Individual psychotherapy enables individuals to first verbalize and define their inner conflicts that threaten their sense of existence, trap their thoughts, and create emotional turmoil, and then to confront their real conflicts by making sense of them.
The individual psychotherapy process is a journey in which a person learns to stand on their own feet and gains lived experience. The therapy process is a journey between the remnants of the past and anxieties about the future.
Contents
- What Is Individual Psychotherapy?
- In Which Psychological Disorders Is Individual Psychotherapy Applied?
- Which Psychological Disorders Is Individual Psychotherapy Used For?
- What Are the Types of Psychotherapy?
- How Many Sessions Does Individual Psychotherapy Take?
- How Can I Tell If I Need Individual Psychotherapy?
- What Are the Goals of Individual Psychotherapy?
- What Are the Benefits of Individual Psychotherapy?
- How Can You Tell If the Individual Psychotherapy Process Is Successful?
What Is Individual Psychotherapy?
Individual psychotherapy becomes necessary when there are factors that threaten a person’s mental health. Psychological disorders may manifest as symptoms of mental and physical illnesses as well as problems experienced in interpersonal relationships. For the psychotherapy process to be effective, there must be a constructive therapeutic relationship between the client and the psychotherapist.
In Which Psychological Disorders Is Individual Psychotherapy Applied?
Individual psychotherapy is a helpful method for resolving psychological problems. However, a person does not need to experience psychological problems to receive individual psychotherapy, as therapy can also be sought for personal development.
Which Psychological Disorders Is Individual Psychotherapy Used For?
- Depression,
- Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD),
- Social anxiety disorder,
- Various phobias,
- Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD),
- Eating disorders,
- Addiction,
- Behavioral disorders,
- Physical illnesses caused by psychological problems,
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD),
- Personality disorders,
- Loss and grief,
- Interpersonal relationship problems,
- Personal awareness.
What Are the Types of Psychotherapy?
The most commonly applied types of psychotherapy today are classified as follows:
- Psychoanalytic-based therapies,
- Cognitive behavioral therapies,
- Behavioral therapies,
- Interpersonal therapies,
- Humanistic and existential therapies.
Psychotherapy is a psychological treatment method with different approaches. Which type of psychotherapy will be applied depends on the individual’s psychological problems and the psychotherapist’s training. Psychotherapies can also be categorized as individual psychotherapy, group therapy, and family therapy.
How Many Sessions Does Individual Psychotherapy Take?
The number of sessions in individual psychotherapy varies depending on the client’s psychological condition and the method applied. It would be incorrect to say that individual psychotherapy lasts for a fixed number of sessions. Just as psychological problems develop over a long period of time, the treatment and recovery process may also take time.
How Can I Tell If I Need Individual Psychotherapy?
You can ask yourself the following questions to determine whether you may need individual psychotherapy:
- Do I have difficulty going to work or school?
- Do I have suicidal thoughts?
- Are people around me aware of changes in me?
- Do I constantly feel anxious about something?
- Can I sleep comfortably?
- Am I maintaining my self-care?
- Do I have physical complaints?
- Do I have fears?
In addition to these questions, if you have physical complaints that cannot be fully explained, psychological problems may be present. If you do not feel psychologically safe and comfortable, it is recommended that you seek individual psychotherapy support.
What Are the Goals of Individual Psychotherapy?
The goals of individual psychotherapy are determined collaboratively between the client and the psychotherapist. These goals vary according to the individual’s psychological difficulties.
The goals of individual psychotherapy include:
- Coping with emotional difficulties,
- Changing unwanted behaviors,
- Structuring interpersonal relationships,
- Developing or increasing personal awareness,
- Enhancing self-confidence,
- Overcoming psychological disorders.
What Are the Benefits of Individual Psychotherapy?
Individual psychotherapy is a process conducted under the guidance of a qualified psychotherapist to resolve psychological problems or increase personal awareness.
The benefits of individual psychotherapy include:
- Creates or enhances self-awareness,
- Eliminates unwanted behaviors and attitudes,
- Facilitates coping with problems,
- Allows individuals to express their thoughts and problems freely without judgment,
- Improves social relationships,
- Serves as a guide in managing crisis situations.
How Can You Tell If the Individual Psychotherapy Process Is Successful?
The main goal of individual psychotherapy is for the client to feel better. Throughout the process, the client gains self-awareness and strengthens their ability to cope with problems. In this way, the individual psychotherapy process is considered successful.
