How do you choose the appropriate therapy?
How do you choose
the appropriate
therapy?
Research tells us that some treatments work better for specific illnesses than others.
Studies (Hofmann et al., 2012) have demonstrated the effectiveness of cognitive therapy in treating depression (Cuijpers et al., 2023) or chronic anxiety (Kaczkurkin et al., 2022). However, Ciesinski et al. (2022) showed different results on anger management and aggressive behaviour. Hence, other fundamental aspects must also be considered, such as the quality of the therapeutic relationship and the client’s motivation. Furthermore, if a method is adequate for most people, it does not mean it is effective for all. For example, suppose the relationship between therapist and client is not established and is based on trust-based communication. In that case, there will be no theory or scientific research to ensure successful therapeutic work.
Therefore, multiple dynamics determine the success of a therapeutic strategy.
At first, the therapy process will focus on reconstructing and analysing the person’s personal history to identify successful choices and missed opportunities. Next, it will question the person’s needs towards life projects. Finally, the therapist will help formulate strategic projects with realistic goals.
Therefore, from my point of view, the answer to the initial question is the following: depending on the nature of the problems and the objectives to be achieved, it is necessary to combine, from time to time, those theories or methodologies that are the most suitable for that moment in life. They also depend on the nature of the problems and the client’s objectives.
Methods and Theories
Over the years, I studied and experienced various methods and theories in the field of psychology, including:
Existential psychotherapy
Humanistic psychotherapy
Clinical psychology
Cognitive behavioural psychology
Schema therapy
Psychoanalysis
Psychodynamic psychotherapy
Transpersonal psychotherapy
Transactional analysis
Gestalt therapy
Neurolinguistic programming
Therapeutic psychosynthesis
Eclectic psychotherapy
In particular, my approach combines elements of:
Psychodynamic Approach
According to psychodynamic psychotherapy, the mind’s representation of reality and a person’s behaviour are results of past experiences. These mental patterns are often unconscious and cause the problems experienced by the person at the present.
Starting from psychoanalytic theory, this therapy builds upon the premise that a solid therapeutic alliance allows the person to make space and pay attention to emotions and memories that have shaped these mental schemas.
By uncovering them and observing how our behaviour and way of thinking are linked to them, it is possible to make sense of reality and its issues from a different perspective. This process generally takes longer than other types of therapy. Still, research has shown that the long-term benefits are more lasting and effective long after the treatment has ended.
Existential Therapy
This type of approach is perhaps the most philosophical. It assumes that problems such as loneliness, anxiety or depression should be considered more than specific aspects in the various cultural, social, political and existential contexts in which human beings live. Since existence is problematic, giving meaning and purpose to life is necessary. Instead of focusing on how the individual shapes the self or speculating about the existence of the unconscious, this therapy provides the person with those tools that enable them to look at typical life issues from a different perspective.
Suffering and difficulties thus become an opportunity to discover potentialities we did not think we had before and to find the courage to face fears we did not want to look at. The sorrow empowers us to build different and meaningful life plans.
Schema Therapy
Schema therapy is a form of psychotherapy that draws on cognitive-behavioural theory, psychodynamics, Gestalt psychology, attachment theory and interpersonal therapy.
According to this theory, the alliance created with the therapist is the antidote to the origin of the person’s problems. It is to be found in unmet emotional needs during childhood, i.e. in cases where the response to these needs was ineffective, absent or even traumatic. During such experiences, the child develops mental frames and references to give meaning and explanation to what happens.
A person will only sometimes, indeed never, be conscious of how such patterns will influence one’s actions in the years to come and in adulthood. Moreover, the person will often tend to have behaviours reinforcing their way of interpreting what is happening.
Therapy aims to identify, examine and describe the origin of the patterns. If the person becomes aware of how a pattern shapes and triggers a behaviour, making free, different choices is much easier. It allows us to replace maladaptive behaviour with healthy behaviour.
Transactional Analisys
This theory finds its foundations in psychoanalysis and the cognitive behavioural approach. Also, it contributes to social theories. From childhood onwards, our experiences and relationships, especially with our parents or those who have been our caregivers, determine what Eric Berne (1960) called the script decisions about ourselves, others and reality in general. Script decisions are mental structures and thought mechanisms that govern our lives and allow us to interpret the relationships we build. Personality is also the result of our past experiences and current ones.
In particular, the ego consists of three components, the child, the adult and the parent, each with specific functions and characteristics. The child’s self is made up of emotions and beliefs born of experiences during childhood. On the other hand, the parental self consists of how the relationship with one’s parents or the figure that represented them was experienced. Finally, the adult self represents the more rational part of the individual that acts by weighing each situation according to the available information.
Social or interpersonal relationships are seen as a transaction in which one or more aspects of an individual’s personality come into play together with the mental schemata (or conclusions) with which one interprets what is happening.
Skilled Helper model
Counselling eclectic psychotherapy widely uses the Skilled Helper model. We can refer to these basic concepts:
- The three phases that help the person to change:
- Problem definition
- Formulation of goals
- Action plan
- Monitoring progress
- The continuous reference to the goals the person wishes to achieve through therapy.
- Looking at the person’s problems as a lack of skills that can be acquired rather than a pathology.
At first, therapy will focus on reconstructing and analysing the person’s history to identify successful actions and missed opportunities. Next, the person’s needs will be defined by the life projects someone wishes to realise. Finally, the therapist will help formulate action strategies to accomplish those projects by defining realistic goals.
How do you choose the appropriate psychologist?
What does a psychologist do?
The psychologist studies and researches, based on one or more reference theories, to understand human behaviour and the mechanisms of the mind to assist when problems of different complexity arise.
About me
For over 30 years, I have tested, investigated and learned about many techniques and disciplines in psychology and psychotherapy.
the first session
The first session is a 50-minute space dedicated to the person. It will help us understand the type of work we can do together by considering the motivation that led you to contact me and taking into account your expectations and needs. Find out more
Contact Me
Please feel free to email me directly at hello@heididinicola.com or fill out the contact form below. I will get back to you as soon as possible, usually within 24/48 hours during weekdays.
I look forward to hearing from you.