A whistle stop tour of different therapies

Psychodynamic, Existential, Person-Centred, CBT & TA

Saturday, May 1st, 2010

Have you contemplated psychotherapy and counselling feeling unsure which approach to choose?

Well help is at hand now with this whistle stop tour of different types of therapies, providing an insight into each approach.

So let's start with a well known name most people have heard of Mr. Sigmund Freud. Freud was the grandfather of the psychodynamic movement. Freud observed women suffering from hysteria and diagnosed them, interpreting their symptoms.

Psychodynamic Therapy

otherwise referred to as psychoanalysis, traditionally takes place on a couch but can be done on chairs facing each other. Psychoanalysis also can take place over many years and you could have sessions many times a week. The main theory behind psychoanalysis is that we have an unconscious part to our mind which we cannot connect to, in this area we express aspects to our lives which we cannot express elsewhere e.g. our dreams. Psychoanalysis interprets your ‘symptoms' and originates from the medical model. Psychoanalysis has particular interest in early childhood experience, so if you would like to enter a type of therapy that you can engage in more than once a week and for quite a few years then psychoanalysis could be for you!

Existential Therapy

is the philosophical alternative to psychoanalysis. Existential practitioners do not believe that we have an unconscious area of our mind that we cannot connect to, even though existential therapists realise that there are some things that can be out of our awareness we always have the possibility of connecting to that part of ourselves. Existential therapists are interested in the way you live your life and your attitude to yourself, other people and the world. It is a therapy that will challenge your assumptions and find out what it is like to be you. Existential therapy is concerned with how you exist in the world and your world view. This therapy takes place once a week as it is believed that you can work on yourself in between sessions. It can be open ended which is generally not more than a year, or time limited e.g. 6/8 sessions. Your whole existence is explored in this type of therapy, your physical, personal, social and spiritual dimensions. The main thing about this approach is that it is based on philosophy, and choices.

Responsibility, freedom, your values and beliefs are explored in existential therapy. So, if you would like to engage in a journey that is a sure way of gaining self awareness existential therapy could be for you!

Person Centred Therapy

Otherwise known as humanistic therapy, highlights the importance of people's subjective self-concept, which is made up from the way they perceive and define themselves.

Person centred therapists provide their clients with congruence, unconditional positive regard and empathy in the hope that they themselves will be impacted by these conditions and possess them for themselves. A person centred therapist would believe that each person is inherently good, and they can aspire to goodness and growth. So if you would like to engage in a therapy where you sit with a person who believes in the good nature of human beings person centred therapy could be for you!

CBT

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. This approach has become quite famous in the therapy world as the National Health Service (NHS) like its solution focused, short term way of working. Irrational beliefs can be statements including ‘I am unlovable'. CBT explores the way we think, the way we feel, and the way we act.It works on a very specific problem e.g. fear of flying or social confidence. CBT works out your problem with you through the use of plans and diagrams and it is common that there will be some homework to do on your own in between sessions. CBT is time limited e.g. a set amount of sessions. So, if you have a particular problem that you want to tackle with a therapist who is solution focused CBT could be the right type of therapy for you!

Written by: Aviva Barnett is a member of the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists and is UKCP registered, holds a Masters degree in Existential Psychotherapy and Counselling.

www.akcounselling.com Tel:- 077 458 907 67

Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy

Founded by Eric Berne in the 1950s/60s, is the father of the famous ‘parent- adult- child' theory. He moulded together some of the different aspects of psychotherapy (analytic, cognitive behavioural, relational, person centred, and phenomenological).

Transactional Analysis is one of the most accessible theories of modern psychology as it is simple and easy to apply to everyday life and relationships.

Transactional Analysis is useful in working on individual issues, groups, couples, and organisations.

T.A. has been found to be beneficial with issues such as depression, anxiety, panic attacks, relationship issues, communication, self-confidence and esteem, eating and body size problems, Stress and anger communications, assertiveness, loss and bereavement, parenting and teenage issues, addictions, obsessions and self understanding.

Thanks to Belinda Freeman www.relaxation-centre.co.uk for the information supplied on Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy.