Counseling, or psychotherapy, is an effective treatment for many problems and diagnoses.

Many individuals seek professional counseling, or psychotherapy, services at some point in their lives. Psychotherapy must be provided by a licensed professional counselor (LPC), a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) or a psychologist (Ph.D. or Psy.D.). All these professionals must be licensed by their respective boards in each state they practice.

When an individual requests psychotherapy or counseling, a complete clinical interview/assessment is first conducted by the therapist to identify symptoms and problem areas. A complete psychological, social, and medical history is taken at that time. Once a diagnosis or problem area is identified, a treatment plan is developed with the client based on factors such as time, goals, and severity of symptoms. At that time, the psychotherapy format is mutually determined by the therapist and client.

Psychotherapy formats can be individual (therapist-client), couples (therapist-couple), family (therapist-family), or group (therapist-several clients). Some clients participate in more than one format at a time, such as individual and group. Sessions are generally either 45-50 minutes or 75-90 minutes and can involve traditional “talk” therapies or various “experiential” therapies such as play therapy , art therapy and equine facilitated psychotherapy.

Depending on the exact diagnosis or problem(s) involved, psychotherapy can be relatively brief and behavior focused or more long-term and involved. Psychotherapy is successfully used for children, adolescents, adults and seniors to improve their quality of life and to restore functioning or enhance existing or future relationships.

The choice of a psychotherapist is an important one. In addition to verifying any potential therapist’s credentials and licenses, a client should choose someone who is knowledgeable about his or her particular diagnosis or problem, and one who is readily accessible for crises and questions. Finally, finding the right therapist is like finding a good friend; some people “gel” easily, and some don’t. If you are not comfortable with a therapist for whatever reason, don’t hesitate to voice your concerns and request a referral.

            Psychotherapy/Counseling

Behavioral Health Center

Of Texarkana