How
Therapists Can Help
Therapists use a variety of approaches to help people who
are struggling with hard times, or with chronic mental illness, to overcome
difficulty and to create a sustainable, lasting plan for positive change. In
the case of mental illness, they usually work in concert with a pharmaceutical
treatment (medication designed for the particular disorder) or a natural
therapy like biofeedback.
Here is a quick rundown of the most common approaches
therapists take when attempting to help patients, and a little information
about each of them:
1.
Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy. This therapy
has proven to be very effective for people who are suffering from depression. It
consists of two major components: cognitive restructuring and behavioral activation.
Cognitive restructuring helps a patient to change negative patterns of thinking
that their disorder sometimes "traps" them into, helping them to
force a more positive perspective and prevent themselves from spiraling into
depression. Behavioral activation is centered on using activities that an
individual enjoys in order to help them learn how to overcome emotional and
mental difficulties in their life.
2.
Functional
Analytic Psychotherapy. This is often used on its own or in conjunction
with cognitive behavioral therapy. It has shown to be particularly effective
for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Therapists start with what they
perceive as clinically relevant behavior, such as the problem the patient
presents while in session with them, and through a variety of methods, works to
form a strong therapeutic alliance with the patient. The patient usually learns
verbal processes to help them develop a new or more stable concept of
themselves, and through behavioral analysis, learn why they feel compelled to
behave in certain negative or destructive manners, and how they can curb or
curtail those behaviors in the future.
3.
Jungian
Psychotherapy. Also known as
analytical psychology, this is a school that one of Freud's students, Carl
Jung, developed in the 20th century. It focuses on helping a patient
live a meaningful life through personality development, self-awareness,
transformation, and self-actualization. By helping patients change their views,
understand their environments and their relationships to it, as well as their
perspective or attitude, the patients gain the ability to take satisfaction
from contributing to society. Jungian psychotherapy is heavily associated with
mythology and symbolism, and the popular Myers-Briggs personality type test is
based on Jungian principles.
4.
Process
Psychology. This is described as a transpersonal psychology that often
emphasizes mystical and spiritual concerns in patients who are seeking help. Process
psychology is heavily influenced by Jungian psychology and the principles of systems
thinking, a theory that states thought is a product of a system, so all parts
of the system must be in good working order to produce positive mental health.
