Quick Results, Lasting
Benefits
There has been a quiet
revolution going on in the field of psychotherapy.
Traditional psychoanalytical and client centered methods
have been giving way to a new PsychoTechnology of the mind,
cognitive/behavioral psychology.
Cognitive/behavioral
methods have been growing rapidly in popularity since their
inception in the 1950's and many experts believe this will
be the predominant approach to counseling by the end of the
decade. This approach is probably quite different than what
most people think counseling is about. It is not primarily
about gaining insight into the presumed childhood origins
of problems, although this sometimes can be useful. It is
not just about venting feelings or talking about your
problems. Rather, cognitive/behavioral therapy focuses on
practical results. The main issue is not discovering how
you got to be the way you are, but rather, helping you to
make practical changes now. This approach has several
distinct advantages over traditional methods:
Results-oriented - It will help
you define your goals, plan a strategy for accomplishing
those goals and monitor your progress towards them.
Short-term - with most clients,
the goals of therapy can accomplished relatively quickly,
often within five to twenty sessions. Of course, this
depends on the nature of the problem, but
cognitive/behavioral methods usually produce rapid
results.
Self-help oriented - this is an
educationally based approach which focuses on helping you
to develop self-management skills. The therapist is a
coach or teacher who helps you learn how to run yourself
and your life better. You will acquire many new tools and
find new solutions, not just rehash the past.
Cost-effective - due to the
short term, self-help, results orientation, the total
investment you make in counseling is often quite low.
Client-oriented- your emotional
well being is the primary concern. This is expressed in
using the most scientifically advanced PsychoTechnology
in a caring, ethical way to help you get the most out of
your counseling experience.
In looking for a
therapist, don't be shy about asking what theory and
methods the counselor uses, their credentials and training,
their experience with your type of problem, their specific
plans for addressing it and the expected length and
prognosis of treatment. There are many factors that
contribute to the success of therapy, so it pays to "shop
around". If you aren't satisfied with your progress,
discuss your concerns openly with your therapist. If you
still aren't satisfied, don't give up on the idea of
counseling, just find another therapist. To find a
cognitive/behaviorally oriented therapist in your area,
call the Institute for Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy at
800.323.4738 or visit their web site (http://www.rebt.org).
For help with substance abuse call SMART Recovery at
440.951.5357 or check out their web site (http://www.smartrecovery.org).
Another idea is to call your local psychological
association. |