What is Psychotherapy?

When you think of psychotherapy, many people have a picture in their minds of lying on a couch and talking about your childhood or having a therapist give you advice.

What is Psychotherapy?

When you think of psychotherapy, many people have a picture in their minds of lying on a couch and talking about your childhood or having a therapist give you advice. 

So what is psychotherapy and what is it not? Psychotherapy is the process of safely exploring your feelings, thoughts, beliefs about yourself and others, and personal experiences in the company of a trained professional. Bir profesyonel ile yapılan konuşma tedavisidir. 

Psychotherapy aims to give you insight into your difficulties or distress, to increase your motivation to make changes in your thinking and behavior, and to help you find appropriate ways to make these changes.

What Distinguishes Psychotherapy from Talking to a Friend?

The relationship between therapist and client is professional, client-oriented, ethical and therapeutic. The therapist does not criticize, comment or advise you. He/she helps you to realize your own characteristics, works in cooperation with you to realize the targeted change, and makes change possible by using his/her knowledge and experience. In other words, he/she does not drop you off directly at your destination, but accompanies you on this journey.

When is psychotherapy necessary?

For psychiatric problems such as depression, anxiety disorders (obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, phobias...), the whole world uses various psychotherapy methods.

  • You experience persistent, intense feelings of unhappiness, helplessness and hopelessness
  • If your emotional difficulties, anxiety and fears are negatively affecting your life
  • Your behavior starts to harm yourself or others (substance or excessive alcohol use, you become aggressive...)
  • You are facing confrontation with your family or relatives due to emotional difficulties you are experiencing
  • If you are concerned about your job performance

Who can undergo psychotherapy?

It can be practiced by psychiatrists trained in psychotherapy or psychologists working in this field. Today, different professional groups or practices are also mentioned when it comes to psychotherapy (life coaching, counseling...). 

However, since the psychotherapist (clinical psychologist or psychiatrist) has undergone a long and in-depth training process, they are able to work with their clients in a wider and deeper way. This is where psychotherapy differs from "counseling".

What to Expect During Therapy?

In the first session, the therapist tries to get to know you and understand why you have come. He or she learns about you by asking various questions and using tests. Based on this information, a treatment plan is developed.

As each person is different, the content of the following sessions will also vary according to the individual. Your psychotherapist will encourage you to share and explore your feelings and experiences. Depending on the specialist's training and the theory to which he/she belongs, the techniques he/she applies will also differ.

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