Psychotherapy is a method of treatment for individuals focused on counseling and communication as a means of improving mental health and behavior. Therapy is used to help with a variety of issues including specific clinical diagnoses including but not limited to depression, personality disorders, addictions, and stress-related disorders, but it is also used for other life problems such as managing relationships, meeting goals, parenting, grieving, difficulties, chronic illness, infertility, and more.
Adult Psychotherapy Treatments
Many mental illnesses or disorders can be addressed by therapy, and patients can learn techniques for handling challenges, coping with difficult situations, and strategizing about how to change negative or maladaptive behaviors or thoughts into positive ones. Therapists provide a safe and comfortable place where individuals can feel free to express themselves and find support during their journeys toward recovery and healing.
There is not necessarily an agenda during therapy, but Ms. Schechtman or Dr. Drutman guide a person through knowing themselves better and focusing more seriously on their thoughts, goals, and responsibilities. The next step from there is to recognize how thoughts, beliefs, and perceptions influence behavior. Individuals are encouraged to challenge any negative behaviors or ways of thinking, and adopt strategies for changing. By talking about problems, individuals are able to get all their thoughts out on the table so they can be understood more fully.
Desired Results from Adult Psychotherapy treatments:
- change behavior or thinking patterns
- increase awareness
- improve perception of reality
- increase sense of well-being
- better able to cope
- manage stressors in healthy way
Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy Treatments
Psychotherapy is available for children and adolescents who are having difficulties with their behavior or emotions. Different types of therapy exist for various conditions or reasons, but overall psychotherapy uses communication as the basis for beginning to change a person’s feelings or behaviors.
The relationship between a therapist and patient is essential, and individuals should feel like they are in a safe, comfortable, and understanding environment. The safer children feel, the easier it is for them to express themselves and get the most out of therapy. Psychotherapy for children more often explores other ways of sharing feelings and problems through drawing, playing, and pretending in addition to talking.
The first step in beginning psychotherapy is determining the need based on whatever a child is having trouble with currently. Topics may include problems with adjusting after divorce, stress, grief and bereavement, depression, anxiety, school performance, behavioral problems, or other focuses. All this is taken into consideration with the child’s history, development, and ability to participate with treatment in deciding the goals for therapy. For children and adolescents, the sessions may be individual, with groups of children, or among family members, depending on the circumstances.
How psychotherapy helps children and adolescents:
Psychotherapy can help children and adolescents understand problems better, find new solutions, improve relationships, promote positive self-esteem, get emotional support, learn conflict resolution, and work on any problems such as anxiety or depression. The length of therapy depends upon the goals of therapy, and how complex or severe any problems are. Psychotherapy may also help children or adolescents work with their schools to get assistance with learning disabilities from teachers or staff, or help them understand or accommodate for any unique challenges their students might have.
While psychotherapy certainly provides some of the best treatment for serious disorders, conditions, or situations, psychotherapy can also be beneficial for people who are otherwise functioning and stable.
To learn more, call 700.910.9135 to speak with Dr. Drutman at the Atlanta Behavioral Consultants about Psychotherapy in Atlanta, GA.