The term “psychotherapy” can mean different things to different people. Originally developed to identify and treat emotional and behavioral disturbances, therapy is now also utilized as a path to emotional fulfillment, enriched self-awareness, and to promote healthy interpersonal functioning.
Often psychotherapy clients want a supportive, emotionally safe, and gently challenging environment in which to explore their internal landscape. They desire to better understand themselves or their personal histories, resolve internal conflicts, move beyond past experiences, or improve their potential and overall sense of well-being. They may be struggling with a sense of “something’s not right” about their lives, and the therapeutic work is directed to help them gain clarity and empowerment to identify and make the changes necessary. The initial phase of therapy is often utilized to identify and clarify a client’s concerns and formulate the appropriate course of therapy. Often a "treatment plan" is discussed and agreed upon. If a client’s concerns/issues fall outside their therapist’s expertise, the therapist will likely make every effort to assist the client in finding the most appropriate therapist in the community.
Therapy offers an opportunity to identify and develop one’s innate capacities toward growth and self knowledge, and to aid in making conscious choices that develop and nurture one’s potential. Psychotherapy may also help to identify and explore the many ways in which past and present may undermine, block, or hinder one’s autonomy and self-actualization. In revealing obstacles to growth, therapy helps people free themselves of self-restricting attitudes and self-defeating thoughts and patterns of behavior that limit their well-being and general life satisfaction.
Designed to address emotional concerns, psychotherapy may focus on issues such as depression, anxiety, experiences of abuse or trauma, and interpersonal relationships. Psychotherapy strives to alleviate suffering, conflict, pain, or limitation. It is a collaborative process of self-discovery that strives to give people a sense of hope and healing.
Psychotherapy may help change maladaptive thought, communication, and behavioral patterns. While focus may be on past experiences and unresolved issues “stuck in time,” therapy can also help clients to develop coping strategies and practical problem solving abilities. Self-care issues may be identified (i.e. exercise, diet, and interests). The consulting office may be a place to grieve, to explore your potential, wonder aloud about situational or interpersonal stressors, discover untapped interests and talents, or simply express what remains unexpressed. While specific problems and issues are often the initial focus of treatment, goals may include greater self-awareness, insight into interpersonal “style” and functioning, resolution of internal conflicts, fears and inhibitions, or attendance to issues associated with your childhood or family-of-origin.
Regardless of definition or “schools” of therapy, psychotherapy is a relationship designed to foster growth and well-being in the client. At its most basic level, psychotherapy is the process of being able to share what is emotionally painful or troubling in full confidence with a trained and licensed professional. The therapist can offer invaluable support in a safe, trusting, non-judgmental space, where the client can be fully heard. Through this process the client can become aware of different perspectives and internal conflicts that hinder his or her sense of self and interpersonal functioning.
