When to Consult a Therapist? Types of Therapy A sense of independence and an “I can” spirit is central to the American culture. Unfortunately that thinking can hinder our ability to seek beneficial therapeutic assistance. Sometimes we settle for a sense of controlling our symptoms when we could actually overcome them through the aid of therapy. The following thoughts will help you explore the possibility of seeing a therapist. You might consider seeing a therapist if you: 1.Are using drugs or alcohol to cope with fear, anxiety, or depression. 2. Are experiencing a high degree of irritation and anger and as a result you are having a difficult time getting along with others. 3. Have uncontrollable crying and other signs of depression such as changes in sleeping or appetite, or a decreased motivation or interest in life. 4. Experience anxiety that is so intense that it is stopping you from doing the things you like to do. 5. When doctors can’t explain your symptoms or attribute them to any specific medical condition. 6. Have tried “everything” to get better but find yourself in the same position after months or even years of trying to cope by yourself. 7. No matter what you do you can’t get out of your mental rut. This is a sense that nothing gives you fulfillment. It would be wise to explore why you have this feeling. 8. Feel bad about yourself. If you have serious self-esteem or confidence issues this can adversely affect you. It would be helpful to identify what it is about you that you don’t like and find ways to improve your perception of those perceived flaws. A sense of positive self-worth can do wonders for your everyday happiness. 9. Have thoughts of suicide or occurrence of self injury 10. Have nightmares or flashbacks of a traumatic event.
http://www.therapyandcounseling.org/how-‐to-‐know-‐if-‐you-‐need-‐therapy/ and psychcentral.com
TYPES OF THERAPY - By MICHAEL HERKOV, PH.D – PSYCHCENTRAL.COM •
Behavior therapy is focused on helping an individual understand how changing their behavior can lead to changes in how they are feeling. The goal of behavior therapy is usually focused on increasing the person’s engagement in positive or socially reinforcing activities. Behavior therapy is a structured approach that carefully measures what the person is doing and then seeks to increase chances for positive experience.
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Cognitive therapy is based on the theory that much of how we feel is determined by what we think. Disorders, such as depression, are believed to be the result of faulty thoughts and beliefs. By correcting these inaccurate beliefs, the person’s perception of events and emotional state improve.
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Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) treatment is a cognitive-behavioral approach that emphasizes the psychosocial aspects of treatment. The theory behind the approach is that some people are prone to react in a more intense and out-of-the-ordinary manner toward certain emotional situations, primarily those found in romantic, family and friend relationships. DBT theory suggests that some people’s arousal levels in such situations can increase far more quickly than the average person’s, attain a higher level of emotional stimulation, and take a significant amount of time to return to baseline arousal levels.
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Interpersonal therapy focuses on the interpersonal relationships of the depressed person. The idea of interpersonal therapy is that depression can be treated by improving the communication patterns and how people relate to others.
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Psychodynamic therapy, also known as insight-oriented therapy, focuses on unconscious processes as they are manifested in a person’s present behavior. The goals of psychodynamic therapy are a client’s self-awareness and understanding of the influence of the past on present behavior. In its brief form, a psychodynamic approach enables the client to examine unresolved conflicts and symptoms that arise from past dysfunctional relationships and manifest themselves in the need and desire to abuse substances.
http://www.therapyandcounseling.org/how-‐to-‐know-‐if-‐you-‐need-‐therapy/ and psychcentral.com