Psychotherapy
Also called talk therapy, therapy, or counseling, psychotherapy is a process focused on helping you heal and learn more constructive ways to deal with the problems or issues within your life. It can also be a supportive process when going through a difficult period or under increased stress, such as starting a new career, going through a divorce, struggling with the challenges of school, family dynamics, and/or social challenges.
Generally psychotherapy is recommended whenever a person is grappling with a life, relationship or work issue or a specific mental health concern, and these issues are causing the individual a great deal of pain or upset for longer than a few days. There are exceptions to this general rule, but for the most part, there is no harm in going into therapy even if you're not entirely certain you would benefit from it.
Millions of people visit a psychotherapist every year, and most research shows that people who do so benefit from the interaction. One of the most important factors in benefiting from therapy is the genuine connection you have with your therapist.
Interpersonal therapy
Interpersonal therapy focuses on the interpersonal relationships of the client. The purpose of interpersonal therapy is to improve the communication patterns and how people relate to others to alleviate depression, anxiety, anger etc. The gaining of this skill is often helpful for both the teenagers and parents I see struggling with family disconnect and painful communication patterns built over poor communication and lack of understanding.
Cognitive therapy
Cognitive therapy is based on the theory that much of how we feel is determined by what we think. The cognitive model, which states that thoughts, feelings and behavior are all connected, and that individuals can move toward overcoming difficulties and meeting their goals by identifying and changing unhelpful or inaccurate thinking, problematic behavior, and distressing emotional responses. This involves the individual working collaboratively with the therapist to develop skills for testing and modifying beliefs, identifying distorted thinking, relating to others in different ways, and changing behaviors. I will tailor a cognitive case conceptualization and use this as a roadmap to understand your internal reality, select appropriate interventions and identify areas of distress.
Disorders, such as depression and anxiety, are believed to be the result of faulty thoughts and beliefs. By correcting these inaccurate beliefs, the person’s perception of events and emotional state improve.