Myths and Realities about psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is a form of mental health treatment in which, by word or action, personality and behaviors that flow from it, in those aspects considered pathological changes, according to current scientific knowledge and classifications recognized worldwide.

The implicit and explicit psychotherapy

It is important to differentiate between implicit and explicit psychotherapy.

The implicit psychotherapy involves supporting the patient's personality, which is linked to health care, whatever the pathology, whether it is a somatic pathology as a mental disease, can and should do it all healthcare professionals, each at their level.

In the case of explicit or psychotherapy psychotherapy in the strict sense of the word, a series of sessions are scheduled to apply both individually and in couples therapy or family therapy in mental disorders

Uses of Psychotherapy

Explicit psychotherapy encompasses many diseases, such as depression, anxiety disorder, eating disorder and personality disorders, among many others.

The exceptions are the dementias, except very mild cases, secondary psychiatric disorders with brain disorders, with severe disease and, in general, people of very advanced age, because the potential for change in the structure of personality are very slim .

Psychotherapy techniques

Generally, professionals apply the psychotherapeutic techniques are psychiatrists , clinical psychologists and nursing professionals specializing in Mental Health. They can also do other physicians or psychologists who do not have the specialties described and qualified nurses, occupational therapists, social workers and nutritionists; provided that in his work is included care for patients with mental health problems and have taken courses or university specialization schools accredited by the National Federation of Associations of Psychotherapists or other prestigious associations.

There are many forms of psychotherapy, from the most traditional, such as group psychotherapy, psychoanalytic, cognitive-behavioral therapy, psychodrama therapy or interpersonal therapy, among others; to more recent therapies such as mentalization based, acceptance and commitment, etc minfullness. All have demonstrated clinical efficacy in certain diseases, although it is noteworthy that the newest feature generally more rigorous research that guarantee.

Psychotherapy treatment duration

The ideal treatment should last 2 years, if what is intended is to restructure the personality in depth for a complete recovery and prevent relapse. Only in mild cases, or if the health care resources are limited, brief psychotherapies arise. In the latter case they can be addressed in a targeted traits and behaviors that most affect the patient and their relationship with the environment.

The result will depend on the severity of the disorder and the techniques that are proven to be effective in pathology are used to treat

Myths about psychotherapy

There are many myths in psychotherapy explicit:

• Psychotherapy must give results with a similar speed to drugs. Generally, to start seeing the first effects of this treatment an average of three months is required.
• In the first interview you can not assess whether the understanding with the psychotherapist will be positive. The patient should not be carried away by first impressions, because it affects some users to perform in a very short time, several changes psychotherapist, delaying the onset of cure.
• There are forms of psychotherapy that work in all pathologies. It is not true and should be wary of any professional who raise this claim to propose treatment.
• There are psychotherapists who claim to be experts in almost all forms of Psychotherapy. The formation of a psychotherapist in a single technique is already very complex, so it is not possible to have such an amount of knowledge and skills A psychotherapist must refer a patient if not mastered the technique / s suitable for treating a disease.