Psychotherapy

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mental health does not mean the absence of mental disorders. It is characterized by the presence of a state of well-being in which the person is able to use their potential, deal with the normal stresses of life, work productively and contribute to their community.

However, in some cases, the individual is unable to deal with the various factors that impact their life. These factors can range from work, leisure, safety, financial health, interpersonal relationships, among others. In these cases, supportive therapies such as psychotherapy are recommended.

What is psychotherapy?

Psychotherapy is a professional practice carried out by psychologists. It is a process in which the psychologist welcomes, understands the patient’s complaints and carries out interventions using techniques recognized by science, practice and professional ethics.

In this sense, psychotherapy aims to promote mental health and help people to face their conflicts and suffering. In other words, this therapy is not only for people diagnosed with mental disorders.

Over decades of studies, different theories and professional practices have been developed to care for suffering and human development. Get to know some of them and how they work.

Main types of psychotherapy

Psychotherapies can take place based on different theoretical references that guide the professional practice of psychologists. Some of the most used approaches are:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy;
• Psychoanalysis;
• Jungian psychotherapy;
• Behavioral-analytic therapy;
• Gestalt therapy;
• Positive psychology.

Briefly find out how each of them works.

1. Cognitive behavioral therapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) was created around the 1960s by psychiatrist Aaron Beck and is one of the best known and most adopted by psychologists in the 21st century. She works with the aim of modifying the patient’s beliefs about themselves, their world and other people. In this way, it places the patient as the protagonist of their story and seeks to change the way they feel, their mood and their behavior.

In other words, this type of approach makes the individual analyze their own actions and find answers by changing their interpretation of the world around them. The psychologist works by guiding the patient to identify the content of their thoughts, identifying and testing their reactions to understand whether they are exaggerated or wrong for that situation.

In this way, it works so that the patient creates more realistic and adaptive reactions, which are functional for their reality. This is also why cognitive-behavioral therapy is a limited-term therapy.

2. Psychoanalysis

Psychoanalysis is a therapeutic method created by Sigmund Freud. To work as a psychoanalyst it is not necessary to have a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, but specific training in Psychoanalysis is necessary.

The basic assumptions that guide the clinical work of psychoanalysts are: the existence of the unconscious, the theory of the three components of the mind (id, ego and superego), the theory of libido, the importance of sexuality in psychic life and the technique of free association .

To explore the contents of the unconscious, Psychoanalysis uses the technique of free association: the patient is encouraged to speak freely about any subject that comes to mind, while the analyst carries out the analysis and interpretations. The objective is to access the unconscious, which is also represented through speech.

Psychoanalysis aims to help the patient have a greater understanding of themselves, their suffering and symptoms, in order to help them improve their quality of life.

3. Jungian Psychotherapy or Analytical Psychology

Jungian Psychotherapy or Analytical Psychology was created by Carl Jung and is based on the principle that human consciousness is only the superficial part of the human being’s personality. Therefore, it seeks to explore and understand other parts of each individual’s unconscious.

Added to this, this type of approach analyzes the environmental and social context in which each person is inserted and how they influence them. It aims to help the patient find self-knowledge, discover their internal strengths, accept instincts and impulses and expand their relationship with the world around them.

4. Behavioral-analytic therapy

Behavioral Analytical Therapy (CAT) is based on Skinner’s behaviorist theories to explain the emergence and maintenance of an individual’s behaviors.

It starts from the idea that individuals behave and their actions produce consequences in the world that influence their behavior patterns, increasing or decreasing the probability of the person behaving in a certain way in a given context.

The therapist analyzes patients’ complaints, seeks to understand how the person behaves and then helps them identify other ways of acting in the world. The therapeutic process provides self-knowledge and the making of changes aligned with values ​​that are important to the patient.

5. Gestalt therapy

Gestalt therapy was created by Frederick Perls in the 1940s. It is a person-centered approach that is based on Gestalt theory, which seeks to promote changes in the individual’s current state, helping them to find their own creative potential to deal with the demands of life.

The main objectives of Gestalt therapy are to help people understand and accept their feelings and emotions, become aware of their abilities and potential, improve self-esteem, the ability to make decisions and establish healthy relationships with others.

6. Positive psychology

Positive psychology began with North American researchers who sought to understand “what makes life worth living”. Martin Seligman, founder of this approach, believed it was necessary to broaden the view of psychological treatment, removing the focus from mental problems and disorders.

To this end, he considered that one of the main objectives of positive psychology would be to promote the strengths and psychological resources that are capable of improving people’s quality of life.

This movement has three areas of scientific investigation located at the subjective, individual and group levels. Check it out:

• Subjective level: study of values, subjective well-being, optimism, hope and happiness.
• Individual level: seeks to understand the positive traits related to each person’s characteristics, such as their interpersonal skills and talents.
• Group level: community virtues are analyzed so that individuals become responsible, altruistic, tolerant and ethical citizens

The role of positive intervention is to help people build a pleasurable, engaged life with a sense of purpose and meaning.

As you can see, there are different types of approaches within psychotherapy. However, the psychologist is the professional who can analyze your case and then guide you towards the most appropriate psychotherapy.