Psychotherapy is effective and here’s why
October 2011, Vol 42, No. 9 American Psychological Association
Answering just what makes it work is complex, said Wampold, a professor of counseling psychology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, but relationships and customized treatments play key roles.
So what makes a good therapist? According to research presented by Wampold, a good therapist:
- Has a sophisticated set of interpersonal skills.
- Builds trust, understanding and belief from the client.
- Has an alliance with client.
- Has an acceptable and adaptive explanation of the client's condition.
- Has a treatment plan and allows it to be flexible.
- Is influential, persuasive and convincing.
- Monitors patient progress.
- Offers hope and optimism (realistic optimism, not Pollyanna-ish).
- Is aware of a client's characteristics in context.
- Is reflective.
- Relies on best research evidence.
- Continually improves through professional development.
"The only constant we have in life is change"
Is Counselling For You
"and the day came when the risk it took to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom" - Anais Nin
Demystifying counselling and psychotherapy
By talking things over and making sense of life experiences individuals and couples can learn to understand themselves and make the changes you want in your life.
Counselling and psychotherapy help you to process: What you do and why you do it. Through therapy, you can revisit repeating patterns, break cycles of behaviour that are no longer helpful to you and live your life in control and empowered.
Counselling and psychotherapy is a process which can help you to identify the "if's, maybe's, could be's " reduce the feelings of "being out of control" and the symptoms of anxiety and guilt, leaving you feeling positive, free of these negative feelings and ready to embrace your life. Remember we can not recreate the" what if's ".
Through the therapeutic relationship you can unpick difficulties that feel stuck and free yourself to do something different. Sometimes we feel upset or experience feeling down or a low mood and struggle to untangle the "whys? and hows?" we feel so uncomfortable and unsettled.
Therapy offers you an opportunity to improve your mind and mood and, by untangling those struggles and piecing it all together, you can form a more positive quality of life and create an understanding of your unique process.
" DEPRESSION LIVES IN THE PAST, ANXIETY LIVES IN THE FUTURE, HAPPINESS AND CONTENTMENT LIVES IN THE HERE AND NOW"