Psychotherapy encompasses a variety of techniques, methods, and modalities used to help individuals who experience difficulties with their emotions and behavior. There are different types of psychotherapy; however, each one utilizes communication at the core to change a person’s feelings and behaviors. Psychotherapy can include individuals, groups, and families. Some ways children and adolescents can share how they feel and resolve problems is by playing, drawing, building, and talking.
At the initial assessment, a mental health professional will establish the need for psychotherapy. This is determined based on current concerns, history, level of development, ability to cooperate with treatment, and what interventions are most likely to help with the presenting problems. Psychotherapy is often used with other treatments, such as medication. The patient-therapist relationship, or therapeutic alliance, is of utmost importance. The patient must feel comfortable, safe, and understood. This type of trusting environment will make it easier for the patient to open up with the therapist.
Psychotherapy can help patients to receive emotional support, resolve conflicts with individuals in their lives, understand feelings and manage problems, and develop positive, adaptive coping skills. Goals for therapy vary from person to person. The length of psychotherapy depends on the complexity and severity of each patient’s concerns.
Here at Premier Mind Institute (PMI), we take the necessary time and steps to provide thorough evaluations. When an individual is seen in our practive, we conduct a thorough mental health assessment to help determine the best comprehensive treatment plan. We look at every individual as a whole incorporating different modalities of psychotherapy, medications, diet, exercise, and other alternative treatments, as applicable. At PMI, we focus on providing individuals with coping skills to effectively work through their emotions, collaborating with other professionals and family members to achieve the best treatment outcome.
*Reprinted with permission from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, © All Rights Reserved, 2019. For full text please visit: https://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/FFF-Guide/What-Is-Psychotherapy-For-Children-And-Adolescents-053.aspx