Definition
It is a form of psychotherapy in which an experienced and qualified professional helps a person deal with his emotional difficulties and mental illnesses. Various psychologists, and therapists with different expertise help in dealing with a wide variety of mental health problems through different forms of therapies.
How Does it Work
In this type of therapy, sessions are held on a one-on-one basis. The client and the therapist get to work together and build a reliable and trustworthy bond. Since there are only two people in a room, they are better able to focus on each other and build a connection.
After that, the therapist enables the client to focus on the problematic areas, emotions and feelings. With the help and guidance of a mental health professional, the individual is able to understand the cause of his problematic behaviours and build new patterns.
This form of therapy strongly relies on the close bond between the client and the therapist.
Benefits of Individual Therapy
There are different benefits of different techniques used in Individual therapy that have been found as a result of various research and studies. Here is a brief list of the top few benefits of this form of psychotherapy:
- This therapy has been found as a better alternative to psychopharmacological treatment for many disorders and illnesses. It gives long-lasting results and the patient does not have to go through the consequences of side effects of medicines.
- Another benefit of therapy is that it is effective for every age group including children, adults and senior citizens.
- Therapy has been suggested by experts as being so beneficial that people affected by anxiety or depression heal to a level that it becomes difficult to identify if they ever suffered from any mood disorder.
- This one-on-one therapy is suitable for managing a lot of mental health problems affecting teenagers and adolescents.
- It is cost-effective as you do not have to spend a lot of money on medications and consultations.
- It is a powerful tool to help patients dealing with chronic health issues and life-threatening diseases.
- Improves functionality and relationship quality in people suffering from mental health disorders.
- The therapeutic sessions have been found to have a huge positive impact on the overall health of a person.
- Since the focus is on a single individual, the person gets deep insights into his thoughts, mind and reason behind his particular behaviour. He is therefore better able to understand himself which in turn helps him to raise his self-esteem and build relationships with others.
Common Types of Individual Therapy
Here is the list of the five most common types of this psychotherapy that different experts practise:
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: This therapeutic modality is the most practised and successful form of psychotherapy. It is a talk therapy where a mental health counsellor in a structured way helps the patient identify unhealthy thought patterns and and negative behaviours. The patient is able to understand the triggers and handle them in an effective manner.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is used alone or sometimes in combination with other therapies if required. Also, it is a highly recommended tool to manage cases of mental health disorders like depression, Post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorder etc. It is a short-term therapy with a limited number of sessions to help the patient.
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy: Like CBT, dialectical behavioural therapy is also a form of talk therapy. It is a new therapy that experts have started using to help patients who deal with intense emotions. It was developed in 1970 by an American psychologist Marsha Linehan.
The mental health expert first enables them to understand the tough harsh realities in their life and later on helps the patients build new skill modules like mindfulness, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and emotional regulation.
It has been found to be very effective in treating patients suffering from Borderline Personality Disorder, suicidal behaviour, self-harm, substance use disorder, binge eating disorder, bulimia, anxiety, depression etc.
- Psychodynamic Therapy: This therapy is based on the work of Sigmund Freud, who many people know as the “Father of Psychoanalysis”. The therapy lays importance on the multifaceted approach to human life. In this therapy, the bond between client and therapist is of prime importance.
With the help of a therapist, the patient is able to go deep inside their past traumas, and childhood experiences. This way they get to understand how they see the world and their behavioural pattern. The therapist’s goal is to enable them to develop self-defeating patterns and new approaches towards life and problems.
It is also a powerful tool used for couples therapy to strengthen their bond.
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Theory: It is for those patients who are suffering from a wide range of problems. This treatment technique involves moving the eyes in a certain manner while processing memories of a traumatic event.
The best part about this technique is that it can be used for people of all age groups including adolescents and teenagers. Certain therapists especially train to use this technique in children.
- Existential Therapy: It is a form of psychotherapy that helps the patient to create a meaningful life using their free will. According to existential theory, life has no meaning and death cannot be avoided. Therefore every human should create an authentic life of his own.
In fact, some therapists do not even consider it as a specific therapy. They treat it as an approach to therapy where the person is able to handle inner conflicts caused due to human solitude.
It is a type of humanistic therapy where the therapist believes that every human has the freedom to create a life of his own.
Conclusion
All different sorts of therapies are treatments that help patients deal with mental health disorders and diseases. Even if you are not suffering from any mental health problems, it is an effective tool for improving the quality of life and dealing with difficult situations.
Toronto Psychological Services has a highly qualified team of experts who can help you lead a more happy and healthy life.
Remember, your mind is your biggest strength. Keep it healthy.