Psychotherapy
From Conservapedia
Psychotherapy is a treatment employed to help individuals, families, and groups to cope with and reduce or eliminate psychiatric and behavioral problems. Psychotherapy is most often performed by psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, or mental health nurses. Psychotherapists assist clients in gaining insight into the causes of their difficulties and in resolving them. Depending on the issues the client is seeking help with, psychotherapy may be augmented by psychotropic medications, such as antidepressants.
Many different schools of psychotherapy exist, including cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behaviour therapy, psychoanalysis, behavior therapy, interpersonal therapy, family therapy, and group therapy. In general, the different approaches to therapy have been found to be equally effective[1]. However, for certain problems (e.g., depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder), cognitive or dialectical behavioral techniques have been shown to be superior. [2][3]
Psychotherapy research shows that the most important factor in determining client improvement is the relationship between the client and the therapist[4]. A therapist who is able to establish a trusting relationship with the client provides the client with a model for healthier relationships outside of therapy.
Most of what said during therapy is kept confidential by the therapist. While the therapist may discuss cases with colleagues when seeking consultation, or in teaching students, he may not include any information that would allow the client to be identified by those he is speaking with. There are a few exceptions to this rule. While the specific laws vary across U.S. states, in general a psychotherapist is required by law to break confidentiality if the client poses a clear threat to himself or to another named person, or if the client indicates that a third party poses a clear threat to himself or another named individual.
