Definition
Individual psychotherapy is the treatment of emotional and personality problems or disorders by using psychological means. The therapist deliberately establishes a professional relationship and conducts one-on-one counselling sessions with the objective of removing, modifying or retarding existing problems or disturbed patterns of behavior for promoting positive personality growth and behavior.
Problems or Issues that Can Be Helped or Indications for Individual Therapy
- Difficulties coping with stress.
- Trauma and related emotional problems.
- Medical problems such as dementia, delirium, disabilities etc.
- Mental illness such as depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and schizophrenia.
- Marital and interpersonal problems.
- Eating disorders and body image problems.
- Sexual problems.
- Crime trauma.
- Drug/alcohol addiction and related family issues.
- Post-traumatic stress.
- Panic disorders and phobias.
Who Conducts Individual Psychotherapy?
- Clinical psychologists.
- Psychiatrists.
- Psychiatric social workers.
Objectives of Individual Psychotherapy
- To establish a relationship or trust and empathy which enables patients to come to terms with their disturbing emotional issues.
- To help patients discover and implement ways to change and improve their lives.
- To promote an awareness of their emotions and work with the therapist to take care of it.
- To help patients attain an improved level of self-esteem.
- To help them develop trust in the therapist.
- To help them to like themselves.
- To express and resolve deeply held emotions and negative beliefs.
- To learn how to relate honestly and comfortably with others.
- To develop better awareness of oneself and others and work towards achieving identified goals.
- Usually 45-50 minutes sessions once or twice a week.
Who Will Benefit from Individual Psychotherapy?
Anybody who experiences:
- Psychological issues/problems such as changes in emotions, thoughts or actions.
- Significant distress and disturbance in their life.
- Need to talk or express their thoughts and feelings.
- Need for personal growth and self-fulfilment
Types of Individual Therapies
- Cognitive behavior therapy: A short-term therapy aimed at altering thoughts, emotions, and behavior by identifying unhelpful thoughts and replacing them with helpful ones.
- Psychodynamic therapy: A long-term therapy that goes deeper and tries to understand the inner conflicts that cause problems.
- Behavior modification based therapy: Mainly used for children to alter difficult behavior patterns.
- Biofeedback: This is a technique that involves monitoring a person’s psychological state and feeding information about it back to that person.
There are about 100 different therapy modifications. Depending on the professional’s expertise and client’s needs, the therapy is selected.
Specific Manner of Conducting Individual Psychotherapy
- A nonjudgmental safe space where the client can express without any hesitation and fear.
- An assurance of confidentiality that whatever is shared shall not be revealed or shared with anyone outside the therapy room.
- Focused and individualized treatment plans which are designed specifically to cater to the client’s problems/needs.
- Therapy can be short-term or long-term depending on the needs and severity of the issues.
Ways in Which the Therapist Arranges for the Individual Meeting
- Arranges private space that suits the individual to express his/her concerns and emotions.
- Works on removing, modifying or reducing any psychological symptoms such as anxiety, sadness/low motivation.
- Helps in altering disturbing patterns of behavior.
- Promotes personal growth and self-fulfillment.
Stages of Individual Psychotherapy
- Stage 1: Initial contact-The practitioner and the client will come to know each other. Questions and answers help develop trust.
- Stage 2: Orientation-This is to build a relationship with the therapist. At this stage both patient and therapist will become comfortable with each other.
- Stage 3: Identification-In this stage, the patient will be able to figure out what to do i.e., deciding what he wants to work on. By this time, the patient will find it easier to become more genuine.
- Stage 4: Exploration/Working phase-Here the person begins to dig into the pain to release it and move toward developing a better mindset. Learn to refrain from painful experiences and rethink your beliefs, as well as other people’s motives.
- Stage 5: Resolution-saying Goodbye-Once you feel you have accomplished a change, then it is time to consider leaving. Some clients need to switch therapist if they feel they have reached a limit with their current one. For some others therapy is a life-long process.
Every form of therapy requires an interpersonal relationship with the goal of helping a client to heal or relieve distress Therefore understanding this sacred relationship is something anyone in helping position should keep in mind.
Special Considerations
- Ensure privacy and confidentiality to create a safe space for the patient.
- Build rapport through active listening and empathy.
- Maintain professionalism while fostering a supportive relationship.
- Avoid dual relationships that could compromise objectivity.
- Tailor therapy techniques to the patient’s unique needs and goals.
- Encourage self-expression while guiding the patient toward insight and coping strategies.
- Be aware of signs of distress and adjust the approach accordingly.
- Provide crisis intervention if necessary.
- Record session progress accurately and objectively.
- Plan next steps based on the patient’s therapeutic journey.
REFERENCES
- Annamma Jacob, Rekha, Jhadav Sonali Tarachand: Clinical Nursing Procedures: The Art of Nursing Practice, 5th Edition, March 2023, Jaypee Publishers, ISBN-13: 978-9356961845 ISBN-10: 9356961840
- Omayalachi CON, Manual of Nursing Procedures and Practice, Vol 1, 3 Edition 2023, Published by Wolters Kluwer’s, ISBN: 978-9393553294
- Sandra Nettina, Lippincott Manual of Nursing Practice, 11th Edition, January 2019, Published by Wolters Kluwers, ISBN-13:978-9388313285
- Adrianne Dill Linton, Medical-Surgical Nursing, 8th Edition, 2023, Elsevier Publications, ISBN: 978-0323826716
- Donna Ignatavicius, Medical-Surgical Nursing: Concepts for Clinical Judgment and Collaborative Care, 11th Edition ,2024, Elsevier Publications, ISBN: 978-0323878265
- Lewis’s Medical-Surgical Nursing, 12th Edition,2024, Elsevier Publications, ISBN: 978-0323789615
- R.Sreevani, A Guide to Mental Health & Psychiatric Nursing, 6th Edition, 2024, Jaypee Publishers, ISBN 978-9366161686
- Sheila L. Videbeck, Psychiatric Nursing, Seventh Edition , 2017, Wolters Kluwer Publications, ISBN: 978- 1496355911
- Psychotherapies. (2021).
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/psychotherapies
Stories are the threads that bind us; through them, we understand each other, grow, and heal.
JOHN NOORD
Connect with “Nurses Lab Editorial Team”
I hope you found this information helpful. Do you have any questions or comments? Kindly write in comments section. Subscribe the Blog with your email so you can stay updated on upcoming events and the latest articles.
