Psychotherapy is one treatment option for people who suffer from seasonal affective disorder, but if you’re new to the concept of deep therapy then you might have a lot of questions. Primarily, what is it? how does it work? what can I expect from my session working with a therapist?
What Is Psychotherapy?
Whether you are dealing with emotional trauma, a form of depression or are overwhelmed by life’s big problems, therapy is a way to take a step outside of yourself and see the bigger picture. Often times you realize that the bigger picture is a positive one and that you’re just trapped within yourself.
Most people don’t want to talk about their feelings and will instead harbor their true emotions and thought processes. This is typically acceptable, but it becomes an issue if you have depression and feel like no one understands you.
As a side note, the whole thinking process behind “no one understands” is in itself very common and truth be told – a lot of people do understand. Since depression affects so many millions of people and although it can be triggered from different, personal things, it still does not mean that you are the only one going through this.
Unfortunately, this line of thinking keeps a lot of people from seeking professional help. However, if you take that first step here is maybe what you can expect from seeking some counseling.
1. Psychotherapy Is About Growth
What does this mean? Well it means that the counselor’s job is to listen and then guide you. It’s not meant to necessarily diagnose you, but mainly to allow yourself to talk it out.
A therapist can even supply you with a sort of road map to get onto a better track. A professional acknowledges the problems and hears the darker feedback, but is also feeling out opportunities to get you back to a healthier, happier state.
2. Psychotherapy Doesn’t Have To Be Heavy
Of course this all depends on the personality of the therapist, but it’s not always just tears. There is no reason that the patient and the practitioner can’t crack a few jokes and be down to earth with each other.
After all, if you were conversing about your issues with a professional who was cold, don’t you suspect this wouldn’t be very therapeutic? A psychotherapist is
a person too and wants to influence you in a positive manner and allow you to realize that everyone in life has concerns, fears and issues.
3. The Mind Is Very Powerful
The mind can be a blessing and a curse. It’s where our fears, emotions and cognition begin. As a result, technically a human could do just about anything
good in their life if they could release themselves from the shackling of their limiting beliefs.
That’s why behavioral therapy can be so helpful. It can be used to correct your thinking that causes you to act in unsatisfactory ways so that you can be the
best you.
This is done through adaption and can involve many techniques such as motivational enhancement, cognitive behavioral therapy, bio feedback and even sometimes things like meditation and training in relaxation.
So if you feel like you should reach out to a professional, but have some concerns – just remember this.
Therapists understand that you have concerns. They understand that people are afraid of how they will view themselves if they seek help. They understand that you don’t want to be “tinkered” with and their job is to be gentle and provide what you need. No, one patient is alike.
For information regarding finding a professional counselor, here are some great places to get started.
http://therapists.psychologytoday.com/rms/
http://www.goodtherapy.org/find-psychotherapists.html
http://www.americanpsychotherapy.com/services/therapist/