Psychotherapy
What is Psychotherapy?
Sometimes known as “the talking cure,” psychotherapy is the process of helping a person identify how to solve a problem that impairs their life in some way, usually where the problem has no medical cause. Typically, no drugs are used in psychological therapies.
How can psychotherapy help?
For all humans, problems can creep up on us, and before we know it, they have such a strong hold that we lose the ability to solve them without help from someone who specialises in helping people who have reached that place.
How is psychotherapy conducted?
Any effective psychotherapist will, broadly, follow this process, in a way unique to you and your challenge:
Form a rapport,learn about your challenge, explore ways you have tried to solve it in the past, help you to find solutions that will work for you, help you implement those solutions.
Therapy is, and should be different for each person. If you have any sense that you are being “processed” that is a good indicator that the therapist is making you fit a standard model, when in fact, the therapist should be trying to understand your unique situation and challenge.
Who can benefit from psychotherapy?
People who have tried all other ways of solving their problem and can’t shift it.
People who are “sick and tired of being sick and tired.”
People who may have to wait up to 2 years to see an NHS psychologist.
People who want to “nip in the bud” an emerging problem.
People who are experiencing anxiety, depression, anxiety and depression, phobias, OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder), addictions, sexual problems, stress, LGBT issues, or other problems that impair their quality of life.
Why do psychotherapists have a therapist?
Most psychotherapists and psychologist have a therapeutic arrangement with another therapist. Why? To help deal with any problems that crop up, to help maintain a sense of perspective, to have an impartial outsider give feedback on current mental health.
Who should avoid psychotherapy?
If you have a history of therapy dependency you should seek therapy for your current problem, at the same time that you receive help to address your dependency challenges. Ethical therapists want to put themselves out of a job ASAP. Unethical therapists (yes, there are many) will string you along for years, in some cases.
Avoid psychotherapy if you are already under psychiatric care, unless your psychiatrist has recommended a specific type of therapy. If you are on any kind of mental health medication, you should consult your GP or psychiatrist BEFORE engaging in any therapy that may interfere with the programme you are already on.
How long does psychotherapy take?
Supremely effective therapists can help you in one session, lasting between 30 minutes and 3 hours. Moderately effective therapists will work with you for months. Largely ineffective therapists will take years to help you. Having said that, some (few) problems are so deeply rooted, or ingrained, that they can take 6-12 sessions to deal with. In the hands of a highly skilled therapist you should feel better after the first therapy session.
How long is each psychotherapy session?
Some problems can be solved very quickly, in 10 to 15 minutes. A typical session lasts between 45 and 90 minutes. Sometimes a single three hour session can solve a problem.
What happens after psychotherapy?
In the hands of a skilled therapist you will have a series of exercises to practice to maintain your problem free state. That means, eventually the solution becomes a habit for you, and you should be able to prevent the problem emerging again, or if it does emerge, you have the skills and techniques to solve it yourself.
Can I have support between psychotherapy sessions?
Yes. If you agree to some kind of support between sessions, your therapist can normally make those arrangements. However, note of caution.: in therapy you are working towards solving your own problems for life, and support between sessions may dis-empower you, and impede your progress.
How can I tell if psychotherapy is working?
Most people can feel that it is working. They feel better. If you are not feeling better after therapy that is an indicator that it is not working. If you are not making progress after two sessions you should be thinking about firing your therapist.
How do I select a psychotherapist?
The biggest predictor of success in psychotherapy is the quality of the relationship between you and the therapist. Select your therapist mostly on the basis of rapport. Of course, you also want to know that s/he is capable and competent. Does that mean s/he should have the highest level of qualification, a doctorate? Not necessarily. Many therapists who have not conducted doctoral studies are absolutely brilliant. If the therapist is relatively new to the field, you may want to be sure that they are well qualified, but if they are very experienced, the pieces of paper from decades ago are of little value now.
How do I know when psychotherapy is finished?
When you have solved your problem, or learned how to cope with it, AND, you are confident that if it emerges again that you can deal with it successfully.
What are the alternatives to psychotherapy?
For any problem in life, you have several choices.
1. Do nothing.
2. Accept the problem.
3. Change something.
So, too, in therapy. You can do nothing about the problem. You can accept it. Or you can change something. If you choose to change something, then you have another choice: how?
What are the alternatives to psychotherapy?
Here are just some of the alternatives
Self treat
Speak to a friend or confidant
Consult you GP
Read a book or books on the problem
Read articles on line
Ask you GP for an appointment with an NHS Psychologist or Psychiatrist
See a private psychotherapist
If you have chosen to see a private psychotherapist, you can contact Prof Nigel MacLennan on 