What is psychological treatment?
Psychological treatment, sometimes called ‘talking therapy’, 'psychotherapy' or ‘therapy’, describes an approach to treating mental health conditions where you talk about your thoughts and feelings with a trained therapist. The therapist could be a counsellor, psychologist, or psychiatrist.
What are the goals of psychological treatment?
The goals of psychological treatment may include:
- Increasing an understanding of your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.
- Gaining a better understanding and ability to resolve your problems.
- Being able to recognise your mental health symptoms in yourself.
- Reducing your mental health symptoms.
- Changing your behaviour.
- Improving your quality of life.
Why get psychological treatment?
A good reason to get psychological treatment is that it is an evidence-based treatment approach that has been shown to be effective for mental health conditions, such as:
Psychological treatments can also help with other issues, such as stress, emotional problems, relationship difficulties and grief.
How long does it take for psychological treatment to work?
It can take a few weeks till you see an improvement from most types of therapies. Some types of therapy are considered longer-term interventions and may require a year or more to achieve the full benefit.
Although psychological treatment is not a quick fix, the benefit is often long-lasting.
Psychological treatments
There are a variety of psychological treatments available for mental health conditions. To recommend the most suitable therapy approach for you, I consider several factors, including your symptoms and concerns, diagnosis, the evidence supporting the treatment option, and your personal preference. My psychological methods are derived from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and practices in Mindfulness and Meditation.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is based on mindfulness practice and awareness of the present moment. It helps you to learn to accept your negative thoughts and emotions and to realise that these don’t define you and allow them to pass. It can be used for different mental health issues, including stress and anxiety.
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) is based on the principle that our thoughts, feelings and behaviours are interconnected. It asks you to challenge your unhelpful thoughts by thinking of the evidence for and against the thoughts so that you can see a more balanced view of the situation. It also helps you to modify behaviours that may be perpetuating your unhelpful thoughts. This type of therapy is often used to treat anxiety and depression.
Mindfulness and Meditation
Mindfulness is a technique that helps you focus on the present moment, rather than thinking about the past or future. Meditation complements mindfulness by promoting deeper self-reflection and relaxation, often involving techniques such as focused breathing or mantra repetition. It can be practised independently, guided by a therapist during a session, or with the help of a meditation app. These types of practices can be helpful in the treatment of anxiety and depression.