Psychotherapy
Counselling and psychotherapy are talking therapies, including CBT, ACT, and
Schema Therapy. They offer a transformational process that fosters emotional freedom and helps change unhelpful patterns of thinking, attitudes, and behaviours.
What Happens During Therapy?
Working with a psychologist is like setting out on a journey of self-discovery. Therapy is a process of learning about yourself, your relationships, and the world around you. Along the way, you’ll develop new skills and insights that enrich your personality and help you face challenges more effectively.
The psychologist’s role is not to tell you what to do, but to guide and support you in this journey. The choices and decisions remain yours — therapy simply provides the tools and perspective to help you make them with confidence.
How Does Psychological Counselling / Psychotherapy Help?
The benefits of therapy depend on the approach used. Different therapeutic schools focus on different aspects of human experience:
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): focuses on thoughts, emotions, and behaviours, setting clear goals for change.
Psychodynamic Therapy: explores unconscious processes that influence present behaviour.
Existential Therapies: focus on meaning, freedom, and personal choice.
In practice, many psychologists use an integrative approach, combining methods to best fit each client’s needs. Different therapies work for different people — there is no one-size-fits-all method.
Research over the past decade shows that CBT and REBT are highly effective for treating stress, anxiety, phobias, and depression. More complex, long-term conditions such as personality disorders often respond better to approaches like Schema Therapy, Mentalization, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, or EMDR.
What Is Needed for Successful Treatment?
The level of participation depends on the chosen approach. For example,
CBT and REBT are more structured and require active involvement, while other therapies may be less directive.
Regardless of the method, success relies on cooperation and trust between you and your therapist. A strong working alliance is key: an experienced psychologist will offer respect, empathy, and support for your choices, while always upholding confidentiality.
