Psychotherapist – Who Are They and What Do They Do?

Most often a Master of Psychology, besides, a graduate of a psychotherapeutic school that lasts for a minimum of 4 years, a professional working under constant supervision. After completing the training, a psychotherapist can also be a medicine doctor (usually a psychiatrist), pedagogue, or nurse. Psychotherapists deal with, among others:

• conducts psychotherapy
• provides consultations and psychological advice
• conducts psychological research and diagnostics
• provides psychoeducation
• conducts crisis interventions, both individual and group
• works clinically with patients
• conducts training and workshops in the field of psychology

 What is psychotherapy?

Psychotherapy is a form of treatment for psychological problems through conversation. It requires regularity and systematics. It needs time, therefore, it rarely lasts less than a year. In many cases, it is a multi-year process, and in particular situations, it may be a permanent element of improving the quality of life.

Psychotherapy helps cope with various problems such as stress, depression, anxiety, anger, rage, trauma. It affects relational and personality problems.

Psychotherapy is most often an individual process, but couples and entire families can also benefit from it. It can also take place in the form of group meetings.

An individual therapeutic session usually takes place once or twice a week, and each meeting lasts 50 minutes. Sessions for couples are held once a week or once every two weeks and last 90 minutes.

Psychotherapeutic sessions help understand how thoughts and behaviors affect the quality of our life, as well as how they affect relationships with other people and oneself. Psychotherapy heals wounds and the psychological pain of existence. It teaches mindfulness and care for one’s mental health. It helps recognize and develop an ethical stance. It supports awareness through the deep analysis of symptoms and repressed contents. It helps build a better contact with oneself and the world. It teaches acceptance for oneself and for others.

Talking about personal experiences and wounds can be difficult and even painful. The therapist’s task is to ask questions and formulate interpretations that encourage reflection and the search for meaning. This type of conversation requires a sense of privacy and intimacy, which is provided by the code of ethics of the psychotherapist and psychologist profession, concerning the confidentiality of information. Therefore, everything you talk about is covered by professional secrecy.

The effectiveness of psychotherapy always rests on both sides of the process. If the therapist and their patient take the process seriously and both make their utmost efforts, the effectiveness of therapy can be very high.