Personality Psychology

Effectiveness of Psychotherapy

For many psychological diss , psyochotherpy is an effective treatment intervention , which is given to a person either alone or along with medication . In psychotherapy a therapist trained to use different techniques of treatment tries to heal the anxiety , stress or depression of a psychologically disturbed person . What makes this entire process of treatment effective is a good rappot between the psychotherapist and the person who is undergoing the therapy

It is very difficult to remain healthy in difficult circumstances like acute or chronic illness , relationship conflicts , bereavement , failure

br in achieving goals etc . This is a time when distressed people , in to get relief from the trauma of challenging situations seek skilled help which can provide more understanding and support than the usual support networks . It is the psychotherapists who can help in leading a meaningful and balanced life once again . In to help patients in doing so the psychotherapist has to build an excellent rapport with his client so that he is able to shed all his inhibitions and share everything that is in his mind . Untill and unless he is comfortable in sharing his thoughts and emotions with the psychotherapist , the psychotherapist will not be able to gauge the extent of the client 's distress

The most important factor that makes psychotherapy effective is good communication between the the client and the psychotherapist . Listening is a crucial part of communicating with someone . Rather than pointing out , suggesting , recommending , advising or guiding , if the psychotherapist just listens to the distressed person , he can do wonders to the person 's disturbed state of mind . The first step of communicating effectively with someone is to get their trust and attention . Proper communication techniques that involve not only verbal but nonverbal communication like eye contact , friendly gestures etc . are very effective . During interventions the therapist is able to communicate with the patient in a simple and understandable way . Simple things like presentation of information in a logical sequence , use of short sentences etc . play a pivotal role

Thus establishment of a collaborative trusting and open relationship plays the trick . It has been found through research that failure in building an alliance between the client and the therapist results in poor outcome . Neilson-Jones rightly observed what Rogers felt about achieving a growth promoting relationship : Rogers believed that in therapy `it is the quality of the interpersonal encounter with the client which is the most significant element in determining effectiveness (2006 ,

.101

To ensure effectiveness of the therapy almost all the therapists abide by the person centred approach laid down by Carl Rogers - the originator of person centred counseling . According to this approach congruence unconditional positive regard and empathy are the elements that gurantee

Congruence : This attribute helps the therapist in becoming very transparent , open , real and genuine with the client . He remains as natural as possible . He does not behaves as if he is a professional taking care of the client 's needs . Rather , he tries to...