Psychotherapy is a process that aims to overcome or manage emotional difficulties and achieve a higher level of emotional development. There are many forms of psychotherapy but I will focus on psychodynamic or psychoanalytic psychotherapy. This is a gimmick-free approach that has developed over more than 100 years and is supported by leading universities including UCT, WITS, Rhodes, and UPA.
While the majority of people who undergo this process benefit in a substantial way, there is nothing mystical about it. It looks no different to a conversation except that the client does most of the talking while the therapist considers what is said. This is not a procedure that is done to the client, rather, the therapist and client work together. Concentration, energy, motivation and commitment are required from both parties.
This process helps the client become more aware of their actions, feelings, thoughts, and beliefs while reflecting on their meaning in relation to the total context of their life. Conscious and unconscious assumptions about oneself, life and relationships become available for exploration and the effects of the past are felt live in the room. The outcomes of the process are complex and vary broadly but many people discover things that they were previously unaware of and find an opportunity to work through inhibitions and fears with the help of the therapist.