Background of Psychotherapy

Over twenty million people in the United States are depressed. And countless others suffer from other symptoms including anger, irritability, sadness, and stress. Some people describe feeling that their life is out of control and say that they do not feeling like themselves. Sometimes these troubling feelings can even cause physical symptoms such as headaches, insomnia, and stomach pain. These conditions and feelings are brought on by a variety causes including traumatic events, the loss of a loved one, addictions, and family or marital problems.

These harmful feelings can lead to a variety of negative behaviors, including low self-esteem, reclusion, violence, self-mutilation, apathetic responses, and sometimes even suicide. To help resolve these problems, many people choose to undergo psychotherapy, which is also sometimes called "talk therapy." Specifically, psychotherapy is used to treat a variety of ailments including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorders, alcoholism, addictions, problems stemming from child abuse, family disputes, and marital problems.

The term "psychotherapy" comes from the Ancient Greek words "psyche," which means breath, spirit, or soul, and "therapeia," which means to nurse or cure. Thus, essentially, psychotherapy helps a person heal or cure whatever is ailing their spirit or soul. And this healing occurs when a person is relieved of emotional or psychological distress or disability.

The doctor who administers psychotherapy is called a counselor, therapist, psychologist, or psychotherapist. While there may be minute differences between these types of doctors, they all provide the same basic services. A psychotherapist talks to patients and engages them in conversation, trying to help them improve their quality of life, relationship satisfaction, social skills, work or school performance, general health, and sense of well-being.

Benefits of Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy can incorporate a variety of different techniques including group therapy, behavior therapy, and more. Psychotherapy is an alternative or an addition to medicinal solutions, and all these different forms of psychotherapy have proven benefits that can help improve a person's overall quality of life. Sometimes it just helps to talk to a patient, trusted person about your situation and problems. A good psychotherapist can help you see your situation from a fresh perspective, giving you the confidence and ability to solve your troubles.

Aside from overcoming specific problems such as depression, Psychotherapy can also help you attain a better understanding of yourself, give you confidence to identify and achieve your goals, establish your own personal values, decrease stress, become more comfortable making decisions, control addictions, improve work or school performance, understand and improve relationships, reduce sadness and anger, control impulsivity, and increase self-confidence. And perhaps most importantly, psychotherapy can help patients find resolution and peace over the concerns that led them to seek help in the first place.

Despite the known benefits of psychotherapy, many find it incredibly uncomfortable and unpleasant to relive or talk about past or present situations that caused them harm and feelings of sadness, anger, and/or shame. However, many psychotherapists do not force people talk about painful or embarrassing subjects, and all psychotherapists incorporate a high standard of confidentiality and a nonjudgmental attitude in their work. Nothing a patient says to a psychotherapist will be related to an outside party.

Couples Counseling

Although psychotherapy is used to treat a variety of problems, it is particularly beneficial in the form of couples counseling. With over half of the United States' marriages ending in divorce, couples counseling has never been more expedient than it is now.

In couples counseling, a psychotherapist can help each individual with some of the already-mentioned problems that feature in general psychotherapy, but will also focus on issues specific to the relationship. Couples counseling is focused on the idea that each individual needs to respect one another and learn how to work together as a partnership.

Benefits of Couples Counseling

Through effective couples counseling, partners can resolve past issues, increase and improve their communication with one another, cease negative patterns of behavior, stop fighting about the same issues over and over again, improve sexual intimacy, agree on parenting techniques, and feel more respected in the relationship. Partners will learn exactly how to resolve conflicts in a healthy manner, and how to listen and communicate effectively, without anger or resentment. Resolving current and past issues in the relationship under the guidance of a psychotherapist--who acts as a mediator and provides objective feedback--is also beneficial as it creates a safe environment and allows you to reach solutions that you may not be able to reach on your own.

Quite often what is lacking in a deteriorating relationship is a lack of trust and honesty. By using couples counseling, partners can come to develop a deeper understanding of who they are and what their needs are, as well as better understand their spouse and what his or her needs are. And as they learn to stop harmful behaviors and to start helpful ones, couples can rebuild trust and honesty and learn to work together lovingly and peacefully.

Those who are suffering from a variety of emotional or psychological problems, particularly those stemming from marriage or family strains, you may want to consider seeking psychotherapy has the first step in resolving your troubling issues. For those looking for a Chicago psychotherapist or Chicago couples counseling, Illinois in particular houses reputable psychotherapy institutions. From depression and anxiety to stress and relationship strains, psychotherapy has proven to provide many benefits that empower individuals and couples and allow them to regain confidence and improve the quality of their lives.