Psychotherapy:
Sometimes called “talk therapy,” in psychotherapy you will have sessions with a therapist who will establish a relationship with you based on genuineness, empathy and positive regard. It may be short-term and goal-directed as in Cognitive or Behavior Therapy, or it may focus on the development of insight into the origins of problems and the promotion of personal growth. Sessions may be held on a weekly basis or less frequently, depending on the needs of the patient.
Hypnosis
Hypnosis is a therapy technique that is used sometimes to address problems that have been repressed and to reduce bad habits such as smoking and overeating. One or two sessions of hypnotherapy can help a person who sincerely desires to quit smoking or hypnosis can be used in the course of psychotherapy to recover memories, control anxiety or manage chronic pain. Patients can be taught to use self-hypnosis to address a variety of problems that come from negative patterns of thoughts or emotions.
Biofeedback
Biofeedback is a therapeutic technique that helps the patient to become more aware of certain physiological processes that are important in some mental disorders. Sensors are used to measure muscle tension, perspiration and skin temperature. This information is processed by a computer that “feeds back” that information to the patient on the computer screen. This therapy is often used to conduct relaxation training which is helpful in treating chronic pain, anger and anxiety.
Neurofeedback
This is a special form of biofeedback in which sensors measure brainwave patterns and “feed back” information about those patterns to the patient so that the patient can learn to control them. Children and adults with attention deficit can be helped to learn what paying attention feels like and to become more able to concentrate for longer periods of time. Neurofeedback is used for other psychological and physical problems as well.
Medication Management
Under the care of a psychiatrist, medications can be very effective in the treatment of many mental disorders, from the more common problems of depression and anxiety to the more infrequent major mental illnesses like Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia. Sometimes medication and psychotherapy are used together so that the patient’s biological, psychological and social issues will be addressed in a holistic way.