| Articles of Interest: Children & Parenting Gender & Sexuality OCD & Anxiety Other Topics |
Why go to a Psychologist? What is the difference between a Psychologist and a Psychiatrist? What is psychodynamic therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy? What does it mean to be eclectic? What is Exposure with Response Prevention? How long does therapy take and when does it end? Does therapy really help? Why go to a Psychologist?; How is talking to a Psychologist any different than talking to a friend or relative? When people go to a Psychologist they have typically tried other approaches to solving a personal problem, including talking to friends and relatives. Some people may find that talking to a friend or relative is not enough to resolve their problems. Some people may want to talk to a Psychologist about problems they would feel uncomfortable discussing with friends or relatives. Talking to a Psychologist is different than talking to a friend or relative in two ways: First, a Psychologist is knowledgeable about emotional problems, has patients best interests at heart, and is relatively objective. In addition, a Psychologist uses treatment methods that are guided by well-developed theories about the sources of personal problems. What is the difference between a Psychologist and a Psychiatrist? Psychologists have a Ph.D. (doctor of philosophy) degree that requires four to six years of graduate study. Licensing requirements in Michigan require one full year of predoctoral internship and two full years of postdoctoral fellowship, as well as completion of a dissertation and competency on a written national exam. Psychologists differ from Psychiatrists in that Psychologists can administer and interpret Psychological testing. Psychiatrists are physicians who specialize in the treatment of psychological disorders. They attend medical school for four years to earn an M.D. (doctor of medicine) degree. Then they receive training in psychiatry during a residency of three or four years. Psychiatrists differ from Psychologists in that Psychiatrists can prescribe medications. What is Psychodynamic Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy? Psychodynamic Therapy emphasizes the importance of discovering and resolving internal, unconscious conflicts, often through an exploration of one's childhood and past experiences as well as through analysis of the relationship one has with their therapist. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy emphasizes changing feelings through changing what one does and how one thinks about them self and their situation. What does it mean to be eclectic? In the United States, about 40 percent of therapists consider their approach eclectic, meaning that they use ideas and techniques from a variety of therapies. Many therapists like the opportunity to draw from many theories and not limit themselves to one or two. Most therapists who adopt an eclectic approach have a rationale for which techniques they use with specific clients, rather than just choosing an approach randomly or because it suits them at the time. What is Exposure and Response Prevention? Exposure and response prevention is a behavioral technique often used to treat people with obsessive-compulsive disorder. In this technique the therapist and client establish an anxiety hierarchy; a list of fear-provoking situations arranged in order of how much fear they provoke in the client. Then, the client is systematically exposed to the situations that cause obsessive thoughts while being prevented from performing the compulsive rituals. How long does therapy take and when does it end? The length of therapy usually depends on the severity and number of the clients problems. When therapy ends is determined by the client and the therapist together. Ideally their decision depends on their judgments about the clients degree of progress and improvement. At the end of therapy, the therapist and client agree on what to do if the clients problems recur. Does therapy really help? Measuring the effectiveness of psychotherapy is an extremely complex task. Studies have confirmed that overall, psychotherapy is better than no therapy at all. Although different therapeutic approaches may be equally effective on average, mental health researchers agree that some types of therapy are best for particular problems and that psychotherapy is not effective for everyone. |
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