The aim of psychotherapy is to improve wellbeing by helping clients gain insight into their difficulties or distress. It involves exploring the impact of experiences and less conscious facets of one's internal world. This is achieved through talking about feelings, beliefs, thoughts and memories of past and present events. Depending on the nature of the issue, therapy can be short or long. Sessions are usually undertaken weekly, on a one on one basis with the psychotherapist or when appropriate in couples or family groups.
As a psychotherapist I believe that psychotherapy can benefit any individual who is open to exploring their inner world and gaining insight into themselves and those around them. Specifically, it may be beneficial for people who feel that for reasons unknown to them they are less happy or satisfied than they should be. It is likely to be useful for people who feel that they are not obtaining expected life goals or who are experiencing distress from interpersonal relations. I have found that in such situations gaining insight into one’s self and the basis of one’s distress leads to better personal and interpersonal functioning and a feeling of greater wellbeing.
Working with a psychotherapist may be specifically useful for people that are interested in their inner world and asking questions such as:
• Why can I not maintain a relationship?
• Why am I unsatisfied with my life?
• Why am I unsuccessful in my relationship with my family?
• What do I want to do with my life?