Balance May 2018 - 15

the manual

RESULTS

Cognitive
Behaviour
Therapy

Jungian
py
Psychothera

(CBT)

THE LOW-DOWN: CBT can
give your mind an M.O.T, and
offers strategies to develop
more helpful patterns of
cognitive processing.
GOOD TO KNOW: You'll
set goals, join in structured
sessions, give time to specific
exercises and have homework.
Self-discipline is required.

BEST FOR: Learning to
recognise and challenge
unhelpful thoughts. Six
sessions of CBT is usually
offered for free on the NHS.

DISADVANTAGES: You may
have to wait several months to
see someone through your GP,
and find that CBT works as a
sticking plaster, rather than a
treatment of the wound, so it
becomes a stepping-stone.

Combined
couples
Therapy

THE LOW-DOWN: In this
therapy the unconscious is
looked to for guidance as to
where a client might grow
('individuate') and so overcome
current challenges.
GOOD TO KNOW: Client
and therapist work together
to decipher the unconscious,
typically through exploring
images in dreams, fantasies
and memories to shed light on
un-lived aspects of your life.
Jungians work with the
collective unconscious,
revealed through patterns
found in myths and fairy tales,
which point the way for
psychic growth.

BEST FOR: This is deep work,
usually longer-term, in the
hope of becoming a fully
whole, rather than perfect,
human. It's a modality focused
on transformative growth,
rather than just change.

GOOD TO KNOW: The
therapist works on behalf of
the relationship, rather than
either individual.
BEST FOR: Offers a space in
which partners can speak,
hear each other and build
understanding.
DISADVANTAGES: Often
issues which cause friction in
romantic relationships stem
from childhood relationships
and adaptations. It may
highlight that either, or both
partners, could usefully enter
individual therapy.

THE LOW-DOWN: Founded
by Sigmund Freud, patients
undergo a process to increase
awareness of inner worlds
and the influence they wield.
GOOD TO KNOW: The
therapist/patient relationship
is crucial. As unconscious
patterns - known as
'transference' - play out,
identifying them offers the
opportunity to change.

Developed by German-born
Fritz Perls, Gestalt focuses on
enhanced awareness of
sensation, perception and
feelings, with emphasis on the
relationship between one's
self and the environment.

GOOD TO KNOW: A 'gestalt'
is a cycle of experience, so this
shares territory with drama
therapy. You may experiment
with expression, moving
between chairs to explore and
role-play different positions,
acting something out, attending
to the communication in a
physical gesture.

BEST FOR: Long-term work,
with the potential to change
deep-seated emotional states
and relationship problems.
DISADVANTAGES:

DISADVANTAGES: Tends to

Techniques vary. You may have
a near-silent therapist aiming
to provide a blank canvas.
Others position themselves
behind you while you lie down,
rather than providing warm
human interaction.

be longer-term work, requiring
commitment and money. Not
for the faint hearted, it
necessitates a willingness to go
where you've not gone before.

PersonCentred
Therapy

you're sceptical about the
significance of dreams or
symbols, this will take you
out of your comfort zone.
MILLION - PEOPLE REFERRED
TO THE NHS FOR MENTAL
HEALTH THERAPY IN 2017

l
Transpersona
Integrative
py
Psychothera

THE LOW-DOWN:

BEST FOR: If you're open to
experimentation, working at
your edges and uncovering the
unknown offers a chance to
work intensively on symptoms
and causes.

DISADVANTAGES: If

THE LOW-DOWN: Focused
specifically on working with
issues which exist between
romantic partners.

tic
Psychoanaly ic
m
Psychodyna
Therapy

Gestalt
py
Psychothera

THE LOW-DOWN: Integrative therapists
work with the mind, body and soul, and draw
on a wide range of theories and ways of
working to offer what is most needed.

GOOD TO KNOW: Transpersonal asks what
the purpose of a problem is, to find latent qualities waiting to manifest
themselves through working with the body, dreams and imagination.
BEST FOR: Aims for transformation rather than change. The
integrative element means the therapist is well-placed to meet you
wherever you are.

DISADVANTAGES: Again, it takes time and money and requires an
openness to a spiritual approach.

THE LOW-DOWN: The
therapist holds the client with
'unconditional positive regard',
believing they are best placed
to know what will help them
become 'self-actualised' -
more like themselves.
GOOD TO KNOW: The
therapist is likely to be less
directive, allowing you to take
the lead.
BEST FOR: Providing the
environment for you to grow
and realise latent potential.
DISADVANTAGES: If you're
seeking advice/direction, you
might encounter frustration.

To find out more about therapy and counselling, or search for an accredited therapist in your area, visit the United Kingdom
Council for Psychotherapy (psychotherapy.org.uk), or British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (bacp.co.uk)

BA
BALA
LANNCE
CE March
May 2018
2018

SOURCE: NHS ENGLAND. OF THESE, 965,000 BEGAN TREATMENT, AN INCREASE OF 32,000 ON 2016

The

HEAD FOR HELP

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Balance May 2018