WHAT IS PSYCHOTHERAPY?Most people who hear the term “psychotherapy” envision a dimly lit room, a person on a couch talking, and a therapist listening beside them. That is how therapy was conducted in the past. Over the years, as therapy evolved and matured, many changes have been introduced which have made it much more accessible and easier to incorporate into the busy lifestyles most of us lead today. Therapy is a way of exploring and analyzing one’s inner self, our behavior, emotions, actions and motivations. It ultimately leads to an improvement in how we interact socially and cope with life’s inevitable ups and downs.
Therapy, counseling or talk-therapy, as it is sometimes referred to, allows for more insight and knowledge of oneself, and provides one with the skills to understand one’s situation better, and to find new ways to adapt to life’s challenges. There are different therapeutic approaches, each specific to the area of concern to the person and geared to the goals he or she wishes to achieve.
The duration of therapy is dependant on the issues the person is confronting and the persons’ willingness to continue to want to address them and work with the therapist. Usually, persons are engaged in psychotherapy for brief crisis-intervention sessions although longer-term therapy is sometimes called for.