Psychotherapy refers to a mental health treatment method where the patient talks to a psychologist, psychiatrist, or other mental health providers. When you attend psychotherapy, you discuss your thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and moods with a licensed professional. Your psychologist meanwhile works to equip you with skills to handle difficult situations and cope healthily with others. Here is a look at what you can expect from the San Pedro psychotherapy process.
Who Needs Psychotherapy?
Psychotherapy is often used as a standalone treatment or in conjunction with other therapies to address most mental health conditions. Psychotherapy can help you manage the symptoms of:
- Mood disorders like depression
- Anxiety disorders like PTSD and OCD
- Personality disorders like a dependent personality disorder
- Eating disorders like bulimia
- Addictions like drug dependence
- Psychotic disorders like schizophrenia
That said, not everybody who sees a psychologist or psychiatrist has a diagnosed mental illness. These professionals can also help couples resolve marital conflicts, individuals deal with major life changes like divorce, people overcome extreme shyness, and more.
What Can You Expect from Your First Session?
For whatever reason you seek psychotherapy, your first session will always involve an interview of sorts. Your provider will ask questions about yourself, your goals, and your needs. You may need to complete forms about your past and current emotional and physical health.
Obviously, it will take more than this first session for your psychologist to grasp your situation fully. The first session is also a chance for you to ask questions about what type of therapy they will use, how long each session will last, what goals you will achieve, and more.
This is a good time to determine if you feel comfortable with your psychotherapist, which is crucial to the success of the treatment. If not, you may consider finding a different one.
Subsequent Sessions
Your subsequent sessions will most likely happen in a clinic of your therapist’s office once or twice a week. A typical psychotherapy session lasts between 45 and 60 minutes. During this time, your therapist will ask questions and encourage you to discuss your thoughts and feelings or recent and past experiences. It may not be easy to open up initially, but it should get easier as you learn to trust your therapist. They may also give you activities to do after the session.
How Long Does Psychotherapy Last?
The frequency of your sessions and how many sessions you will need will depend on multiple factors. This includes your particular situation or mental illness, your rate of progress, the severity of your symptoms, and your financial limitations. If the situation is short-term, psychotherapy can be done within a few weeks. Other treatment plans may go on for a year or longer.
Results
Psychotherapy can be difficult at first – you may have to relieve painful experiences or learn to communicate more openly than before. Over time, discussions about your situations can change how you feel and think, improve your mood, and improve your coping skills. It may not take away a difficult situation or cure your condition, but therapy can give you healthier ways to cope, leaving you feeling stronger and happier.
Psychological and emotional problems can significantly lower your quality of life. The Harbor Community Health Centers team is dedicated to helping you navigate these complex situations and find a healthy balance in life through compassionate psychotherapy. If you have been diagnosed with depression or anxiety or are going through a difficult time, contact the San Pedro, CA, office today.