What to expect and what not to expect from psychological therapy

Let's look at what psychotherapy is and what it is not, debunking widely propagated myths about Psychology.

The times of the COVID-19 crisis have not only had a political and economic impact in virtually every country in the world; they have also brought about a new awareness of mental health problems and how they can be addressed through psychotherapy.

Although before the pandemic the belief that only a certain type of very unfortunate people need to see a psychologist was already being questioned, after these months of health crisis it is clear that almost all human beings are very sensitive to our context, and that apparently subtle changes in our daily lives (moving to work from home, being afraid of contagion, or being able to attend family gatherings, etc.) predispose us to suffer major psychological problems.

But although the way of conceiving the psychologist's profession has changed, this does not mean that many myths and ignorance about what psychotherapy is do not remain. That is why in this article we will address the topic of what to expect and what not to expect from psychological therapygiving advice on how to face the first session with the psychologist.

What to expect from psychological therapy?

These are the main key ideas you should keep in mind to know what to expect from psychotherapy.

1. Support is offered to understand the root of the problem.

It is not necessary to come to the first session of psychotherapy knowing exactly what it is that produces the discomfort that we want to overcome.. In fact, part of the psychotherapist's job is to help patients answer these questions. In the end, human beings do not necessarily have the resources to know precisely what the mental processes behind our consciousness are. Through dialogue with the psychologist it is possible to make progress in self-knowledge.

2. There are more activities to be done beyond dialogue

Although there is a widespread belief that psychotherapy consists basically of talking about our experiences and what makes us feel bad, this is a simplification. In the sessions with the psychologist not everything is reduced to words or dialogue..

A clear example of this can be found in the sessions in which patients are helped to overcome their irrational fears; in such cases, situations are created in which the person must expose themselves to what they fear, either through exercises of vivid imagination, using real phobic stimuli or also with the use of virtual reality tools.

3. Consistency is important

The psychotherapy is more than each one of the sessions of meeting with the therapist separately.. These meetings are the backbone of a process, and what we do between sessions is of utmost importance. That is why psychologists almost always send "homework" to do on a daily basis; for example, one of the most common activities consists of filling out a diary or self-recording of emotions.

4. There is always a specific goal

Although the problem that the patient must overcome may be based on abstract thoughts that are difficult to define in a few words, the psychologist always proposes a therapeutic goal, the psychologist always proposes a specific therapeutic objective, a goal to be reached, although he never imposes itHowever, it is never imposed unilaterally and must be agreed upon with the patient.

This reference will serve to know if the therapeutic process is progressing at a good pace, and it is also a support for the person who comes to the psychologist to realize his progress and it is easier for him to be self-motivated.

4. The collaboration of the family is sought

Whenever possible, in psychotherapy we try to have the collaboration of the people in the patient's family environment, while respecting the confidentiality applied to what the person reveals about the patient.The family is always respectful of the confidentiality applied to what the person reveals about him/herself in the sessions. In this way, we try to make it easier for the people the patient sees on a daily basis to make progress and reach the therapeutic objective.

And what not to expect from her?

Now that we have seen the key ideas about what psychotherapy is, it is time to debunk certain myths about it. What are the things you will not find in the office of a psychologist specializing in psychological therapy?

1. Psychotropic drugs are not prescribed.

Psychotherapy is part of the field of mental health, but that does not mean that it is encompassed within medicine.. The psychologist's activity does not start from a biomedical approach nor does it assume that problems have their origin in mainly organic dysfunctions of the nervous system in general or of the brain in particular.

Although it shares some characteristics with the psychiatrist's profession (who is a doctor), throughout the psychological therapy sessions the focus is on the management of behaviors and the management of emotions and thoughts, without attempting to modify the functioning of parts of the body.

In Spain, psychologists are not authorized to prescribe drugs. However, if at any time the therapist considers it necessary, he/she may recommend seeing a psychiatrist first, in order to stabilize the patient through pharmacology, before approaching the psychotherapy sessions.

2. No advice is given on how to live life

Psychotherapy is very different from the self-help books and talks by spiritual "gurus" that can be found on the Internet. In fact, its raison d'être is that it does not give advice on how to live your life, its raison d'être is that there is no such thing as an instruction manual for living life in a happy wayThe reason for this is that each person is unique and so are his or her circumstances; hence, it is necessary to provide personalized support and prior analysis of the problem affecting the patient or the need he or she is seeking to satisfy.

Thus, psychotherapy should be understood as an emotional and behavioral training program adapted to the individual, the couple or the family that comes to the consultation. There is no single form of intervention in the psychologist's work. "A priori" all decisions are made on the basis of consensus and after an exploration of what has led the person to come to the consultation.

3. No instant "cures" are offered.

It is totally impossible to overcome a psychological problem in a single psychotherapy session.. The activity carried out in psychological therapy is a whole process that includes gradual changes, in which it is necessary to modify a series of habits and routines of thought. In order to achieve that the changes for the better are consolidated and remain stable over time, it is important to be consistent, to attend the sessions regularly and to carry out activities between one meeting with the psychologist and the next.

4. It is not given the possibility of eliminating memories or feelings.

Psychotherapy offers tools and solutions based on the acceptance of what has happened.The psychotherapeutic approach: it does not bring a feeling of constant happiness, but the ability to maintain a correct quality of life based on emotional balance. In fact, many of the problems that lead people to need psychotherapeutic support are attempts to completely suppress the discomfort.

• You may be interested in "Types of memory: how does the human brain store memories?"

Looking for psychotherapeutic support services?

If you are interested in starting a psychological therapy process, we invite you to contact us.

At Despertares Psychologists you will find a team of professionals fully trained to help patients of all ages. Since we started the activity of the Psychology center in 2012 we have served more than 10,000 people, and currently we have offices in Madrid, Leganés, Getafe, and Móstoles. You can count on our services either in the form of face-to-face psychotherapy or online therapy by video call.