Working with a psychotherapy services professional is a good way to start taking some steps toward improving your mental and emotional wellbeing. There are, however, a lot of misconceptions about psychotherapy as a field. If you're thinking about going to a session with a practitioner, here are four things you should know.
Talk Isn't the Only Option
Psychotherapy has the misfortune of being regularly used in movies and on TV shows as a tool for probing characters minds. This means there's a widespread misconception that all therapy is talk therapy.
Folks in the psychotherapy field have learned that not everybody responds well to direct conversations about their thoughts, feelings, and memories. To address this problem, a whole host of therapy methods have been developed. Newer techniques emphasize creating art, working with animals, playing out scenes, and other approaches that de-emphasize the talky stereotype of therapy.
Things Rarely Come Together Quickly
Therapy is a process, and it requires a professional to get a feel for the issues you're trying to confront. Don't go into sessions expecting to be "cured" because that's not what psychotherapy is about.
Instead, try to understand how the specific process works. For example, cognitive-behavioral therapies are designed to familiarize patients with situations that might trouble them to learn at an emotional and physical level that those moments aren't the end of the world.
Some Therapies Won't Be for You
The sense that you're not making progress can leave you feeling like either you or the therapy has failed. Even if you like the idea of a particular process, it might not be a great fit for your situation. Try to be open to the idea that you might have to a few processes before you find one that matches well with your circumstances.
It Helps to Study a Little
Given the number of options out there, you would be wise to do a little bit of study regarding the methods any practitioner you're considering working with might use. If something doesn't sound like it would click with you, there's a good chance you will struggle to embrace that approach. For example, some folks are extremely put off by the idea that a technique like EMDR, which emphasizes the use of blinking lights are open to the approach as an alternative, especially if more traditional techniques haven't clicked. Be willing to learn about techniques and discuss your concerns with your therapist.
To learn more, contact a company like Barry J. Richman MD Psychiatry.