Psychotherapy

What is psychotherapy?

Psychotherapy is a valuable treatment for people who have mental health problems. Either on its own or in combination with appropriate medication, psychotherapy plays a vital part in reducing and relieving the symptoms of mental health disorders and enabling people to recover from their condition.

Most mental health problems respond to some form of psychotherapy, including:

• Depression
• Anxiety disorders
• Behavioral disorders
• Coping difficulties
• Low self-esteem
• Body image issues
• Medical health problems

Psychotherapy is also an essential tool in helping people recover from traumatic life events like bereavement and relationship breakdowns.

There are different types of psychotherapy available, so the team at Americas TMS Center is able to select the most appropriate kind of therapy for your situation. Three of the main forms of psychotherapy used at the center are cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), collaborative problem solving (CPS), and family and play therapy.

What is cognitive-behavioral therapy?

Cognitive-behavioral therapy or CBT is a talking therapy that works by modifying your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors when they’re distorted or destructive.

The idea behind CBT is that the way you think and feel influences behavior, so if you’re distressed, it might distort your view of yourself and what’s happening around you. Your CBT therapist helps you identify these flawed thoughts and examine them to see how realistic they are.

If, for example, anxiety about having an accident is preventing you from driving to work, your therapist can discuss your fears with you and how likely they are to come true, helping you regain a more realistic perception.

Children, adolescents, and adults can all benefit from CBT, and it’s effective in treating conditions like depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), ADHD, eating disorders, OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder), and others.

What is Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS)?

Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS) is a method developed by the Department of Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital for communicating productively with children and adolescents who have social, emotional, and behavioral difficulties. CPS uses neurobiological science as the basis for developing social and emotional skills in children and improving communication between children and adults in their lives.

Your child’s CPS therapist at Americas TMS Center assesses the areas where your child is lacking the tools to communicate effectively using the Thinking Skills Inventory and designs methods of teaching these skills to the child. These methods typically involve you and your child working together, sharing your thoughts and concerns, and learning to listen and respect each other.

What is family and play therapy?

Communication between family members of different ages can be a challenge and is often at the root of the conflict. Family therapy or strengths-based therapy practitioners at Americas TMS Center can identify where there are problems in the communication process and work with you and your family to overcome these problems.

Therapists also recognize the importance of involving younger children, even those who aren’t able to talk yet, in family therapy sessions. They can be included in the therapy sessions using family play activities, such as:

• Make-believe play
• Family sculpting
• Role-playing
• Creative arts

Not only does the play element give every member of the family a voice, but it also enhances the communication and interactions between the older family members, and makes the experience more enjoyable.

If you’re considering the benefits of psychotherapy, talk to Americas TMS Center about the options that are best for you or your family. Call today to schedule a consultation, or book an appointment online.