Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy generally refers to the treatment of mental health issues by talking to a
psychologist or a psychiatrist. During psychotherapy sessions, the psychiatrist debunks mental health
and explains different aspects of the condition including feelings, moods, thoughts, and behaviors.
The goal is to help a patient take charge of their life and learn coping skills that can help them tackle
challenging situations. Some of the key disorders where psychotherapy can be helpful include:
depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorders as well as addictions such
as alcoholism. Individuals who seek psychotherapy hope to learn to manage unhealthy behaviors,
recover from abuse, sleep better, cope with major life changes.
Clinical Issue

Depression is one of the most prevalent mental health issues worldwide, and some studies have
reported significant levels of depression among college students. Some of the symptoms associated
with depression include excessive fatigue, difficulty sleeping, irritability and muscle tension.
According DSM-5, depression is characterized as a mood disorder causing persistent feelings of loss
of interest or sadness (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Clinically, depression is known as
clinical depression or major depressive disorder. Individuals with depression find it difficult to engage
in normal day-to-day activities and often feel hopeless. Depression has been linked to the prevalence
of suicidal thoughts among college students, and has been reported as the primary risk factor for
suicidal individuals aged 18-34 years. In addition, individuals battling depression are also at an
increased risk of developing other health problems or disorders such as substance abuse.

Intervention

Counseling can help individuals suffering from depression find better ways to deal with
stressors in their day-to-day life; in this case, building a therapeutic relationship helps an individual
talk about their problems to relieve stress. When individuals learn more about the condition, they are
more willing to approach stressors with a better mindset, and further develop hope and self-efficacy.
In most cases, individuals with depression feel hopeless about situations that might appear normal to
healthy individuals. Thus, developing a therapeutic relationship with an expert helps create a safe
space where there’s no guilt, shame, or blame.

References

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental
disorders (5th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596