All Services > Our Specialties > Psychotherapy
What is psychotherapy?
Based on building a trusting relationship between you and your therapist, psychotherapy uses discussion and an open expression of feelings and emotions to address any underlying issues affecting your mental health.
Each session does involve a lot of “talk,” but it’s not a passive discussion. Rather, there are clear goals established at the beginning of your treatment course that require your commitment.
Depending on your reasons for seeking therapy, psychotherapy may include an exploration of your:
- Personal history
- Response to stress
- Emotions
- Relationships with siblings, peers, parents, or other caregivers
- Behaviors or habits
- Goals and the obstacles you perceive prevent you from achieving success
Your therapist may give you “homework” to accomplish between sessions that might include reading material, journaling, or other activities designed to reinforce or deepen the insights gained during therapy.
What are the different types of psychotherapy?
Your WCWCW therapist may use one or combine several types of psychotherapy to accomplish your treatment goals, which might include:
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
CBT helps you identify thought patterns that are negative or unhelpful and the ways those thoughts and the negative emotions surrounding them can affect your behavior. The goal of CBT is to learn how to substitute those negative thoughts and harmful behaviors with healthier ones.
Interpersonal therapy
This type of psychotherapy focuses on resolving interpersonal conflicts you may be experiencing in your social, personal, or work life. Much of the work in interpersonal therapy involves improving your communication skills as you establish healthy boundaries and form strong personal relationships with others.
Psychodynamic therapy
This is a form of talk therapy that focuses on helping you understand how past events, relationships, and experiences have shaped your current view of yourself and those around you.
Couples and Family Therapy
Whether you’re seeking support in your relationship with your spouse, your children or step-children, your siblings, or as an adult child of aging parents, family therapy supports all members of the family system to restore harmony and respect.
Mindfulness Therapy
Mindfulness is a conscious awareness of our present moment. This includes openness and non-judgment about the experience. It is often coupled with other types of therapy, such as Cognitive-based Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), or Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). The focus is on increasing our awareness of the thoughts, feelings, and actions that hinder our progress. When we are better able to do that, we can engage with those aspects of ourselves, learn to tweak our language, and choose how to respond.
Integrated Expressive Arts Therapy
At WCWCW, this form of treatment uses creative activities to help children share and process feelings and memories that may be hard to put into words.
Parenting Support and Coaching
Our approach to supporting parents is based on the belief that parents are the true experts on their children, and that there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to raising children. The information and tools we offer are designed to support parents in developing their own ways to promote their children’s growth and development.
People of all ages, including children and teens, can benefit significantly from psychotherapy which may be combined with other therapies such as medication or group counseling.
To learn more about psychotherapy and its benefits, schedule a visit at WCWCW today. Call our office or use our convenient online appointment request tool to book an appointment.