There are
numerous forms of therapy for as many problems. Even though a great many
people have had some experience with therapy, either for themselves or
those close to them, there is still a mystique about therapy. Here are
some distinctions that you may find helpful:
Insight
therapy: Also known as psychodynamic therapy, it emphasizes the
role of past experiences. and the development of personality. Usually is
conducted for longer periods of time.
Cognitive-behavior
therapy: The distinguishing characteristics of this kind of therapy
are an emphasis on helping people change how they think about themselves
and others and a clear focus on outcomes. Depression is a good example
of a disorder that lends itself very well to this kind of therapy. Often
emphasizing self-talk, beliefs, self-defeating assumptions, this is an
active and well researched for of therapy.
Brief
therapy: Time limited, usually focuses on a single issue and is completed
when that issue is resolved.
Marital and family therapy: Focuses on the couple unit and/or
on the relationships between and among close people, rather than the individual.
(See also Marital
Therapy.)
Other
forms of therapy are blends of these types.
In general, it
is a good idea to develop goals for yourself, what it is you want to accomplish
beyond "just feeling better." The therapist should be able to assist in
this task. Therapy moves along in stages: often, there is an assessment
phase, which should result in a treatment plan. Work continues on the plan,
for greater or shorter amounts of time. The last phase is the ending, where
client and therapist agree that the goals have been met or that there are
no reasons to continue.
All therapy has
a common focus: help the person adopt new ways of thinking and behaving.
In some instances, the focus is on understanding familiar roots of problems
and attitudes. In other cases, the focus is more action oriented: learning
to handle situations in a more adaptive fashion. One could spend a great
deal of time "understanding" someone's fear of open spaces, but there are
much better therapies that emphasize changes in behavior (e.g., "exposure"
techniques).
What can therapy accomplish?
This is hard to answer
because most people are satisfied with their therapist and the therapy
process. In that sense, therapy accomplishes greater self-satisfaction.
If, on the other hand there are focused targets, one can ask what is the
"success" rate for problem such and such? There is considerable therapy
research and attempts to answer the "accomplishment question" for people
in general. Although standardized outcome measures are desirable it is
more often the case that particular kinds of therapy are useful for
specific problems. It is important to note that therapy is unlikely to
insulate a person from all other future problems. Therapy is useful when
there are specific targets to be reached.
