Whoever suffers from issues or psychological burden he or she can't resolve by his/her own (or if resolving those issues isn't posible anymore), shouldn't hesitate to look for professional help - just as we are used to do it in case of physical health issues. This especially applies if this burden already lasts for some time or if the symptoms got worse. If you don't feel sure whether psychotherapy or counseling is indicated or not, but want to feel safe about it, you might want to hear an expert's opinion about your situation, possible reasons for your problems, ideas on how to deal with them efficiently, and then decide yourself. Another option is to undergo a psychological test.
Still, it will be completely up to you whether you want to start psychotherapy or counseling sessions or not - a serious desire to work on your issues and to get rid of your problems is one of the most relevant factors to achieve good results anyway. Another condition for successful psychotherapy is the will to seriously deal with the current situation and - supported by your therapist - to work on resolving the problems.
Common indications for psychotherapy:
- Psychosomatic Disorders (like gastric and duodenal ulcer (Ulcus ventriculi, Ulcus duodeni,..) and others, migraine,..
- depression / burnout / fatigue
- sexual problems and disorders
- aftereffects of abuse (sexual abuse or maltreatment)
- obsessive/compulsive thoughts, obsessive-compulsive disorder
- eating disorders - anorexia, bulimia, adiposity
- all forms of anxiety (or latent forms of anxiety constraining quality of life)
- suicidal thoughts
- poor performance / underachievement (with or without high pressure in the job)
- sexual abuse
- problems related to upbringing, school or studies, pedagogic issues, adolescental issues
- relationship issues / conflicts / marriage guidance
- posttraumatic stress disorders
(after accidents, experiences of irrecoverable loss, physical or psychological violence etc.) - supportive to medical therapy
(chronical diseases, pain therapy, neurological disorders, somatoform disorders, cardiovascular disease, after or before surgery, transplantations, cancer treatment etc.). - functional disorders & psychosomatic disorders
(recurring medical conditions of all kinds like headaches, abdominal pain/bellyache, breathlessness/shortage of breath/dyspnea, sexual disorders etc. without diagnosable somatic cause) - burdening moments of decision-making (job-related, private, future plans, relationships,..)
- addiction (addiction to drugs, alcohol, pills, certain kinds of food or activities)
- conflicts with parents / relatives / superiors
- Shyness, communication problems, problems with social contact / socializing, contact behavior disorder like Asperger Syndrome, ADHD etc.
- psychotherapy has been proven supportive in personality development and self-development
On my website you can also find a self test which may support you in assessing whether psychotherapy could help you in resolving your problems.
But there might be other reasons as well to decide for undergoing psychotherapy or booking counseling sessions - here are some of the reasons that brought former clients to my practice: "I want to ..."
- .. become more self-confident.
- .. be able to deal with my disease.
- .. decide between 2 relationship partners.
- .. change [my job or personality], get ideas and confidence about how to succeed
- .. deal better with a difficult change in my life.
- .. briddle better against mobbing or stalking.
- .. change my life - but where to start?
- .. improve the relationship with my parents.
- .. support for the upbringing of my child
- .. deal better with my aggressions.
- .. deal better with the aggressions of [..].
- .. get rid of my addictive behaviour
- .. achieve a change on extraordinary occupational work-related stress.
Sex Therapy can be an aspect of Psychotherapy. The following issues might result in the decision to undergo sex therapy or sexual counselling:
- lack of appetence / low libido (appetence disorder) - appetite for sex has remarkably reduced or completely disappeared (women and men)
- Dyspareunia / genital pain before, during or after sexual intercourse (women and men)
- erectile dysfunction ('impotence'/erectile disorder) - inability to develop or maintain an erection of the penis (men)
- absence of sexual arousal (female sexual arousal disorder) - failure of normal lubricating arousal response / vaginal dryness (women)
- premature ejaculation (men)
- absence of ejaculation (men)
- Anorgasmia (orgasmic disorder) - absence of orgasm (women and men)
- Vaginismus - convulsions of the vagina (women)
- orgasm with absence of sexual satisfaction (women and men)
- sexual aversion (asexuality/hypoactive sexual disorder/inhibited sexual desire (ISD)) - thoughts on sex feel unpleasant and repugnant, "no interest in sex" (women and men)
- sexual desires or problems can't be adressed in the relationship (women and men)
Even in our educated society and large cities, many people have hard times to overcome their inhibitions to call upon sex therapy sessions. Most persons with sexual issues are convinced that they're pretty much the only ones having to deal with them - undoubtedly, all other persons of their sex are 'normal', sexually active and overall happy! ..what a fatal mistake.
But it doesn't necessarily have to be one's very own strain taking someone to a counselor - sometimes, questions regarding the relationship or problems of the partner him/herself are occupying the mind. It might as well be a certain attribute or behavior pattern (not at all being a problem for her/himself) that is developing into a problem one feels difficulties to deal with.
Especially in Relationship Counseling, attention is given to support in the development or expansion of the following skills:
- resolve conflicts - and avoid related 'traps' in communication
- develop a honest and respectful kind of 'two way' communication, which helps to reduce conflicts
- general improvement of communication skills
- balance and stability in relation to members of the family, to friends, colleagues and superiors
- establish intimacy without sacrifying one's own identity
- throw light on and/or better deal with blows of fate which are still burdening the presence
What can Psychotherapy do for me?
As different as the reasons for psychotherapy might be, as different and manifold are the possible learning experiences and effects of a therapy. Basically, you may assume that you will learn and experience the following in a psychotherapy:
- you extend your skills to resolve problems and deal with challenges
- you will learn new patterns of behavior and will be able to try and train them a) under 'controlled' conditions and b) in the pace that fits you best
- you are increasing your self-confidence
- you will be able to trust better in your dreams - and your capabilities to realize them
- ..and you will continously work on them, guided by someone who is aiming at nothing else than to support you in reaching your goals
- you will integrate the means and skills helping you to not only survive life's obstacles, but also to master them in a positive way - not only during therapy, but thereafter as well.
An essential part of my own approach on psychotherapy is to utilize the self healing power waiting to be activated in just every person. Because your own resources as well as those of the environment (to include them is an important and helpful approach of Systemic Therapy) are ideally suited to achieve an individually 'suitable' solution - even after the therapy has ended, to be able to continue doing well and to cope with your individual day to day challenges.
More tips:
- When can counseling help?
- What's the benefit of psychotherapy?
- Which method for my problem?
- How to find the 'right' therapist/counselor?
- Self test: could psychotherapy help with my problem?
- Psychotherapist, Psychologist, Counselor, Coach, Psychiatrist or Neurologist?
- Guidebook Couple Therapy/Relationship Counseling
- Guidebook Sex Therapy
- Latest findings in Research & Science
- Articles and Guidebooks on Psychotherapy, various disorders etc.
- Suggested books
- Suggested websites
