What To Expect And What Not To Expect From Psychological Therapy
The times of the COVID-19 crisis have not only had a political and economic impact on practically all countries in the world; Furthermore, they have brought about a new form of awareness of mental health problems and the way in which they can be addressed through psychotherapy.
Although before the pandemic the belief that only a certain type of very unfortunate people needs to go to a psychologist was already questioned, after these months of health crisis it is clear that almost all human beings are very sensitive to our context, and that apparently subtle changes in daily life (switching to working from home, being afraid of contagion, or being able to attend family gatherings, etc.) predispose us to suffer significant psychological problems.
But although the way of conceiving the psychologist’s profession has changed, this does not mean that many myths and ignorance about what psychotherapy is do not remain. That is why in this article we will address the topic of what to expect and what not to expect from psychological therapygiving advice about how to face the first session with the psychologist.
These are the main key ideas that you should keep in mind to know what to expect from psychotherapy.
1. Support is offered to understand the root of the problem
It is not necessary to go to the first psychotherapy session knowing exactly what is causing us the discomfort that we want to overcome.. In fact, part of the psychotherapist’s job is to help patients answer these questions. After all, human beings do not necessarily have the resources necessary to know precisely what the mental processes are behind our consciousness. Through dialogue with the psychologist it is possible to make progress in self-knowledge.
2. There are more activities to do beyond dialogue
Although it is widely believed that psychotherapy basically consists of talking about our experiences and what makes us feel bad, this is a simplification. In sessions with the psychologist not everything is reduced to words or dialogue.
We have a clear example of this in the sessions in which patients are helped to overcome their irrational fears; In cases like this, situations are created in which the person must expose themselves to what they fear, either through vivid imagination exercises, using real phobic stimuli or also with the use of virtual reality tools.
3. Consistency is important
Psychotherapy is more than each meeting session with the therapist separately.. These meetings are the backbone of a process, and what we do between sessions is of utmost importance. That is why psychologists almost always send “homework” to do on a daily basis; For example, one of the most common activities is to fill out a diary or self-record of emotions.
4. There is always a specific goal
Although the problem that the patient must overcome may be based on abstract thoughts and difficult to define in a few words, The psychologist always proposes a specific therapeutic objective, a goal to reachalthough it is never imposed unilaterally and must be agreed upon with the patient.
This reference will serve to know if the therapeutic process is progressing at a good pace, and it is also a support so that the person who goes to the psychologist realizes their progress and makes it easier for them to self-motivate.
4. Family collaboration is sought
When possible, in psychotherapy An attempt is made to have the collaboration of people from the patient’s family environment, although always respecting the confidentiality applied to what the person reveals about themselves in the sessions. In this way, we try to make it easier for the people the patient sees in their daily lives to progress and reach their therapeutic goal.
Now that we have seen the key ideas about what psychotherapy is, it is time to debunk certain myths about it. What are those things that you will not find in the office of a psychologist specialized in psychological therapy?
1. Psychotropic drugs are not prescribed
Psychotherapy is part of the field of mental health, but that It does not mean that it is included within medicine. The activity of the psychologist does not start from the biomedical approach nor does it assume that problems have their origin in mainly organic dysfunctions of the nervous system in general or the brain in particular.
Although it shares some characteristics with the profession of the psychiatrist (which is a doctor), throughout the psychological therapy sessions the focus is on the management of behaviors and the management of emotions and thoughts, without trying to modify the functioning of parts of the body.
In Spain, psychologists are not authorized to prescribe drugs. But if at any time the therapist considers it necessary, he could recommend going to the psychiatrist first in order to, through pharmacology, stabilize the patient before addressing psychotherapy sessions.
Related article: “Psychopharmaceuticals: medications that act on the brain”
2. No advice given on how to live life
Psychotherapy is very different from the self-help books and talks by spiritual “gurus” that we can find on the Internet. In fact, Its reason for being is that there is no instruction manual to live life in a happy way., given that each person is unique and so are their circumstances; Hence, it is necessary to provide personalized support and prior analysis of the problem that affects the patient or the need that he seeks to satisfy.
Thus, psychotherapy should be understood as an emotional and behavioral training program adapted to the individual, the couple or the family who comes to the consultation. In the psychologist’s work there is no single form of intervention. “A priori” all decisions are made based on consensus and after exploring what led the person to come to the consultation.
You may be interested: “Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy: what is it and what principles is it based on?”
3. Instant “cures” are not offered
It is totally impossible to overcome a psychological problem in a single psychotherapy session.. The activity carried out in psychological therapy is a process that includes gradual changes, in which it is necessary to modify a series of habits and thinking routines. To ensure that the changes for the better are consolidated and remain stable over time, it is important to be consistent, attend sessions regularly and carry out activities between one meeting with the psychologist and the next.
4. There is no possibility of eliminating memories or feelings
psychotherapy offers tools and solutions that start from the acceptance of what happened: It does not provide a feeling of constant happiness, but rather the ability to maintain a correct quality of life based on emotional balance. In fact, many of the problems that lead people to need psychotherapeutic support are attempts to completely suppress the discomfort.
You may be interested: “Types of memory: how does the human brain store memories?”
Are you looking for psychotherapeutic support services?
If you are interested in starting a psychological therapy process, we invite you to contact us.
In Psychological Awakenings You will find a team of professionals fully trained to help patients of all ages. Since we started the activity of the Psychology center in 2012, we have served more than 10,000 people, and we currently have consultations in Madrid, Leganés, Getafe, and Móstoles. You can count on our services either in the form of face-to-face psychotherapy or online therapy by video call.
