There are many different approaches to counselling or psychotherapy. All of them are concerned with lessening the distress associated with emotional problems, relationship/family problems, work-related problems, etc. The way in which they are similar is that they all involve talking with a therapist.The type of therapy that a person might receive often depends on the type of problem s/he presents with. Usually, a therapist will make an initial assessment and decide which approach is best.
What types of problems can be helped with counselling/psychotherapy?
Most problems can be helped with counselling/psychotherapy. Below is a list of some common problems for which an individual, couple, or family might seek professional help:
Stress
Anxiety
Depression
Relationship issues
Separation anxiety
General emotional distress
Work related problems
Low self esteem
Post-traumatic stress
Psychosexual problems
Gender dissatisfaction
What will happen if I go for counselling/psychotherapy? Counselling/psychotherapy usually involves regular meetings (lasting about an hour) at the same time and same place every week or two weeks. After an initial assessment, the therapist decides on a course of action that s/he will discuss with the client. This includes devising a therapeutic approach, agreeing on goals, and establishing a target length of treatment.The length of the treatment is usually agreed within a month or so of starting. In couples or family therapy, the relevant individuals will meet with the therapist together. These sessions may be longer than in individual psychotherapy and a greater number of sessions are sometimes required. What happens during a session is completely confidential between the therapist and the client(s).
Who will be my counsellor/psychotherapist?
Clients will initially be seen by Dr. Vickie Pasterski, a highly qualified Chartered Psychologist. She is trained in various therapeutic techniques including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Client Centered Therapy, which have been proven effective. After an initial consultation, the client and Dr. Pasterski will decide together on a course of action. This may include continuing on a course of counselling/psychotherapy with Dr. Pasterski or a referral to another counsellor who may provide a better fit.
KINDS OF THERAPY
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) The aim of CBT is to change thought patterns directly in an effort to eliminate destructive ways of thinking. The basic premise is that biases in the way a person interprets events largely determine how s/he feels and behaves. There can be specific biases that play a role in various psychological disturbances. For example, a person who is depressed may focus on themes of loss and defeat; or, a person who is anxious may focus on themes of threat and danger. CBT is a process of investigation, reality testing, and problem solving between the client and the therapist. The client’s thoughts are treated as testable hypotheses, or assumptions. By testing these assumptions, the individual is able to generate contradictory evidence that supports more adaptive beliefs and ways of interpreting events. This leads to therapeutic changes in the way the person feels and behaves.
Person-Centered Therapy
Person-centered therapy can be used to help individuals or groups of individuals. This technique, which was formulated and refined by Carl Rogers in the 1940s, is based on the premise that a self-directed growth would come out of a therapeutic relationship characterized by genuineness, non-judgmental caring, and empathy. Probably the most fundamental and pervasive concept in person-centered therapy is a relationship of trust. This trusting relationship provides a setting in which to explore thoughts, feelings, and behaviours with unconditional acceptance from the therapist. The client is encouraged to be the architect of his/her own life where s/he achieves insight that leads to a healthier and happier existence.
Family and Marital Therapy Individual presenting problems are often the result of stresses in relationships with a partner or other family member(s). By focusing very clearly on the relationships involved, and by involving all the people concerned, family and marital therapies seek to help those relationships work better. The task of the family therapist is to encourage change in the nature of relationships, thus leading to relational harmony. Various therapeutic techniques may be employed when working with couples and families depending on the nature of the relationships and the stressors.
