Thursday, 6 October 2022

 

Psychotherapy

As a member of the public in any community and society of the world, you have the right to know what psychotherapy is, and of what benefits it can bring to the people in general.

It is also your right to know who clinical psychotherapists are, where they can be found, how easily accessible they are and the kind of services they offer the general public.

You also have a right as a member of the public in any community of the world, what psychotherapy day celebration stands for; how this day became what is being celebrated across the globe and who were those instrumental in bringing this about.

Your rights to the information mentioned above on this discourse can only be gotten from the authentic psychotherapy association and clinical psychotherapy practitioners across the world.

What then is Psychotherapy?

Psychotherapy in its simplest term is the application of psychological knowledge in finding solutions to mental health problems of people by professional experts and practitioners such as:-

1.     Clinical psychotherapists.

2.     Psycho-spiritual care providers.

3.     Certified professional counselors or chaplain counselors.

Some the psychotherapeutic treatment and care is carried out with the employment of psychological knowledge and skills without any medication or drugs.

However in some cases psychotherapy is done in combination with medication and drugs, depending on the severity and magnitude of the problem at hand. It must be made clear at this juncture that psychotherapists are not trained to administer drugs or medications to clients and that whenever their clients require medication or drugs, referrals are made to medical practitioners who are licensed to prescribe and administer drugs to patients, though psychotherapists may work in collaboration with medical practitioner (physicians) in their psychotherapeutic centers and clinics.

Who are Psychotherapists?

Psychotherapists are mental health care professionals and experts, who have been professionally trained and equipped to provide therapeutic care and services to people who are suffering from mental health issues and challenges both in public and private domains.

These professionals are usually certified and licensed to provide clinical care and services to various clients or care recipients in their professional practice to enable them resilient and bounce back to normalcy in order to live a meaningful and fulfill life.

Clinical psychotherapists, psychospiritual care therapists are in existence in every society in the world to help ensure wholeness and wellness to the generality of the people of our world who are overwhelmed by one problem or the other seeking needed solutions to such problems.

Psychotherapists in their trainings, are usually made to study counseling intervention and psychotherapy as counseling usually precedes psychotherapeutic care and services in practice.

How has Psychotherapy Day Celebration come into Existence?

Professional practitioners of any given profession have a duty and mandate to promote and project their professions and services they are prepared to offer the public.

In the case of psychotherapy profession, a group of practicing clinical psychotherapists and their students came together in the United States of America to institute the national day of psychotherapy which is celebrated on 25th day of September every year.

The coming together of these psychotherapy professionals and their students institutionalize psychotherapy day celebration and also given birth to psychotherapy association in the US, Britain, United Kingdom and other nations of the world.

Nigeria and other nations in the continent of Africa and beyond should not be left lout in the scheme of things and this is our reasons for domesticating psychotherapy day celebration in the continent of Africa and beyond. 25th day of the month of September annually becomes psychotherapy day.

Where in Walks of Life can these Professionals be found?

Clinical psychotherapists, psychospiritual therapists are useful in all walks of life most especially in the followings:-

a.     Mental health sector.

b.     Suicide prevention.

c.      Addiction and rehabilitation works.

d.     Human trafficking prevention.

e.     Human slavery.

NB: Although clinical psychotherapists, psychospiritual therapists, counselors and chaplains can work in the public, but my advocacy is for them to consider private professional practice and service delivery.

Chap. David Mike-Jacobs CPC, CPST, CCE

Professor of Anthropology, Certified Clinical Psychotherapist

7th Sept. AD2020

 

 

 

 

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