Question 1

How Do I Know if I Need Treatment?

Accepted Answer

Most people will experience periods in their lives when they feel significant distress characterized by worry, anger, sadness, etc. These difficult emotions are often resolved spontaneously through the support of friends and family or when people find resources within themselves that they perhaps did not even know they possessed prior to the difficulty.
 
There are times, however, when these feelings aren’t so readily resolved; they persist despite support and attempts to maintain a healthier diet, routine, and work/life balance. In such cases, more serious mood disorders and a generally diminished ability to function may occur, and seeking professional help may indeed be recommended.
 
A general rule of thumb would be to determine by self-assessment and feedback from trusted friends and family, whether one’s symptoms and functioning are hurting their interpersonal relationships or causing difficulties in their work. The more important question is perhaps whether one can use treatment. Many people have greatly benefited from treatment simply by obtaining advice or counsel regarding day-to-day difficulties, which would often prevent more intensive distress.

Question 2

What Is Psychotherapy?

Accepted Answer

Essentially, psychotherapy is a conversation, a dialogue. This conversation focuses on people’s experience of distress and particularly how this distress manifests itself in their relationships with others, their experience of self, their occupation, and their ability to care for themselves and for others. During psychotherapy, a person’s feelings of anxiety, depression, anger, etc. are explored in terms of their meaningfulness in the context of the person’s history and present circumstances. The therapist may use a number of different therapeutic techniques, including:

• Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT)
 • Interpersonal therapy (IPT)
 • Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
 • Existential psychotherapy
 • Psychodynamic psychotherapy

These therapies help a person build confidence and manage their feelings more effectively, ultimately to live their life in a healthier and more satisfying manner. In some cases, people may seek therapy because they feel “empty” or that their life has lost the sense of meaning and purpose that they may have always taken for granted. It is not uncommon, for example, to hear a married couple speak of having “drifted apart” or no longer feeling loved and loving.
 
There are various definitions of psychotherapy, which you can find online. You can also consult the various resources (https://www.drdavidcrowe.ca/resources)I have made available; they may provide some insight as to the differences between the various psychotherapeutic techniques and other information about psychotherapy.

Question 3

How Do I Know Whether I Need Psychotherapy or Medications?

Accepted Answer

Considerable evidence supports the effectiveness of psychotherapy in treating anxiety and depression. It has also been shown to support or augment the effectiveness of medication in treating major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and other serious mental illnesses. Only physicians are licensed to advise a patient with regard to medication and to prescribe medication. If you are uncertain which treatment you might require or prefer, it would be prudent to discuss your questions with your family physician, who might indeed suggest you try psychotherapy first or in addition to medication. In fact, the combination of medication and psychotherapy has been shown to be effective and, in some cases, more so than treatment with medication alone.

Frequently Asked Questions About Psychotherapy