As I realized that different interventions work for different people and present problems, I diversified my training and experience to include short- and long-term conceptual and emotion-focused therapies. An individual therapy session is a kind of psychological counseling that includes an individual and an experienced psychologist. It is not the same as a family therapy. Here the individual can speak with the psychologist in a confidential way and it assists the therapist with grasping the individual and his mental issues in a more profound manner. In this therapy counselling psychologist’s recommendation is the best treatment.

It is a better treatment for children, teens and grown-ups to dispose of from their concerns. It could be a behavioral problem, depression, anxiety, suicidal tendencies, stress, obsessive compulsive disorder, addiction to something and so on.

Shamsi realizes that there is no one-size-fits-all treatment for her patients. In her experience as a psychologist, she has realized that different interventions work for different people. Using her various qualifications and professional titles, she conducts individual therapy for her patients who present with various issues.

Familiar with the problems of modern society and today’s lifestyles, she has diversified her treatment methodologies with new relevant training to include short- and long-term conceptual as well as emotion-focussed therapies.

What is individual therapy?

Individual therapy is a treatment methodology when a client works one-on-one with an experienced psychotherapist in a caring, safe and confidential environment. Individual therapy is also known by other names such as therapy, psychotherapy, talk therapy, psychosocial therapy, or counselling.

Usually clients present with emotional disorders and /or personality problems that cannot be treated using group therapy or other means. Individual therapy is not the same as family therapy. In this therapy, the consulting therapist’s treatment is deemed to be the best for the patient.

Who needs individual therapy?

Individual therapy helps those who have anxiety issues, food and eating issues, stress, anger issues, substance abuse, relationship issues, family conflict, insomnia, sexual problems, etc. Individual therapy can thus help to treat mental, physical, emotional, and behavioural issues.
It is a suitable treatment for children, teens and grown-ups to remove their current concerns such as behavioural problems, suicidal tendencies, OCD, and other conditions mentioned above, among others.

What happens during individual therapy?

The therapist focuses on gathering information in her initial sessions. They try to gather as much information as possible about their past mental, physical, and emotional well-being. They also discuss the concerns that brought the person to therapy. Usually, it takes a few sessions for the therapist to have a clear understanding of the situation. It is only then that they can address concerns and determine the best treatment methodology.

The person who seeks therapy uses their first few sessions to decide if the therapist’s style suits their needs. This is because getting treated by a therapist you are comfortable with precedes good outcomes. They also discuss the type of therapy to be used, the goals of the treatment sessions, session length, and the number of sessions required.

Therapists would encourage the patients to do most of the talking. Though difficult at first to talk about past experiences or present-day concerns, the patients become more comfortable and confident with every subsequent session.

Therapists may also assign “homework” to help the patients build clarity on topics discussed during therapy. Individuals in treatment can also ask any number of questions whenever they feel like it during therapy. As time passes, patients are seen to develop a better mood and healthier thought processes.

Therapists maintain complete confidentiality during therapy sessions. However, they may break confidentiality if the patient is in danger of harming either themselves or others. Therapists can break confidentiality if required to provide information by law and order agencies.

Benefits of Individual therapy

• Individual therapy is sought by patients who cannot face specific situations alone.
• It helps them to overcome obstacles that hamper their well-being.
• It helps to increase compassion, self-esteem, and positive feelings in the individual.
• Patients learn skills on how to handle difficult social situations, how to make healthy decisions, and how to set goals and attain them.
• The patients become more self-aware and many choose to continue individual therapy for ongoing personal growth.