Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Psychotherapy and Counselling

Language: English Studies in English
Subject area: medicine, health care
University website: www.ed.ac.uk
Doctor of Counselling Psychology (DCounsPsych)
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is the use of psychological methods, particularly when based on regular personal interaction, to help a person change behavior and overcome problems in desired ways. Psychotherapy aims to improve an individual's well-being and mental health, to resolve or mitigate troublesome behaviors, beliefs, compulsions, thoughts, or emotions, and to improve relationships and social skills. Certain psychotherapies are considered evidence-based for treating some diagnosed mental disorders. Others have been criticized as pseudoscience.
Psychotherapy
Therapy is not to "talk about" things, but to change the person's life, and to relieve suffering, such as depression, anxiety, or relationship problems. Of course, empathy and skillful listening are important at the start of each session, but they are simply not sufficient to change the patient's life.
David D. Burns, in: Ryan Howes "Seven Questions for David D. Burns" at psychologytoday.com, 7 January 2009.
Psychotherapy
I feel that any form of so called psychotherapy is strongly contraindicated for addicts. The question "Why did you start using narcotics in the first place?" should never be asked. It is quite as irrelevant to treatment as it would be to ask a malarial patient why he went to a malarial area.
William S. Burroughs, quoted in: Lois A. Michel (1968) Way out: a thematic reader. p. 121
Psychotherapy
Much of my criticism of religion comes about when I see it not only affirming the system of normalcy but teaching folks how to live there comfortably. It just increases our “stuckness” in the old world. As does a lot of poor psychotherapy. Cheap religion teaches us how to live successfully in a sick system.
Richard Rohr, Everything Belongs, New York: Crossroad, 1999 p. 132
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