| What is a psychotherapist? | | | | community. Works to address issues with the |
| People are sometimes confused or even mystified | | | | understanding that each arena or system affects the |
| about what a psychotherapist or counselor is. The | | | | others. |
| psychotherapist is a professional and therapeutic | | | | - Group: Several people who are working on the |
| guide. A psychotherapist is not a magical fairy who | | | | same issue come together under the supervision of a |
| can wave a wand to make your problems go away. | | | | psychotherapist and work together and support each |
| Neither is the psychotherapist a friend who is there | | | | other on the uniting issue. |
| only to listen and empathize. | | | | - Play: A specific type of therapy for children that |
| Some people believe that anyone can hang a shingle | | | | uses guided play. |
| on a door and provide mental health counseling. While | | | | - Pastoral: Provided by a spiritual leader (such as a |
| someone may provide lay counseling services, | | | | pastor or priest), this is generally short-term therapy. |
| professional psychotherapists are required by law to | | | | - Art Therapy: While all therapists may incorporate |
| have specific training (a minimum of a Masters | | | | art into therapy, it is also a specialty field. |
| Degree in counseling, clinical social work, or marriage | | | | - Music/Sound: Like art therapy, many therapist use |
| and family therapy). Additionally, the psychotherapist | | | | music in therapy. There is however, a specific field |
| must pass a state examination. After college, the | | | | with specialized training to use making and listening to |
| psychotherapist's education continues with supervision | | | | music a part of therapy. |
| for at least 2 years, and ongoing training, which must | | | | - Culturally Based Healing Arts: These are as varied as |
| be completed, each two years for every year the | | | | the cultures they come from. If culture and culturally |
| therapist is licensed. In Ohio psychotherapists are | | | | based healing is important to you, ask around to find |
| licensed by, and held accountable to The Counselor, | | | | someone who is knowledgeable in what you are |
| Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist | | | | looking for. |
| Board. This board ensures psychotherapists have met | | | | - Faith Based: Like culturally based therapist, ask |
| all the legal requirements to practice in the state of | | | | questions to find out if a therapist you are |
| Ohio. Additionally, they can be contacted by anyone | | | | considering understands, shares, or at least can learn |
| who has concerns about unethical or illegal activities | | | | enough about your faith to support you in this area. |
| committed by anyone licensed by this board. | | | | Signs that Counseling May be Helpful |
| Psychotherapists are trained specifically to be able to | | | | - Questioning whether or not it would be helpful. Just |
| diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders. | | | | the fact there is a question demonstrates the value |
| Psychotherapists listen with a trained ear to the | | | | of pursuing the possibility. |
| information a client provides, and then using | | | | - Spend 5 out of 7 days feeling unhappy |
| questions, homework, and instruction guides a client | | | | - Feel as if life is out of control and the stress is |
| on a journey of healing. Counseling involves hard | | | | unmanageable |
| work, work that cannot be done by the therapist, | | | | - Have experienced significant loss. |
| only by the client. In his book, The Fire Next Time, | | | | - Struggle to dealing with a life-threatening or chronic |
| James Baldwin captures a concept that is true in the | | | | illness |
| counseling journey, "People who cannot suffer can | | | | - Have lost sight of your priorities in life |
| never grow up, can never discover who they are." | | | | - Others mention you could benefit from counseling |
| The therapist is able to lead a client to the next | | | | - Have difficulty controlling urges (anger, shopping, |
| stage of the journey, but the client, with the support | | | | lying, etc.) |
| of the therapist, must be able to walk through it. | | | | - Your problems are affecting your work, |
| Therapists are trained in staying with a client to guide | | | | concentration, or relationships in negative ways |
| them through each stage. | | | | What is the Process? |
| What types of psychotherapy are available? | | | | When you call for an appointment you may be asked |
| Psychotherapists utilize a variety of methods in | | | | for insurance information prior to even scheduling an |
| working with clients. While some therapists utilize a | | | | appointment. This is done so that so insurance |
| single technique for all their clients, most tend to a | | | | information can be verified and there are no cost |
| more eclectic approach. This simply means the | | | | surprises. You will know your coverage and co-pays |
| therapist combines elements from different | | | | (which may be different than other medical services |
| therapeutic methods to best meet a client's needs. | | | | provided by your insurance company). |
| Here is a list of different types of therapy with a | | | | During your first appointment there is, of course, the |
| very simple synopsis for each: | | | | paperwork. You should plan to spend 15-30 minutes |
| - Behavioral: Focuses on the behavior, may use | | | | doing paperwork prior to seeing the therapist. The |
| reward, reinforcement, and desensitization. | | | | first session then consists of the therapist gathering |
| - Biomedical: The use of medications to address | | | | information about you and what you would like to |
| mental health issues. This often works best when | | | | accomplish in therapy. It is also a time for you to ask |
| combined with mental health counseling. | | | | questions about the therapist or the process of |
| - Cognitive: Addresses dysfunctional thinking. | | | | counseling. During either the first or second |
| Operates under the assumption that feelings are born | | | | appointment specific goals will be set. Goals are |
| out of thoughts. If the thoughts are changed, the | | | | important because they provide a framework of |
| feelings will follow. | | | | direction for the therapy. They also define what life |
| - Systems: Looks at the individual operates within | | | | will be like when your therapy is finished. Once these |
| different arenas such as family, work, school, and | | | | things are completed, the journey of healing begins. |