- Psychotherapy helps us to develop a positive outlook for the future. Resolving past traumas, less then nurturing experiences and attachment disruptions is the main aim of therapy. Being heard, seen and supported in emotionally sensitive way can help to connect to our positive sense of self (Meares, 2000).
- Learning to relate via the safe containment of the therapeutic relationship helps us to develop better connections with people. Often our relational wirings or attachment styles are developed in our early childhood. There has been some research showing that our attachment state of mind (Hesse, 2008) can be rewired in 5 year spent in a relational and emotion focused therapy (Meares, 2005)(Haliburn, 2009).
- Our bodies often hold a lot of unprocessed emotion and basic, instinctive self-protective responses (Haliburn, 2009; Levine, 1997). Working through the traumas that are held in our bodies and processing the emotions; meanings that attached to these, can reduce the accumulated stress that often erodes our body-mind causing illness (Mate, 2005).
- Leaning self-regulatory techniques like mindfulness meditation in therapy can introduce more balance in our life. It can lead to better decision making and generally better lifestyle choices (Davis & Hayes, 2011).
- Regular therapy can improve brain-function and can help with memory (Dichter, Felder, & Smoski, 2008). Neuroplasticity is a relatively new term, means that our brain has the capacity to change and heal, which is great news for us! (Wallace & Brenner, 2019).
Lets celebrate National Psychotherapy Day on 25.09.2019!
If you like to learn more, get in touch.
Warmly
Andi
References:
Davis, D. M., & Hayes, J. A. (2011). What are the benefits of mindfulness? A practice review of psychotherapy-related research. Psychotherapy (Chicago, Ill.), 48(2), 198-208. doi:10.1037/a0022062
Dichter, G., Felder, J., & Smoski, M. (2008). Effects of Psychotherapy on Brain Function: Brain Imaging Studies Indicate Changes. Psychiatric Times, 25(10), 34-38.
Haliburn, J. (2009). Attachment and the Conversational Model. Wesmead Think Thank. Sydney: Psychvisual.
Hesse, E. (2008). The Adult Attachment Interview. In Handbook of Attachment (2 ed.).
Levine, P. A., Frederick, A. . (1997). Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma, The Innate Capacity to Transform Overwhelming Experinces. California, USA: North Atlantic Books.
Mate, G. (2005). The science of psychoneuroimmunology [Response to review article: When The Body Says No. The Cost of Hidden Stress, 2005; 51:248]. Canadian Family Physician, 51, 489.
Meares, R. (2000). Intimacy and Alienation: Memory, Trauma and Personal Being. East Sussex: Routhledge.
Meares, R. (2005). The Metaphore of Play; Origin and Breakdown of Personal Being (3rd ed.). East Sussex, England: Routledge.
Wallace, M., & Brenner, A. (2019). How People Change: Relationships and Neuroplasticity in Psychotherapy. Journal of Psychiatric Practice, 25(1), 71-72. doi:10.1097/PRA.0000000000000356
