Psychotherapy in real life can be quite different from what one might expect, especially when compared to fictional portrayals seen on TV or in movies. For one thing, the vast majority of therapists have walked away from the traditional psychoanalytic approaches decades ago and are employing far more pragmatic, evidence-based, short-term treatment modalities. Increasingly, the emphasis is on experiential learning and what you do between therapy sessions because, as they say, nobody else can do it for you. In this sense, modern psychotherapy in behavioral health treatment is regarded as participatory medicine. Compared to other fields of healthcare, it demands greater commitment and actions on the part of patients or clients.

One could argue that the objectives of psychotherapy boil down to two things — unlearning habitual ways of creating pitfalls and learning how to be truly and consistently kind to one’s self. When we examine our thought processes and daily behaviors through the lens of mindfulness, it becomes apparent that it is very challenging to be truly and consistently kind to ourselves. More than we would like to admit, we are habitually engaged in thoughts and behaviors that are unkind and harmful to our being. The worst part is that we cannot correct or extinguish what we are subtly ignoring or simply unaware of.

What is Psychotherapy?

What is Mindfulness?