Is Psychotherapy Effective?

The term psychotherapy is sometimes used interchangeably with the term “counseling;” however, there is a significant difference between the two, technically. While those who see a counselor are looking for advice or coaching on current stresses, patients who see a psychotherapist are searching for insight on past traumas that are affecting everyday current thoughts or emotions and how to rewire or understand more of that mental programming. Sometimes patients start off in counseling not fully understanding how deep rooted their inner issues are. When counseling doesn’t seem to be the answer, is psychotherapy effective and how so?

Through research, it has been proven that psychotherapy is the most effective treatment for long term psychoanalysis and is scientifically proven to be more effective than prescription drugs.

How Effective Is It?

When it comes to treating Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), eating disorders and more, it has been proven that psychotherapy is one of the most effective treatments. Psychotherapy is an intensive mental treatment that delves into a profound understanding of how past situations or traumas are currently affecting a person’s actions and thought process. This kind of attention needs to be conducted by a medical professional that has the education in psychotherapy.

Psychotherapy may be most effective for people who are experiencing any of the following reasons such as thoughts, feelings or situations:

The patient has already been medically diagnosed with a mental or behavioral disorder such as depression, anxiety disorder, bipolar depression or obsessive compulsive disorder.
There is an existing chronic medical condition (cancer, alopecia, lupus, etc.) that is taking toll on the person’s emotional and mental well being.
There is a history of past trauma that is too difficult to cope with making it hard for someone to participate in mundane activities such as school or work.
The patient has already seeing a counselor and the suggestions or guidance is not making a difference in the outcomes of their current stresses.
A person realizes there is a pattern in their behaviors or situations that they’d like to understand and analyze more.

Specific Traits

Psychotherapists have certain traits that make them qualified for analyzing a person’s mental behavior that go beyond their educational training.

Natural Sense for Patients

A properly educated psychotherapist will have a natural sense of a patients characteristics by just observing their body language and evaluate the thought process behind each response. The first impression allows them to read the energy of a patient and how to treat them from that moment forward.

Bond Building

It is important for a psychotherapist to build a bond with their patient in order to be trusted with confidential information and vulnerable, raw emotions. They build this trust by showing compassion and providing a sense of optimism while also being realistic and influential towards progress. In doing so, psychotherapist can provide optimal analysis and relay solutions or exercises on how to rewire that mental characteristic.

Bottom Line

Now to retreat to the primary question: is psychotherapy effective? This treatment is effective for anyone who is experiencing difficulty coping with past trauma or are looking to improve the understanding they have towards their emotions and reactions. Psychotherapy can improve a patient’s outlook on life and the way they act each day. Regardless, seeing a therapist in general to improve one’s emotions is always a good idea.

Is Psychotherapy Effective? – Your Questions, Answered