What is psychological counselling/psychotherapy？
There are many different approaches to counselling or psychotherapy. All of them are concerned with lessening the distress associated with emotional problems, relationship/family problems, work-related problems, etc. The way in which they are similar is that they all involve talking with a therapist. The type of therapy that a person might receive often depends on the type of problem s/he presents with. Usually, a therapist will make an initial assessment and decide which approach is best.
What types of problems can be helped with counselling/psychotherapy?
Most problems can be helped with counselling/psychotherapy. Below is a list of some common problems for which an individual, couple, or family might seek professional help:
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Relationship issues
- Separation anxiety
- General emotional distress
- Work related problems
- Low self esteem
- Post-traumatic stress
- Psychosexual problems
- Gender dissatisfaction
What will happen if I go for counselling/psychotherapy?
Counselling/psychotherapy usually involves regular meetings (lasting about an hour) at the same time and same place every week or two weeks. After an initial assessment, the therapist decides on a course of action that s/he will discuss with the client. This includes devising a therapeutic approach, agreeing on goals, and establishing a target length of treatment. The length of the treatment is usually agreed within a month or so of starting. In couples or family therapy, the relevant individuals will meet with the therapist together. These sessions may be longer than in individual psychotherapy and a greater number of sessions are sometimes required. What happens during a session is completely confidential between the therapist and the client(s).
