Many people are undergoing psychotherapy today for many reasons. Do you think that therapy can be beneficial?

Question

Under what circumstances do you think a person should enter into therapy? In your own opinion which type of therapy would work the best?

Answer 1

I know that in my situation it has helped. I went to counseling for years off and on for a few things, but mainly childhood sexual abuse and a rape that happened when I was 18. I also went because of the abuse my ex husband was doing to me. And for the major stress I had going on with his constantly lying and cheating, taking care of his grandma who had alzheimer's and dementia, his constant use and abuse of drugs, me, and his kids, and other things.

It helped me to see that everything he was doing was NOT because of me, that I couldn't control any of it or him, and that I needed to get away from him and the situation, which I finally did for good. It helped me to become a more outgoing, better person.

I think that therapy should be for anyone who has a condition, including depression, that they cannot handle. The kind of therapy all depends on the situation/problem(s), the person themselves, etc.

Answer 2

"Do you think therapy can be beneficial? Under what circumstances do you think a person should enter into therapy?"

Yes, I do believe therapy can be beneficial--very beneficial--and I speak from personal experience. Like many things, psychotherapy works--but mostly only if you want it to work. If you are forced to undergo psychotherapy , rather than choosing to enter it of your own free will, then it is very hard to benefit much from it.

If you really want to change, a good psychotherapist CAN be of help as no one else, not even a wise good friend, can. If you don't want to change, then even a good therapist is going to have trouble making any impact on the issue. There are people undergoing psychotherapy who are there because they were ordered to undergo it by a court . There are people in psychotherapy who are there because their significant other threatened to break off the relationship if they did not undergo psychotherapy. These people will find it hard to benefit from therapy.

Perhaps you have heard the joke: "How many therapists does it take to change a light bulb?" Answer: "Only one, but the light bulb really has to want to be changed."

Some mental health problems are now known to have a biochemical or genetic basis and are helped though medication. But there is no "magic pill" for other problems. Many times these problems are amenable to therapy. A good therapist does more than listening sympathetically to your problems. What a good therapist does (figuratively speaking) is hold up a mirror that enables you to see your true self--and then provides a path to a better self (if you want to become better).

One need not be mentally ill or severely depressed to see a therapist. Therapists can be useful to anyone who wants to become a better person. It is hard to think of any circumstance where an individual could not benefit from therapy. Low self-esteem? Weight problem? Persistence sadness? Anger management issues? Marital problems? No matter what the problem, concern or issue, I'm sure therapists have heard it.

"What type of therapy would work the best?"

That depends on what the issue is--certain therapies work better for some problems. Without knowing what the issue the person wanted assistance with, it would be impossible to say which therapy might be best. Actually, research on the issue of the which therapy is the best therapy for certain problems has found that how the individual responds to the therapist is MORE IMPORTANT than what particular therapy is used.

Here is a link to a website that tells about different types of therapy and how to choose one. It's a British website but except for references the National Health and some British associations, the information is good. http://www.alanpriest.f2s.com/Types%20of%20Therapy%201.htm Probably most therapists today use a form of therapy derived from either a cognitive behaviorial base or a gestalt base.

Remember, what is most important in choosing the therapist is to choose a therapist you are comfortable with because it is the relationship you form with the therapist that is critical in determining how much the therapy helps.

Answer 3

Some people prefer going to therapy rather than talking to family and friends because it is confidential, they don't have the added worry that what they have told that person will be repeated. There is also the problem that what they have worries about may involve said friends and family or that the problem as they see it will be treated with indifference. Apart from that when you have a problem there is nothing worse than someone saying to you 'stop being silly and pull yourself together' or 'well when it happened/felt like that to me' or 'I know exactly how you feel cos' shifting the emphasis from your problem to theirs. Friends and family also give contradicting advice on how to handle a problem whereas a counsellor or therapist is there to guide a person towards an answer to a problem rather than telling them what they should or shouldn't do, they help a person come to their own conclusions.
As for the type of therapy that is best it all depends on the problem and a good counsellor /therapist will know their ability and refer the client to someone who is better able to help.

Answer 4

Psychotherapy is definitely beneficial! My therapist helps me help myself through problem solving; alternative approaches to an issue. She made me mad once, and of course, I reacted instead of acted. She was trying to get me to show emotion.

There are alot of folks who go to therapy, whether it is individual, or group therapy. It allows you to connect w/others who have the same issues. There has to be some level of trust, or there will be minimal growth.

Psychotherapy is not for everyone, But for those who do need it, it can be very beneficial.

Answer 5

I think this would work if the person is in an extreme situation and need of help. But I learned to overcome depression WITHOUT therapy. Yes, when you tell you family and friends that are dearest to you and viceversa, they will help you and show you the wonderful things. Of course, I wouldn't know if that would work with some one who suffers from masochism.

Answer 6

Yes, it could, it depends on the problem the person has, but sometimes just talking to a trained person instead of friends, family, does help, if something is really bothering you, and it is upsetting you life, maybe sleeping, etc. I found therapy could help..

Answer 7

Psychotherapy is useless. Freud never cured anybody of anything. No psychotherapist ever did. Behavior therapy--NOT--psychotherapy can cure phobias very reliably.

Of course it can be good to have someone to talk to, but you don't need to pay a shrink for that. Just find somebody you like to talk to and talk to them.

Answer 8

To paraphrase; " we have had over one hundred years of psychotherapy and if were not getting worse, we are certainly not getting better ".

Answer 9

I think it is a waste of time and money. Maybe for people that are introverted. To me, self help groups are the way to help yourself get over or solve a problem.

Answer 10

psychotherapy can help assure you that you're not insane. that helps a lot. the rest of the help though, you'll need to do for yourself.