Psychotherapy is a form of contractual therapeutic treatment between a client and a trained professional. Te client may be an individual, family, couple or a group. The types of problems handled by psychotherapists are mental in nature. The type of the therapy employed is determined by the following factors; nature of the problem being tackled, the therapist and the length of time the patient is willing to spend in therapy. For instance, if the client is facing a circumstantial problem like the demise of a relative, divorce or road accident, they may opt for a short form of therapy aimed at the issue at hand. In other instances, group therapy is employed, where a specialist works with a group of clients and giving them a chance to share their experiences and counsel between themselves.
The primary objective of therapy is to provide a conducive environment that facilitates the client and the therapist to collaborate together in reaching a solution to a problem. Examples of therapy are: psychoanalytic therapy where the specialist listens to a patient narrates their lives in order to establish a pattern that may be the cause of the problem. The advantage of this form of therapy is that a neutral environment is availed where the clients can freely express themselves.
Cognitive-behavior therapy dwells on certain problems. Therapists agree that wrong thoughts and ideas can lead to problems. The therapist and the client focus on eliminating or changing thought patterns. This form of therapy suits clients tackling anxiety or depression. Group therapy is another form where one or more clients work with a single or more specialists. It is the most rewarding form of psychotherapy. The most suitable type of psychotherapy for this study is cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy because it is practical and elucidates real goals and employs active methods in achieving them (Schofied, 1964).
Characteristics of a super psychotherapist
They should be self-aware. To be a successful therapist one must know that their culture, education, financial position, values and religious believes can have a tremendous effect on their execution of duties and responsibilities. To further enhance delivery they should set aside personal beliefs and not be judgmental. They should be emotionally stable meaning that he or she should first solve personal issues or acknowledge them. This will enable them handle the issues of the client without bringing in their problems. Good interpersonal skills are also necessary for a psychotherapist. He or she should be able to handle all types of clients from all backgrounds. Excellent communication skills are also vital for this profession.
They should also be flexible and accommodating as the may be required to handle patients who would not take any step towards improving their situations. Being receptive of upcoming research and thinking is also a virtue. Such values will ensure that their patients are at home when revealing their confidential information and secrets. Patience is necessary as many clients may take considerable time before carrying out changes. In this field, delivering useful information to the client or family in the right manner is critical (Bateman et al, 2010).
Ethics, morality and law abiding citizen hood are all necessary in the successful practice of psychotherapy. Good therapists are conversant with the importance of exercising confidentiality at all times. Practice of this profession should also conform to the laws of that jurisdiction. This helps in limiting conflict of interest. Professional therapists should also value the relevance of continuous education in order to equip themselves with new developments in the profession. As some of these values are inborn, they can be learned and perfected over time (Wampold, 2001).
Why mold the above characteristics into the personality of one therapist
For the success of psychotherapy as a profession, a specialist must have all or most of the above characteristics so as to be able to perform their duties diligently. Psychotherapy is a very competitive business as there are many players who offer similar services, therefore providing quality care ensures the retention of clients and attraction of new ones. Ensuring adherences to codes of conduct by therapists ensures that unnecessary law suits against individual therapists or the firms they practice for are avoided. Such actions can bring damage to reputation and also financial loses when settlements are factored in. Considering the sensitivity if this profession, the therapists must carry themselves in the most ethical way possible as some clients may be in poor mental conditions when undergoing treatment.
Qualities that make a psychotherapist useful
Being a good therapist extends far beyond being a good listener. A professional therapist exudes genuineness, warmth and respect for clients concerns. The relationship between a client and a therapist is crucial in the success of the profession. In many countries having a license is indicative of the qualification of the therapist. Psychotherapists have played a significant role in society as they help in combating social ills that plaque society e.g. drug addiction divorce. It also helps people to live quality lives as the will be equip with information to tackle issues like depression and anxiety. Suicides are also reduced as they offer advice on a wide range of issues that could tempt an individual to commit suicide.