Below are, in general terms, some of the main stages of the therapeutic process:
1. Commitment and Evaluation
This initial stage consists of the agreement between the psychologist and the consultant to invest time, energy and capacity in establishing a therapeutic relationship aimed at achieving therapeutic objectives. At this stage also the demand of the person who attends the session must be evaluated ; taking into account, to the extent possible, both objective measures and the different empirically validated tests offered as subjective measures. Subjective measures are those that are collected both in the sessions and between sessions in different self-records or tasks.
At this stage, the professional may encounter barriers that do not allow him or her to continue and must refer the person. Likewise, the person can commit from the first moment or do so a little later, after a period of exploration and framing.
There are certain variables that influence when the person decides to begin the therapeutic process: a) their expectations and perception of the psychologist, if they perceive them to be competent, empathetic and experienced, b) motivation, if they need therapy just to vent, for personal growth, to cope with grief… and c) personal characteristics (education, culture, learning history) fit with the methodology proposed by the professional.
It is the most complex and central stage of all psychotherapy. This stage can be divided, in turn, into other substages. The most commons are search for patterns in the person, collection of information and consolidation.
Similar to the evaluation phase, since it is necessary to continue collecting information about the person’s progress. Each period depends on the characteristics of the person and the reason for the consultation. It is essential that, at this stage, the person realizes and is aware of what is happening to them and in this way changes and progress can occur.
3. End of therapy
Person has learned to know his own functioning and way of being in the world. The person knows his weaknesses and strengths and assumes responsibility for him when making vital decisions.
4. Tracking
Adequate follow-up over time is important to ensure that the positive changes achieved continue to be maintained. This monitoring can be bimonthly, quarterly or even annually.
The importance of not interrupting therapy
Although different stages can be identified in psychotherapy that progress more or less linearly, these are not rigid and are not strictly delimited. You can begin to intervene from the first moment and you can go through each period throughout the entire therapy.
In this sense, It is important that the therapeutic process be continued. That is, weekly sessions are recommended until they can be spaced out more as the objectives are achieved. The circumstances of each person must be taken into account, such as lack of financial resources, lack of time or not being prepared at this moment in their life to begin a therapeutic process.
Here the flexibility and empathy of the professional comes into play when adjusting to the needs of each person who comes to the consultation, although it is necessary to frame the therapy well. It is essential to highlight the importance of not abandoning the therapeutic process if the final stage has not been reached.
The fact of leave therapy halfway It can mean that the person does not feel satisfied with the process, does not achieve the objectives they had programmed, and considers that psychology is “useless.” It may be that more than a therapeutic work process you have found a space for relief, which may work in the first sessions, but in the long run it stops working for the person.
When the process is interrupted before reaching the end of therapy, it is known as therapeutic abandonment. It is common in clinical practice and has consequences for both the person who comes to therapy and the psychologist. Therapeutic abandonment occurs when the treatment ends unilaterally by the person. It is necessary to take into account the different psychosocial, clinical and institutional variables associated with the abandonment of consultants and see the abandonment within the context of the person.
How is therapeutic adherence improved?
On the other hand, there is the concept of therapeutic adherence. Unlike abandonment, in this case the therapeutic process ends by mutual agreement between the psychologist and the person.
Some techniques that can help reduce dropouts are:
Create a good therapeutic alliance between the person and the professional, based on empathy, honesty and care.
Transmit security and experience, have a decisive attitude and not get caught up in the problems that the person brings to the consultation.
Validate the person’s emotions and do not judge them. It is necessary for the person to see and feel that it is a safe space in which to work together with the therapist.
Provide psychoeducation when appropriate to motivate and educate the person to commit to therapy.
Have frequent contact with the person and family, whenever necessary, in the form of calls or emails.
The psychologists of PsychoAlmería They have experience and training to ensure that psychological therapy produces the necessary benefits for the people who come to the center. They take into account the characteristics of each person, thus carrying out a personalized therapy that is also based on evidence-based techniques. They serve both in person and online.
