What is Psychotherapy?
Psychotherapy in its broadest definition is about growth. It is about living more authentically and autonomously by removing defenses and other "survival" responses that were developed during one's life, most often in childhood. One goal of therapy is to replace these functional, yet no longer appropriate, patterns with responses that are more congruent with the individuals' present life and social environment. During the initial stages of therapy, an understanding of the process and a beginning awareness of the underlying issues take place.
During the intermediate stages of psychotherapy, the initial awareness and understanding progress to a more active status, in which old patterns begin to be replaced with more appropriate, healthy responses. Functionality increases, while negative emotional responses and behaviors decrease.
A client becoming increasingly able to continue the growth process on their own designates the final stages of therapy. They in essence, and again to varying degrees, become their own therapist. The safety and support of the therapeutic medium has been replaced with an internal autonomy and authenticity, allowing them to face their own issues, and adjust their psychological course as necessary and desired
Each therapist at CAMHC is each unique in their approach to therapy, and tailors that approach to each individual client's needs.