What is Psychotherapy?
This written piece describes and explains the psychotherapeutic process in my practice. All practitioners vary in the way they approach therapy, in response to different academic influences and experience. But for this discussion, I have chosen not to discuss the specific teachers and lessons that have taught me, although there are many. Simply I shall describe how I guide the flow of psychotherapeutic healing for my clients.
In the psychotherapeutic process we are able to realize the evolution of our life and self. This evolution is different for each of us. For some it is a decrease in negative emotions and symptomology, for others it is an increase in satisfaction, stimulation, emotional availability and ease in our lives. Perhaps there is fusion of our identity (reducing compartmentalization of self); we may arrive at simplification in how we view and accept our self. We usually want to bring our life to a place as we envisioned it growing up in our mind. But for most of us, our goal is to increase positive emotions, achieve goals and reduce pain and suffering, panic attacks, obsessional thinking, depression, loneliness, lack of security, fear and compulsivity.
In this therapeutic path I offer guidance, support, and assist in opening up, neutralizing trauma, exploring feelings, learning about self, and developing a plan and tools. I will also dynamically intervene when necessary to create the change or shift needed for growth. Life is a journey with many struggles, stable and unstable periods of time. Most difficult are the times between unstable and stable (often here is where people enter therapy): the transitional times. Transition could be a job change, recovery from a physical injury or illness, recovery from a compulsive behavior or a period of grief after the loss of a marriage or a death of a loved one. Transition can be traumatic and frightening because old tools may no longer work and new tools have not yet developed. Past feelings come up in these periods, exacerbating emotional pain and anxiety. Conflict may erupt regarding career, interpersonal relationships, health, finances and spirituality.
I offer the safety, guidance, support and sometimes the push necessary to continue on in this journey of self-growth. In this process we sometimes go deeper exploring, re-feeling and processing the past or recent past emotional states and responses. This helps us understand how we function and what our process is and has been. It also helps us move past the feelings rather than getting stuck in them. Psychotherapy offers a safe space to do the emotional work. In our regular lives we may avoid, compartmentalize or obsess without action to change. In therapy we work together to understand where if at all the dysfunction may lie regarding the processes that are currently in place. Through this gained insight we are able to develop a greater sense of where change and energetic shifts need to take place. People can locate the pain but not always the dysfunction or obstacles that lie in their path.
Once the insight regarding the systems evolve, then the work around how the dysfunction, stagnation or conflict developed can be explored. History of family of origin, relationships, developmental process and trauma reveal a great deal about who we are and how we operate in our world and environment. At this point we arrive at who we are. We have learned what our systems and rhythms are. We can also understand where we came from and what has affected us in our life to sculpt our face to the world. We discuss in therapy what are our past and present struggles. Feelings start to flow more readily and we learn to better articulate these feelings.
The next stage of work is more in the present. We ask, What is our current struggle? What needs to change or shift so we are more comfortable? There will be shifting, removing obstacles, resolving and importantly working through feelings, conflicts and strategies to change behaviors; all techniques to create energetic shifts. Issues with anger, depression, anxiety and mood swings improve as the flow opens and blocks to the flow of emotions are removed. To help the shift I use a combination of techniques: psychodynamic interpretation, family systems therapy with a backdrop of 12-Step philosophy, holistic balancing (which involves change in diet, exercise, sleep patterns, meditation, yoga, cessation of chemical consumption), supplementation of herbs and vitamins, and sometimes energy work and homeopathy are used. Often there are other assignments very specific to the person and his or her needs.
These shifts bring increased harmonious flow of emotions and release the blockages. The articulation and release of feelings in the moment helps reduce the build-up of emotion that blocks the flow. In this process we also learn our emotional triggers and patterns. Knowing our triggers and patterns give us the flexibility and space to make necessary changes to improve relationships and prevent more difficult emotional states. This insight allows for change.
Once change begins new work becomes apparent. This work speaks to the adjustment of internal and external systems. Individuals feel exhilarated but often scared and vulnerable around the change. Many feelings come to the surface as the loosening of some old defenses makes room for them. For some people, this change offers emotional availability for the first time. This availability gives us the opportunity to resolve conflict, due to a deeper understanding of how we are and have been affected by our external environment and interpersonal relationships. The resolution of so much conflict brings stability. Intellectually planning out strategies based on the new insight is a tool well used at this stage in my practice. The new strategies give us an emotional map which reduces anxiety and fear triggered by the unpredictability of our past mood swings, emotional struggles and the consequences of our compulsions. We learn to navigate the emotional waters of our lives for smooth sailing.
The new strategic orientation has with it support systems, new relationships and boundaries in all areas. This is very intense and challenges us emotionally. When feelings have been processed, flushed, and conflicts resolved and the new systems are well in place, suddenly, there is psychic space to achieve long lost or new goals, new relationships and availability in these relationships. One may feel more engaged, connected, fused, unencumbered and confident to handle the emotional challenges life sends!
Obviously, the therapeutic process is very personal and therefore reflects the very unique quality of each individual involved. This piece is a generalization of the process. With specific illnesses there are different courses of treatment or different emphasis on different aspects of the treatment. Specifically for family and couples work the rhythm of the therapy varies. Still overall much remains consistent.
I hope this piece has been useful. I imagine it is a great deal to absorb so I would always be happy to discuss this process in person! Be well!