This is especially useful if you are looking for a natural way to relieve stress without drugs. The basis of psychotherapy is using the natural desire of someone with problems to relieve stress by talking to someone else about them, and it is often called the talking therapy. Practitioners generally regard the people they see as clients rather than patients, to emphasize that psychotherapy is not just for sick people but anyone including those with stress related problems.
There are many schools of thought about the processes involved in psychotherapy for natural stress relief. This stress management technique can range from simple supportive counselling to complex psychoanalytical theories about the underlying feelings behind current stress problems and how to release them.
At its most basic level, psychotherapy is the creation of a space for somebody to air their stress related problems in a caring, non judgmental and confidential atmosphere. Many think that this is almost an extension of a chat with a good friend, and the skill of the therapist lies not so much in what they might say but in acting as a support for the client to unburden whatever is troubling the mind. This kind of care listening is often part of the “natural stress management treatment” given by many different skilled natural therapists.
Much of psychotherapy builds upon this passive listening to overcome stress, with somewhat more active interjections to point out areas of evasion, inconsistency or neglected issues. This helps us break away the negative or destructive thought patterns, and to develop a better sense of our own identity and be happier in our relationships.
This natural stress relief therapy can be short or long term in nature. For some relatively simple problems, such as a phobia or a single-issue problem, techniques such as behavioural or cognitive therapy may be used. These aim to change behaviour and attitude and let us face the feared experience or object, or getting us try acting and thinking in a more positive way in order to overcome the stress, tear or anxiety. Such disciplines can be quite directive, requiring us to initially fol¬lowing instructions. One important thing noted is that sometimes a simple problem might have deeper causes and a more long-term approach in analysis may be required.
Psychoanalysis is a distinctive, long term approach to natural stress management. This can be evidenced that a considerable period of training is needed to become a practitioner. The father of psychoanalysis was Sigmund Freud, an Austrian psychiatrist who developed theories of human experience relating psychological problems to our early childhood relationships with our parents and whose research revolutionized the way humans regard themselves. Dreams, stress, fears and desires, both conscious and unconscious, and suppressed emotions are all investigated as factors in presenting the problems. One of Freud’s most brilliant pupils, Carl Jung, developed his own theories based upon archetypal symbols and myths, rather than childhood traumas and numerous others have since added their own ideas to this complex field.
Thoughts and feelings are particularly significant in psychoanalysis besides looking at behaviour. Gestalt therapy, for instance, was developed in the US by Fritz Perls in the 1950s, seeks to place client’s symptoms within the wider context of normal emotional responses – literally, the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. Changes in behaviour can affect feelings and thoughts and the stress level. Trying to choose a suitable psychotherapist can therefore be something of a minefield for those who are unaware of the differences between the various schools. In the first place, decide how much change we want to relieve stress. Do we want to relieve stress on a short-term basis, or to undertake a com¬plete overhaul of our attitudes and lifestyle towards relieving stress?
Perhaps more than in any other therapy, the relationship between the client and the therapist is of great significance in psychotherapy and some time needs to elapse to build up confidence and rapport. Since people often gravitate towards therapies that suit their own personality, there can be a case for looking wider and experimenting a little for an effective stress management technique.
It is good to note that a psychotherapist will listen to what we have to say with a non judgemental approach. Their detached interest is very important, allowing us to express feelings which would be difficult to express to friends or relatives who are unable to maintain the same objectivity.
Cheers – Be Young Be Beautiful Be Healthy Be You!