As a method, psychotherapy is based on two or more people interacting. The treatment itself consists of a person or group talking with a psychotherapist about what is bothering him/her. With the help of conversation, a person is able to understand difficult experiences and find a way out of his problem. The form of psychotherapy can be individual, couples, family and group.

Yet psychotherapy is not an ordinary conversation, the same as a conversation with a girlfriend/boyfriend. Psychotherapy has a clear structure, methods and goals. Numerous studies have proven the effectiveness of conversational psychotherapy in the treatment of various mental and psychosomatic conditions (panic attacks, fears, depression, grief, etc.)

Of course, a simple conversation with a person you trust can help. But official psychotherapy can only be carried out by specially trained, certified specialists.

There are many approaches that influence the angle from which the problem is viewed (in the light of childhood memories, or through the client’s behavior, thinking, bodily sensations, etc.). Depending on the approach, they approach the solution to the problem. Often the approaches complement each other and can be integrated and used sequentially or in parallel to effectively achieve results.

But the most important thing from the point of view of the effectiveness of psychotherapy is the interaction between the psychotherapist and the client.

You can seek psychotherapeutic help on your own or through a referral from a psychiatrist or other specialists.

When seeking psychotherapy on your own, you do not need a doctor's opinion. You contact psychotherapists directly and agree to start treatment. When choosing a psychotherapist online or in person, be sure to check whether he has the appropriate certificate, which gives him the right to engage in conversational psychotherapy.

Prices for psychotherapists’ services, depending on experience and qualifications, can vary from tens to hundreds or more of dollars. The number of sessions per week is usually 1-3. In the case of short-term psychotherapy, the duration of such a session is 45-50 minutes, and it takes place once a week for 10 to 30 weeks.

In especially severe cases, long-term psychotherapy is needed, which can last for years, with sessions more than once a week. The method and duration depend on the specific case and the client's request.

If you have consulted a psychotherapist with a referral from your psychiatrist, then so-called “combined therapy” may be carried out when your psychiatrist and psychotherapist jointly develop a strategy for your treatment.  Usually, with this approach, you visit a psychiatrist once a month, and a psychotherapist three times a month.

It is recognized that the most important thing for successful psychotherapeutic treatment is the relationship between the client and the therapist. And that is why before starting a course of psychotherapy it is necessary to choose a suitable specialist.  To do this, you may have to first talk with several and choose the one with whom you are most comfortable building this relationship. We'll talk about this below.

At the beginning of psychotherapy, the client is asked about his life, present and past, and about the situations that prompted him to seek help. There are 1-3 such introductory sessions depending on the complexity of the case. At this stage, you will already be able to understand how dialogue and cooperation with this psychotherapist is built. If you have the feeling that you are heard and understood, this is a good sign.

The right therapist is highly engaged and takes a sincere and empathic interest in your life, which helps you feel heard. He makes no value judgments about your behavior or experiences. Moreover, you will not hear words of condemnation or humiliation from him. A good psychotherapist does not give a lot of advice and does not put pressure, but rather gives the client the opportunity to decide for himself what changes will be relevant for him. In this sense, the psychotherapist clearly understands the scope of his competence - in what issues he can help, and where the responsibility of the client himself or other specialists begins.

Because therapy involves painful experiences, working through them can be difficult. Sometimes you may want to stop therapy because it is difficult or decide that the therapist turned out to be bad. In order to avoid mistakes and not end therapy prematurely based on false premises, you should separate the complexity of the process itself from the general atmosphere and relationship with the psychotherapist.

It is very important to talk openly about your feelings, problems and situations. If it is difficult for you to open up to this particular specialist, this is a sign that you should look for another one. At the same time, you need to understand that at the beginning of communication between any strangers there is an initial stage in which there is an understanding of what kind of relationship is developing. But if you have given time for trust to form, but the relationship does not work, then look for another psychotherapist.

You need to understand that a psychotherapist is a magician; he does not have a miracle pill that will instantly solve your problem, which may have been developing for years.  Don't have unrealistic expectations of your therapist, he is not a guru who has all the answers. A therapist can accompany you on your journey to a better life and give you tools to solve problems, but they cannot live your life for you. You will have to act.

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