To answer what is psychotherapy? I’ll start by describing what exactly the words mean.
To break it down the word ‘psycho’ comes from the Greek for “soul” or “mind”.
And ‘therapy’ means “healing." Also from a Greek word.
So what we’re talking about is a healing of your thinking. A coming to terms with why you’re out out sorts and what’s causing it.
What do you do during psychotherapy? What’s your role?
Just be open. The more open you are with your thoughts, feelings and experiences, the easier it is to get to the source of what’s troubling you. It gives your therapist a way in to understanding the underlying patterns of your behaviour and develop coping mechanisms for you. Ultimately to help you change for the better.
That’s you. On the flip side your therapist's role is to listen closely, in a safe and supportive environment, ask insightful questions, and guide you through the process of self-reflection (the trade term for thinking about what and why events have happened) and healing.
What’s the difference between psychotherapy and counselling?
It’s degrees of separation. They overlap. Both are talking therapies, but have a slightly difference focus.
Psychotherapy tends to focus on more long-term issues and growth, while counselling is more about helping people resolve current issues.
Do I really need psychotherapy?
Have a think about a checklist of your thinking. Are you:
. Feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or hopeless?
. Having difficulty controlling your emotions?
. Having thoughts of self-harm or suicide?
. Struggling with stress?
. Having relationship, or family problems?
. Experiencing anxiety disorders like OCD, phobias, panic disorder, or PTSD.
What should you NOT say to your psychotherapist?
When we ask the question what is psychotherapy? And answer that it’s a talking therapy. It’s, more specifically, a structured talk.
What I’m saying is that it’s not superficial chit-chat and banter.
This is fine as an ice breaker at the beginning of a session, but spending any more than a few minutes chatting with your therapist the same way you would with a friend is a waste of the time and the money you’re investing in therapy.
As scary as it may seem you need to avoid the safe subjects you don’t have any big feelings for or deep thoughts about and the conversation topics you use to put others at ease in casual social situations.
Your therapist doesn’t need coddling. They want to get to the heart of the matter. Know how you really feel and what you really think. You need to do this for therapy to work.
Does it all come back to childhood? Or is that a cliche?
Ah, the six million dollar question. And a great over simplification. And a cliche. And a possible answer.
As psychotherapy progresses it may reveal that your issues come from childhood. It may not, it may be something recent.
Together we’ll find out.
So what is hypnotherapy?
In answering the question what is psychotherapy? I hold my hand up for hypnotherapy. Why? I’m a hypnotherapist and believe in what it can do.
This is the main difference.
Classically psychotherapy is a type of talking therapy (to be honest psychotherapy, counselling, hypnotherapy are all ‘talking’ therapies it’s just what you feel most comfortable using) to treat your emotions and mental health problems. Psychotherapists are trained to help you understand and express your thoughts and feelings. A psychotherapist is there to listen to you, providing a judgement-free space where you can talk, feel heard and understood.
However hypnotherapy is takes all the above and uses hypnosis to help you change your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours at the deepest level.
What we’re talking about is something that can be deeper acting and faster working. I know, it sounds like an advertising slogan. Have a read of this.
Who am I? Guess what I’m a hypnotherapist
My ‘way in’ to helping you is hypnotherapy . Yes, we talk. Yes, we figure out what’s troubling you. But I go that bit further with hypnosis to help you hopefully make a long term change for the best.
Feel free to get in touch at jamesthomas@thegentlemind.co.uk or call me on 07787563099
