Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is based upon the well being of the mind controlling all other bodily functions and emotions. Psychotherapy involves the ability to discuss and understand deep lying emotional concerns. Gentle encouragement to talk about any stresses, anxieties or emotions will be given. It may be necessary to start at the beginning, which may involve your childhood. A pattern of events from whenever your problems started will emerge and be pieced together like a jigsaw, giving a final picture. Understanding what is wrong is generally considered half way to putting things right.

With the help of the psychotherapist you can then move forward in a positive, constructive direction for the future. Sometimes it is helpful to talk in confidence to an independent person, who has an understanding of how you can be helped.

Introduction

A therapist’s purpose is to relieve emotional distress and help in the avoidance of ineffective and inappropriate behaviours that are a characteristic manifestation of emotional illness.

To accomplish the above a therapist must possess an in-depth understanding of both the nature of emotional illness and the process of psychotherapy.

The nature of a client’s illness may be primary (1°), or secondary (2°) to some other structural damage or illness.

Psychotherapy includes in its concerns a patient’s self-awareness and their capacity to communicate with one another. These being that most human aspect of human beings.

The process of psychotherapy begins with an evaluation of the client’s problems and a resultant formation of a treatment programme, compatible to the client’s needs and requirements.

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The treatment offered is tailored to an individuals needs; depending upon the nature of both the presenting problems and the type of person he/she is.

Each person begins life genetically distinct from any other person who has ever lived. This includes the closest of family members in a distinctive family constellation, for he is born into it at a different time.

People who are distressed or suffering from emotional disorders display regularities in their behaviour and similarities in their state of mind.

A professional should consider these factors on evaluation of a client.

The specific circumstances of his client’s life.
The specific nature of his illness.
His particular distinctiveness as a human being.

A therapist may encounter the following “stumbling blocks” in his evaluation.

Hesitation may be shown regarding intimate details of his life.
He may think of himself as abused or mistreated and consequently mistrustful.
He may be unwilling to admit how unwell or upset he really is, either to another person or himself.
He could be emotionally drained and therefore unable to communicate his feelings at all.
He may not know himself well enough to explain himself to somebody else.

A client’s appearance may include evidence of

Subjective distress (where it is pertaining to or arising from the client himself).
Disturbance of thought or feeling.
Behaviour of which he may not be wholly aware.

When taking note of a clients manner and content of talk; a therapist should be aware of any special characteristics, such as

Slowing.
Flight of ideas.
Incoherence.
Evasiveness.

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Crofton Health Clinic

Contents

Psychotherapy

Introduction

Contents