The word “psychotherapy” derives from ancient Greek and translates to “healing of the soul”. In psychotherapy, disorders of cognition, behavior, and emotions are identified and treated using various methods. Psychotherapy entails the treatment of mental disorders of clinical significance. Examples include depression, anxiety / panic disorders, OCD, psychosomatic disorders, and eating disorders. Psychotherapy is also used to complement the medical treatment of other diseases and disorders, such as cancerous or cardiovascular diseases.
Psychotherapy is a specific and targeted treatment of a mental disorder and is therefore limited in duration.
In some countries, therapists are specialized in working with specific clusters of mental disorders using various methods; in others, therapists are trained in a specific method or school and apply those methods to various mental disorders – Germany belongs to the latter countries. German statutory health insurances cover the costs for 4 different types of psychotherapy. These 4 types have been thoroughly researched over the course of several decades and are considered equally effective in treating mental disorders:
- Analytical psychotherapy
- Psychodynamic psychotherapy
- Cognitive behavioral psychotherapy
- Systemic therapy
Having been trained largely in Germany, I, too, am specialized in a specific method: psychodynamic psychotherapy. This specific approach evolved from psychoanalysis and works under the theory that during personal development, especially during formative years, stressful or otherwise burdensome perceptions, conflicts, and emotions could not be consciously experienced and processed because they seemed unbearable, frightening, or shameful at the time. They had to instead be suppressed into the subconscious. Due to current life events, a subconscious strain can be activated and lead to increased stress with anxiety and other psychological and physical afflictions.
Psychodynamic psychotherapy is about making the patient aware of their subconscious processes and gain an understanding of them in order to be able to change them. Together with the therapist, behaviors, relationship patterns, and the interpretation of interpersonal experiences are examined. The relationship patterns are also noticeable in the therapeutic relationship. The task of psychotherapy is to perceive, understand and then create change. That way, the patient can find solutions for their inner conflicts that are less cumbersome to their life.