Couples Therapy

Systemic psychotherapy has its roots in family therapy. This approach emphasises the relationship while focusing on the process of interaction between people rather than viewing an individual in isolation. Individuals are viewed within various systems, this includes the family system, as well as work and social life and focuses on interactions of groups and their interactional patterns and dynamics.

Systemic psychotherapy believes the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. Therefore, importance is placed on the properties of the whole that result from the interaction of the different elements of the system. Thus, emphasis is placed on the relationship that emerges from the interaction between people. Psychologists who practice systemic psychotherapy believe a system (i.e. a family, couple, work or social) includes one or more elements linked together in such a way that a change in the state will follow another system change.

Narrative therapy placed focus on our personal stories, which influence our thoughts and ultimately our decision-making and behaviours. It concentrates on aiding people to become an expert in their own lives. Emphasis is placed on the stories we develop and carry with us through our lives which we assign meanings to through our experiences and interactions. This impacts how we view ourselves and our world. We generally carry many different stories connected to the various parts of our lives.

Narrative therapy focuses on stories that are prominent and generally problematic in our lives. They normally negatively influence how we live our lives. Psychologists who work with Narrative therapy intimately explore these stories and explore information that assists individuals to challenge their problematic stories. Importance is placed on separating the person from their problem. In doing this, unhelpful meanings that have been intertwined into our stories can be challenged and healthy changes in our thoughts, feelings, and behaviours are introduced, allowing the individual to be open to new possibilities.

Cognitive behavioural therapy is a solution-focused therapy that works toward modifying dysfunctional emotions, behaviours, and thoughts by challenging and changing negative or irrational beliefs. The general principles of Cognitive behaviour therapy include working collaboratively towards clear goals. It believes that that thoughts and perceptions influence behaviour. It therefore aims to identify harmful thoughts, assess whether they are an accurate depiction of reality, and, if they are not, employ strategies to challenge and overcome them.

Cognitive behaviour therapy focuses on present difficulties rather than past or childhood events. Psychologists who practice cognitive behaviour therapy will likely ask about family history to get a better understand an individual but will not spend focus on past events. The emphasis is on what an individual is telling themselves that might result in anxious symptoms or emotional disturbance. An individual is then encouraged to address rational concerns practically, and to challenge irrational beliefs, rumination or catastrophising. Work between sessions is also encouraged for individuals to continuously put into practice the skills they have learned in sessions.

Psychodynamic psychotherapy involves the interpretation of mental and emotional processes rather than focusing on challenging problematic behaviour. It is considered an in-depth form of talk therapy based on the theories and principles of psychoanalysis.

Psychodynamic psychotherapy aims to help those who are aware of and understand the origins of their difficulties but are not able to overcome their problems on their own. This is done through assisting individuals in finding patterns in their emotions, understandings, thoughts and beliefs of their current selves. Often these patterns are explored from experiences beginning in early childhood. In sessions individuals learn to analyse and resolve their current issues and change their behaviour in current relationships through this deep exploration and analysis of earlier experiences and emotions. The aim of Psychodynamic psychotherapy is to aid individuals in forming a more purposeful and positive sense of self by enhancing self-awareness and bringing about understanding of the individual’s thoughts, feelings, and beliefs relative to their past experiences.

Solution-focused therapy is a practical therapy that places importance on discussing solutions rather than focusing on the problems that brought an individual to therapy. The problem is explored and understood in order to find a solution, but it is not dwelled upon. It also emphasises engaging in present issues while working toward a better future rather than exploring how childhood experiences may influence your present self.

The overall goal of solution focused therapy is for the psychologist and individual to participate in a collaborative manner in order to find and engage in realistic and workable solutions to the problem or problems as soon as possible. The psychologist aims to aid the individual in formulating a solution based on what the difficulties are, setting goals and implementing the solution. Solution-focused therapy is ideal for individuals suffering from less extreme mental health issues who are in need of brief intervention and can be used in individual, couple or family settings.

Integrative interactional therapy is in an approach that emphasises observable interactional patterns between relationships and how an individual interacts in these relationships in the present versus focusing on a formal diagnosis or how an individual’s past may influence their current behaviour. It incorporates a variety of communication-based techniques in order to develop a unique therapeutic plan for each individual.

Integrative interactional therapy essentially connects the subjective experience of an individual with that particular individual’s pattern of interaction with their environment.   Therefore, if an individual relates to their environment negatively, their subjective experience of their environment will be influenced by this interaction. Thus, changes in how a client relates to their environment would ultimately change their experiences of it, which an Integrative interactional therapy does through the alteration in an individual’s interactional patterns. A psychologist practicing Integrative interactional therapy focuses on facilitating this change in an individual’s unique patterns in order to bring about change.

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is a psychotherapy treatment plan which assists people to cope with stress, improve emotional regulation and work on their interpersonal relationships. This type of therapy aims to treat people who see little to no progress with other therapy treatments. Many of the people who would benefit from DBT have been described as “difficult to treat”.

The term dialectical refers to the processes that bring opposite concepts together, such as change and acceptance. DBT focuses on problem solving and acceptance-based strategies. DBT focuses on teaching the person in therapy new skills which can be applied across all settings in their life.

Person-centered psychotherapy is a psychotherapy treatment plan which uses a non-directive approach that allows the client in therapy to take more of a lead in the sessions so that, in the process, they will discover their own solutions. The psychologist aims to portray compassion, to listen without judgment and to attempt to completely understand and accept the persons thoughts and feelings.

Person-centered therapy is a type psychotherapy wherein the person in therapy does most of the talking. The psychologist may rephrase or reflect on what the person says to fully understand the persons thoughts and feelings, with the openness that the person in therapy can alter or modify what is being said back. In this way the person in therapy can fully lay out what they are struggling with the aim to solve their own difficulties. The goals of Person-centered therapy is for the person in therapy to experience self-discovery, self-acceptance, and a provides a means toward healing and positive growth. Person-centered therapy has the belief that every person strives for and has the capacity to fulfil their own potential.

Play therapy is a psychotherapy treatment plan used primarily with children. Play therapy aims to provide a safe space for children to freely express distressing feelings and thoughts through play and drawing. Through play children can process and express their own emotions in a way which is easier for them.

Play in this sense is more than ordinary playtime. The psychologist can use play to observe and gain insights into a child’s problems in a safe, comfortable playroom where there are few rules as a means to encourage free expression. Through play, children can learn new coping mechanisms and how to redirect inappropriate behaviours more effectively.

Play therapy has the following benefits for children: children begin to take more responsibility for their behaviours; develop coping strategies and creative problem-solving skills; increased self-esteem; alleviation of anxiety and stronger social skills. These benefits provide a more positive view of the future for children as the have an increased sense of control.

Existential therapy is a psychotherapy treatment plan which focuses on free will, self-determination, and the search for meaning. The approach emphasizes the persons capacity to make rational choices and to develop their maximum potential. Existential therapy beliefs that all people have the capacity for self-awareness; a unique identity; that anxiety is normal; that each person creates their own meaning in life and each person needs to re-create themselves as their meaning of life changes.

Existential therapy aims to highlight each person’s abilities, capabilities and encourages them to take responsibility for their successes. By learning to take responsibility for their own choices and to make choices that align with their values, will help them to live a more authentic life. This type of therapy is intended to help people find meaning in life despite the natural tendency to worry and have fears. If successful, the person will live an authentic life filled with self-respect, whilst also making choices from a place of positivity and not fear. Existential therapy is well suited for persons facing issues of existence such as living with a terminal illness or a person who is experiencing a tough transition in life.

EMDR is a type of psychotherapy aimed at elevating trauma symptoms and anxiety based disorders. It assists in managing all types of trauma including sexual abuse, domestic violence, contact crime as well as persons suffering from other complaints such as substance misuse, phobias and self-esteem difficulties.

EMDR is a complex method of psychotherapy that integrates many of the successful elements of a range of therapeutic approaches in combination with eye movements, or other forms of rhythmical stimulation in ways that stimulate the brain’s information processing system.

The brain is a natural mechanism for processing disturbing events, however, when a traumatic experience is overwhelming, the brain is not able to process information the way it usually would. This explains why persons in therapy find themselves re-living the disturbing memories long after the traumatic event has ended. The disturbing memories are often naturally processed during the REM (rapid eye movement) sleep cycle. EMDR aims to jump-start this natural healing ability of the brain by using the person in therapy’s eye movements. As a result, the traumatic memories slowly begin to become less disturbing.

EMDR does not deem it necessary to delve into the persons past, but rather, EMDR aims to activate the information-processing system of the brain. This activation results in the therapeutic goals being achieved rapidly with recognizable changes that do not disappear over time. EMDR should be seen as a race. Each person in therapy will make changes in their own time and at their own pace.

EMDR should not be confused with hypnotherapy. EMDR is a client led therapy and the person in therapy is always in control.

Adlerian Psychology is a theory that attempts to see individual lives as a whole and thus regards every action and motivation as the individual expressing a particular attitude to life. Additionally, Adlerian Psychology views all behaviour as socially embedded and with social meaning. It also emphasizes the importance of relationships and being connected to others, including the larger community in which people reside. The theory is built on the curiosity of the power of life; an innate power seen in one’s desire to develop and achieve meaningful life goals. The goal in adlerian psychology is to make people aware of their faulty logic and assumptions about themselves, others and the world. People are made aware of this so as to help establish healthy, realistic and rewarding goals, which in turn helps one experience a more fulfilling life.