What is psychotherapy?

Psychotherapy (or simply therapy) has become humanity’s most effective response to psychological and behavioural problems. Taking the time to sit down and speak with someone trained to identify and address the key pain points of the human journey, is one of the best possible uses of your time.

Although (especially in South Africa) therapy is sometimes seen as a failure to cope, the exact opposite is in fact true. It takes smarts to identify the need for help, and courage to face issues we’d like to resolve, hence only proactive and savvy people will seek out professional help when issues in their lives become unmanageable. We will all face problems in life, and only the brave face their problems with the determination to resolve them. This is simply the truth of human existence.

Therapy involves a wide range of approaches, and a therapist will approach your issues with the most effect means of solving your life’s challenges. Psychotherapy aids individuals, couples, and children who face issues, and enables everyone to understand their challenges and the means to solve them.

The outcome of therapeutic intervention is to inspire change that improves the quality of your life. Individuals typically seek therapy for assistance with issues that are difficult to confront on their own, just as we all seek the expertise of professionals in a myriad of ways in other areas of life－the mechanic, the dentist, the landscaper, the plumber.

Moreover, therapy boosts positive emotions such as compassion and self-worth, and people who attend therapy acquire the knowledge we all need to handle challenging circumstances, make healthy and successful decisions, and attain goals. Indeed, it’s fair to say that most people engaged in therapy enjoy the process of becoming more self aware. Knowledge really is power, and self knowledge is highly empowering.

Psychotherapy is generally more effective than psychotropic medication or such medical treatments on their own, many of which more mask issues than resolve them, while also often having adverse side effects. Additionally, therapeutic approaches are based on evidence, which means that their success rate has been thoroughly examined through research studies, clinical observations, and various additional forms of analysis.