Psychotherapy allows people to talk about how they feel about things, whether it’s relationships, circumstances or just life in general.
It is proven to help many people deal with problems they find difficult or painful so that they can live their lives more fully. Often talking about your feelings and concerns in confidence to a professional unconnected to you can help make life more manageable and meaningful.
A psychotherapist will aim to help you find better ways to cope, or bring about changes in the way you think and behave to improve your mental and emotional wellbeing.
Research shows that psychotherapy can be effective in dealing with a broad range of difficulties, including:
- loss, including bereavement, divorce or redundancy
- anxiety, panic and stress
- difficulties at work
- relationship problems, destructive or unhelpful partnerships
- low self-esteem, depression, self-harming, or suicidal thoughts
- issues of sexuality, including sexual orientation, sex, body image and eating disorders
- a sense of shame, jealousy and envy
Effective psychotherapy should not only be about relieving symptoms but also help develop resilience for meeting life’s future challenges and a deeper sense of meaning in one’s life. This may be reflected in the following:
- Increased self-awareness
- Feeling increasingly fulfilled and connected in relationships
- Being emotionally tolerant of oneself and of others
- Experiencing self-acceptance and being more accepting of others
- Feeling present and engaged in the world
- Making healthy and empowered decisions