Therapeutic factors, such as instillation of hope, universality, imparting of information, altruism, the corrective recapitulation of the primary family group, development of socializing techniques, imitative behaviour, interpersonal learning, catharsis and existential factors, to name but a few are focused on.
These factors represent different parts of the change process; some refer to actual mechanisms of change, whereas others may be more accurately described as conditions of change. At its core, therapy is a deeply human experience, and, consequently, there are an infinite number of pathways through the therapeutic process. Thus, to hypothesize as to the success, degree-, intensity- and sustainability of change during and following the therapeutic process is virtually impossible.
However, possible indicators of therapeutic success/progress are:
- – Level of commitment,
- – Insight,
- – Acceptance of the process,
- – Challenging entrenched defence mechanisms
- – and so forth.
The therapeutic process is facilitated by various therapeutic techniques employed by the Clinical Psychologist enabling the individual to grow. Thus, the individual obtains a greater understanding of his or her own problems as well as intrinsic ways and coping with these in future. The ultimate goal is a self-supporting and “coping” individual free from most debilitating “crutches”.
Examples of indicators for Individual Therapy
- Bereavement (loss of a loved one)
- Divorce
- Illness and health related matters
- Injury
- Job loss
- Mood disorders
- Trauma (Victim of crime, Natural Disaster, Accident etc)
- Abuse
- Mental illness
- Relationship difficulties (Family / couples)
- Addiction
- Eating disorders
- Self-mutilation (cutting etc)
- Survivors of childhood sexual abuse (male and female)
- Post-Natal depression
- Sexual dysfunctions
Individual Therapy
Psychotherapy is a general term referring to the therapeutic interaction or treatment contracted between a trained therapist and a client. The “client” may be an individual (child, teenager or adult), a couple or a family.
Family Therapy
Family therapy can be described as a therapeutic intervention that focuses on altering the interactions between and among family members.
Couples Therapy
The goal of couples therapy, similar to that of family therapy, is to treat problems from the perspective of bringing together all involved parties.
Play Therapy
Play therapy is a process whereby the trained therapist allows the child to explore, at his or her own pace and with his or her own agenda, those issues past or current, that is affecting the child’s life in the present.
