What Is Psychotherapy?

What is psychotherapy? Psychotherapy is a form of talk therapy that has proven helpful in treating mental health issues. Also, it’s an important part of many addiction treatment programs. Through the use of psychotherapy, clients learn to recognize and to redirect negative or magical thinking patterns. Thus, they may experience reality in a positive and clear light.

If you’re experiencing problems with a mental health or substance use disorder, seeking treatment through psychotherapy may help you recover more quickly. Because both psychotherapy and psychotherapy, combined with medication, have proven helpful in treating a variety of mental health disorders.

The Benefits of Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy has many benefits because it depends upon the relationship between you and your psychologist–a neutral, non-judgmental third party who’s willing to listen to whatever you need to say. Talking about your problems to an educated, helpful therapist may benefit you in several ways, including:

• Relieving feelings of prolonged sadness or helplessness
• Resolving problems between you and friends, family members or coworkers
• Helping you learn to follow through on projects and meet goals
• Easing anxiety and chronic worry
• Ceasing harmful behaviors such as drinking or taking drugs

If you’ve suffered from issues like these for years, scheduling that first appointment with a skilled psychotherapist could easily change your life.

Which Disorders Does Psychotherapy Treat?

What is psychotherapy? Psychotherapy can be useful in treating most mental health conditions, including:

• Depression
• Post-traumatic stress
• Anxiety
• Childhood trauma
• Bipolar disorder
• Grief

Also, this form of therapy functions as a vital part of treatment for most substance use disorders because it helps individuals and families better understand the roots of addiction and the risk factors present. Participating in regular psychotherapy sessions may help you identify triggers and barriers to recovery. Further, it can also train you to replace negative thoughts with more positive ones.

Types of Psychotherapy

What is psychotherapy? It’s the umbrella name for the science that includes several forms of therapy, including the following:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT focuses on your patterns of thinking. Many people who suffer from depression or anxiety have trained themselves to engage in negative or destructive thinking. CBT can help clients retrain their thought processes so that they see and experience reality more positively.

Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)

IPT helps deal with relationships. It may be effective in treating feelings of grief and loss by teaching clients to recognize and cope with their emotions in healthy ways effectively.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

DBT helps clients manage emotions, too, but it’s used more for the treatment of suicidal thoughts, severe trauma, or personality disorder. It involves both individual and group therapies and helps clients learn to claim responsibility for their thoughts and actions.

Psychodynamic Therapy

Psychodynamic therapy deals with thoughts that exist outside the client’s awareness. Subconscious, repetitive thoughts can undermine a client’s success in life. This form of therapy strives to draw such thoughts into the light and redirect or eradicate them.

Supportive Therapy

Supportive therapy gives clients the support and encouragement they need to find their resources in life. It may help a client find a job, transition from homelessness, improve trust in their abilities, and find success.

Treatment at Westwind Recovery®

Westwind Recovery® is a top-quality treatment center for substance use disorder and mental health concerns in Los Angeles. With a high success rate and a full spectrum of treatment approaches that include psychotherapy, Westwind Recovery® is a go-to treatment facility for those suffering from mental health disorders.

Treatment at Westwind is different than it is at other drug and alcohol treatment centers in Los Angeles. For example, treatment at Westwind can involve weekend outings for surfing, boating, or camping. It’s pet-friendly and family-inclusive. It features comfortable surroundings and nonjudgmental clinicians and peers who want to see you succeed. When you’re ready to begin your recovery journey in Los Angeles, Westwind Recovery® is ready to answer your questions. So call us today.