you could just ask a trustworthy friend, relative, or mentor. While sharing conversations with someone you care about is surely one of life’s pleasures, our loved ones aren’t always able to bear our hardships. They are not only unprepared for what to say and how to react, but because they are familiar with us, it might be challenging for them to distinguish between ours and their own phobias, traumas, or mental health issues.
A professionally qualified therapist can help in this situation. A therapist only knows what we tell them; to them, we are a blank slate. Talk therapists are specially trained to guide us through our issues and spot patterns so that we are more equipped to come up with answers. Some people will see a therapist for a brief period of time in order to work through a particular life situation, such as coping with divorce or the loss of a loved one. There is no one form of therapy or length of time that will be appropriate for every person. Some people will visit their therapists often for years. It all comes down to what the patient and the therapist feel is appropriate.
A Talk Therapy session can help an individual in resolving a variety of problems, such as:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Eating disorders
- Relationship issues
- Anger management
- Phobias
- Grief
- Bipolar disorder
- Schizophrenia
What should I say to my therapist in Therapy?
Addressing the issue or issues that are troubling a person is one of therapy’s main objectives. These don’t always have to be severe traumatic events, like separation, bereavement, loss, worry, losing one’s job, or developing an addiction. In order to better understand themselves and their thought and behaviour patterns, people may want to talk about themselves in general and explore their past experiences. When it comes to discourse and debate during talk therapy, there is no right or wrong response. Never should a patient feel pressured or compelled by their therapist to talk about things they are not yet ready to face. One can just say they do not intend to discuss something if a therapist asks a question they feel uncomfortable responding. A therapist might make an effort to direct conversations so that the client can draw connections between experiences, thoughts, and behaviours, but they won’t pressure them to talk about issues they don’t want to.
Different Types of Talk Therapy
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): By addressing our behavioural responses to difficult circumstances or emotional pain, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) aims to change unhelpful thought patterns. The therapist oversees sessions and directs the client’s progress along a predetermined treatment route in this structured kind of therapy. A little more than 12 sessions are normally required for CBT to be completed within the allotted time frame. The ideal candidates for this kind of talking therapy are people who are looking for answers and practical ways to alter their behaviour.
Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT): An adaptation of CBT called Dalectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) is designed to assist people deal with interpersonal problems. It was created primarily to assist individuals dealing with personality problems in the 1980s. It incorporates relationships-centered meditation with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy techniques. By enabling clients to simultaneously hold numerous viewpoints on their problems, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy tries to help clients break free from their destructive thought patterns.
Psychodynamic Therapy: Sigmund Freud’s theories are the foundation of psychodynamic therapy; however, it has changed since its inception. In order to better comprehend and interpret a person’s present behaviours and feelings, this style of talking therapy focuses on exploring the person’s prior experiences. Psychodynamic therapy can take longer than some other types of therapy due to the extensive self-reflection required.
Humanistic Therapy: Client-centered and existential therapy are two examples of humanistic therapy approaches that look at a person’s life from a variety of perspectives to address difficulties. Examining one’s feelings, relationships, actions, and thoughts, for instance, can help one understand a specific problem. These therapies frequently let the client direct the sessions and may dive more deeply into existential issues and the purpose of life.
Whatever the reason you’re seeking counselling, talk therapy probably won’t hurt. The rewards are plentiful as long as you’re ready to invest the time and energy required for this job of introspection and excavation. Telling the thoughts in your head out loud to another person in a secure and judgment-free environment may be quite liberating. It helps you to connect the dots, gain perspective, and spot patterns of behaviour when your words and thoughts are reflected back to you. That’s the benefit of talk therapy.
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