Counseling Psychotherapy Techniques

Psychotherapy is designed to help patients manage their lives effectively to achieve greater happiness and a more positive, balanced mental state. Most psychotherapy is talk therapy, which centers around communicating ideas, thoughts and feelings. Some psychotherapy uses non-verbal forms of communication, such as drawings, to elicit deeper communication between the therapist and those patients who have difficulty expressing themselves verbally. According to a research study performed at Clinic of Tiefenbrunn, University of Goettingen, Germany, the two major types of psychotherapy used in clinical practice are cognitive-behavioral therapy and psychodynamic therapy.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

• According to the National Association of Cognitive Behavioral Therapists cognitive behavior therapy is not one therapy technique but a group of similar therapeutic techniques including Rational Behavior Therapy, Rational Living Therapy, Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy, Cognitive Therapy and Dialectic Behavior Therapy.

  Although this is a wide range of techniques, they share common features and are all based on the premise that our thoughts dictate our emotions. The method of therapy involves asking open-ended questions of the patient to help the patient uncover their method of thinking and learn newer, healthier ways to react.
  Results can generally be achieved relatively quickly, when compared with other forms of therapy, and involve a significant amount of "homework" on the part of the patient. Patients practice the positive-response techniques learned in therapy, to integrate the more stable emotional reactions into their daily lives.

Psychodynamic

• In contrast to cognitive behavioral therapy, which focuses on learning to manage emotions, psychodynamic therapy focuses on the emotions themselves. Patients learn to become more in touch with their emotions and feelings they may have repressed. Dreams, talk therapy and exploring hidden connections within the psyche are the focus of psychodynamic therapy. Patients explore their vulnerabilities and are encouraged to express those emotions. The therapist helps patients draw connections between repressed emotions and memories and current emotional reactions to situations. Once patients have become in touch with and felt their repressed emotions, they can then begin to break down their defense mechanisms and other barriers to lead healthier, more emotionally stable lives.

Pscyhoanalysis

• Psychoanalysis, first developed by Sigmund Freud, is perhaps the oldest and most traditional psychotherapy technique. Psychoanalysis encourages the patient to fully understand the workings of their psyche. Patients are encouraged to discuss dreams, visualizations and fantasies. Patients tell childhood stories and share present information. The goal is to develop a deep understanding of all of the potential conscious and unconscious reasons behind behavior, action, motivation and emotion.