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Psychoanalysis is a depth psychology school founded in the 1890s by Viennese neurologist Sigmund Freud, aimed at exploring, examining, and researching the codes of our mental world. The concept of psychoanalysis is based on developing models to define and explain the human psyche and to understand the psychodynamics of our unconscious experiences. In therapy, it focuses both on internal conflicts of the individual and conflicts that arise in interpersonal relationships. In this sense, psychoanalysis is a treatment and therapy technique.
At the core of psychoanalysis is the belief that all humans have unconscious thoughts, feelings, desires, and memories. The main goal in psychoanalytic therapy (psychoanalysis) is to intervene in ways that uncover repressed emotions and experiences, allowing the person to experience a form of emotional release called catharsis. Only through this process can the issues the individual experiences be addressed and “healed.” According to the psychoanalytic perspective, an individual’s problems are products of unconscious thoughts, which have led to various symptoms because they have been hidden until now. Unmet needs, unresolved conflicts, or repressed traumas from early development manifest in various symptoms later in life. Psychoanalytic therapy aims to bring these previously repressed conflicts from the unconscious into consciousness so the individual can deal with them healthily.
To reach the main cause underlying our “PAIN” (symptoms), whether current or rooted in the past, psychoanalysis uses the free association method. In classical psychoanalysis, the client lies on a couch and freely expresses their key experiences (current or past), memories, experiences, and dreams. The therapist listens calmly and attentively. Using transference and counter-transference processes between client and therapist, the therapist provides interpretations based on the client’s experiences during or at the end of the session. These interpretations aim to increase the client’s awareness of unconscious conflicts. Various projective tests (e.g., Rorschach Inkblot Test, Thematic Apperception Test [T.A.T.]) and methods (free association, dream analysis) are used to help clients gain insight into their behaviors and emerging symptoms. Psychoanalysis covers all types of psychological conflicts, including depression, mood disorders, anxiety, addictions, and psychotic disorders.
Family therapy is an evidence-based therapy type developed after the 1950s that aims to treat the family as a whole. In family therapy, the family is considered a system, and the members are the individuals forming that system. The goal is not to focus solely on one member’s mental problem but to understand the family’s position regarding issues such as relationships, communication, and conflicts. According to this perspective, when one individual in the system starts to change, other family members are also affected; therefore, family therapy focuses on the family rather than the individual.
Family therapy can involve all family members (parents and children) or just some of them. It can even be conducted with only one family member. According to the family therapy perspective, family members not present in the therapy room act like “ghosts” and are represented by the person in the session. This is the fundamental philosophy of approaching the family as a system. How individuals relate to their family reflects in their thoughts, feelings, and actions.
In sessions, family members examine how their family functions, identify blocking points, and develop alternative solutions with the therapist. Family therapy can also be conducted in a couple therapy format focusing on issues between partners. Sessions are usually held every two weeks, lasting 60–90 minutes.
When you need to bring your child to a psychologist or psychiatrist, explain that you are visiting an expert who will help with their problems. This explanation should be made regardless of the child’s age. You can say: “We are going to someone who will guide us regarding the problems we are having.”
You can also give the child an idea of what will happen during the session. For example: “They will give you some toys, ask you to draw, or ask some questions.” This approach works especially well for school-aged children. Explain that there is an expert who will help with anxiety or negative feelings.
You may tell the child that you (the family) will also discuss certain issues. If the child understands that the session addresses a shared concern, they may feel more comfortable. The family’s attitude toward therapy (feelings, thoughts, and behaviors) is very important. If parents are tense or anxious about visiting a specialist, this will likely affect the child. Therefore, the family must first accept the situation and remain calm.
Adolescents may sometimes seek help themselves or may join therapy at the insistence of parents. In such cases, messages like: “If we speak for you, some of your points may be missed” or “We value that you are there and express yourself” are important.
Many families/individuals expect results from the first session. Regular attendance in psychotherapy is the most important factor to achieve solutions for the reasons for which you sought help. Psychotherapy is a process. The first session after your application—whether individual psychotherapy, family therapy, or child sessions—is an assessment meeting, where family information and the reason for applying are collected. A good assessment is the most critical element of psychotherapy.
Assessment may involve multiple aspects depending on the client’s age and situation. For child/adolescent sessions, it is important to collect information from family members (parents, siblings) and sometimes from the school (teachers, counselors). In special cases, with client consent, information may also be obtained from any family member (spouse, parent).
After assessment, the therapy plan is decided. Each session also functions as an evaluation. Many clients expect recommendations after the first session, but offering suggestions without proper evaluation may be harmful. The therapy duration varies depending on the reason for seeking therapy. Some problems can be addressed quickly; others require long-term psychotherapy.
Delaying resolution affects daily life and functioning. Psychotherapy focuses on interventions that increase psychological well-being. The duration depends on the intensity of the issues, their causes, the client’s age, level of insight, life events, and attitude toward therapy.
Confidentiality is a core principle in mental health ethics. Psychologists and psychiatrists do not share session content, diagnoses, or prescribed medications. Trust between therapist and client is crucial. There are regulations prohibiting sharing private information, but confidentiality is mostly a professional ethical matter.
The only exception is if the individual poses a risk of harm to themselves or others, in which case relevant parties (family, doctor) are informed. In sessions with children/adolescents, if self-harm is possible, this information is shared with the child/adolescent first and then with the family.
According to Turkish Penal Code Article 280, mental health professionals must report certain crimes (e.g., child abuse). Failure to report crimes against children under 15 is considered an aggravating factor (Article 278). Outside these exceptions, client information or reports are not shared. For clients 18 years and older, information is not shared with family.
Therapy requires a trust-based relationship. Regular attendance allows the therapist to monitor changes. The severity and duration of the problem influence therapy frequency. Typically, sessions are weekly, but clients should follow the schedule recommended by their therapist. Therapy has a beginning and end, and the therapist decides when it is completed. Sessions should occur more frequently than once a month to maintain quality. Lasting changes and increased psychological well-being cannot be achieved in only a few sessions.
Depression treatment usually lasts about six months, but recurrent or persistent depression may require longer. Early childhood experiences or recurring life events affect depression duration and severity. Medication may need to be resumed temporarily if triggers reappear.
Correctly prescribed medications pose no serious harm with long-term use. They are designed for extended use and do not damage the body. They must be taken under medical supervision, as unnecessary long-term use may harm mental balance. Advice from friends or neighbors to take medication is unsafe. Psychotropic medications should always be used under a physician’s guidance.
Psychotherapy broadly refers to changing and improving thoughts, emotions, and behaviors through communication and relationships. It enhances psychological well-being and helps individuals cope effectively. Psychotherapy applies techniques from psychiatry and psychology to alleviate symptoms causing difficulties. A positive therapeutic alliance is central.
Hundreds of methods exist worldwide. Evidence-based therapies are increasingly used. Therapists may use a single approach or an eclectic method. Therapy types include individual, group, family, and play therapy. Common methods include CBT, Schema Therapy, Family Therapy, Psychodrama, Existential Therapy, Play Therapy, and EMDR.
Therapy emphasizes the therapist-client relationship and the client’s awareness of challenges. Clients learn to see their role in problems, take responsibility, and make lasting life changes. Psychotherapy is where science and art meet, requiring neutral, nonjudgmental, flexible, and reflective engagement.
Psychotherapy, in a broad sense, refers to changing and improving thoughts, emotions, and behaviors by influencing communication and relationship patterns. It is a method that increases the client’s psychological well-being and helps them cope more effectively with the challenges they face. Psychotherapy applies specialized techniques, based on knowledge from psychiatry and psychology, to alleviate symptoms that cause difficulties for the individual and their environment. Establishing a positive relationship between the therapist and the client, known as the therapeutic alliance, is considered the most important component of the therapy process.
There are hundreds of psychotherapy methods used worldwide. Among these, there are various evidence-based therapies (whose effectiveness has been scientifically validated) that are increasingly applied today.
Mental health professionals select methods based on the client’s reason for seeking help, current circumstances, and personal preferences. A therapist may follow a specific psychotherapy school or take an eclectic approach, using techniques from multiple therapy types.
Psychotherapy schools are developed to meet the needs of the time and are adapted in clinical practice to the current needs of clients. Many therapy types originate from different psychological theories, such as learning principles, behavioral theories, psychodynamic approaches, and existential thought. The method used in therapy is shaped according to the client’s needs and expectations. Therapy can take different forms, such as individual psychotherapy, group therapy, family therapy, or play therapy.
The most frequently used psychotherapy methods today include: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Schema Therapy, Family Therapy, Psychodrama, Existential Therapy, Play Therapy, and EMDR.
Regardless of the therapy type, recent research emphasizes the relationship between the therapist and client/patient. Another critical factor is the client’s insight and awareness of their current situation and challenges. Increasing the client’s awareness helps them recognize their role in problems, consider external and environmental factors without blaming others, and take responsibility to change their life. Psychotherapy focuses on helping individuals develop a reflective self-awareness to guide them through inner conflicts and become creators of their own lives.
Psychotherapy is where science and art meet. Establishing a relationship with the client based on scientific theory, listening objectively and neutrally, avoiding judgment, and remaining flexible in the face of beliefs are some of the most challenging yet uniquely rewarding aspects of the art of psychotherapy.
Psychology, in its simplest definition, is the scientific study of why and how human cognitive processes, behaviors, and emotions arise, how they are established, how they can be changed, and how they can be predicted. A psychologist is a professional who practices this field. To become a psychologist, one must complete a four-year undergraduate program in psychology after finishing high school.
On average, an undergraduate psychology graduate takes 26 psychology-coded courses, both theoretical and applied, while a master’s graduate takes about 15 psychology-coded courses. To specialize at the master’s level, a student typically needs to complete around 41 psychology-coded courses. This represents a significant competency requirement and reflects the high standards and rigor of the psychology profession.
Additionally, psychological testing, including how tests are administered and interpreted, is an important area of responsibility for psychologists and constitutes an essential part of assessment.
The field of psychology is divided into subfields such as Experimental Psychology, Social Psychology, Developmental Psychology, and Clinical Psychology, which focuses on addressing behavioral and emotional issues in individuals. Today, psychology is a science and profession with approximately 50 specialized areas derived from these core fields. Other areas of specialization include School Psychology, Health Psychology, Neuropsychology, Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Forensic Psychology, Sports Psychology, Traffic Psychology, and Psychometrics.
Currently, when people think of a psychologist, many envision professionals working in clinical settings providing mental health services. Psychotherapy practices in this field fall under clinical psychology. The scope of a psychologist’s work encompasses all aspects of human behavior. Personal relationship difficulties, domestic and street violence, behaviors harmful to oneself and the environment, school problems, exam anxiety, divorce processes, phobias, sexual issues, and speech disorders, among other individual and social problems, are all areas of concern for psychologists. Psychologists contribute to problem-solving through scientific methods, gathering and analyzing data, and developing prevention and intervention strategies.
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor working in the field of mental health. Like other physicians, a psychiatrist first completes six years of medical school. After graduation, they take the Medical Specialty Exam (TUS). Those who achieve a sufficient score to specialize in psychiatry begin their residency at universities or large training hospitals across Turkey, depending on their exam results. During the five-year residency, doctors simultaneously learn the intricacies of the profession from their instructors and provide services to patients in outpatient clinics or those receiving inpatient treatment at the hospitals where they work as assistants.
During their specialty training, psychiatrists conduct scientific research in a specific area of interest, prepare a thesis, and, if accepted, take a proficiency exam. Passing this exam certifies the doctor as a specialist in psychiatry.
The most significant difference between a psychiatrist and a psychologist is that, as a medical doctor, a psychiatrist can prescribe medications, providing medical treatment. It is a misconception that psychiatrists only prescribe medication and do not practice psychotherapy. During their five-year residency, psychiatrists learn and apply various psychotherapy methods. However, particularly in the last quarter-century, research and new discoveries worldwide have led to mental health becoming increasingly recognized as a positive science, emphasizing medication use in treating mental disorders.
Only psychiatrists can prescribe these medications, but the warm, close, and sincere relationship established between the patient and the doctor always accelerates treatment and helps achieve faster and more effective results.
Three types of medications are used in the treatment of mental disorders: red-prescription drugs, green-prescription drugs, and white-prescription drugs, the latter being similar to medications prescribed in other medical fields.
Red-prescription drugs are used for medications that can cause significant physical dependence in a short period. Psychiatry rarely uses such highly addictive medications. In psychiatric practice, red-prescription drugs are mainly used for conditions like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). When administered under a doctor’s supervision, children can benefit significantly from these medications. Typically, this treatment is discontinued during adolescence.
Green-prescription medications are anxiolytic or calming drugs that are frequently used in psychiatry. These medications do not cause physical dependence but may lead to habit formation. They must always be used under a physician’s supervision, and the prescribed dosages should not be exceeded. If used for a long period, these medications should be gradually tapered off.
White-prescription psychiatric medications do not have addictive or habit-forming effects; however, abrupt discontinuation can trigger serious mental and physical reactions. For this reason, all psychiatric medications should be taken under the guidance of a doctor and discontinued gradually, not suddenly.
Psychiatry is a positive branch of science. This means that, like in other areas of medicine, mental illnesses involve certain changes in the body—particularly in the brain—and medication is used to correct the problems caused by these changes.
Until 30–40 years ago, drugs used in psychiatry were primarily sedatives that calmed patients and prevented them from harming themselves or others. Perhaps because of this, some people still mistakenly believe that psychiatric medications are these types of sedatives. Even many medical doctors approach these medications cautiously and are hesitant about their use. However, in the second half of the last century, psychiatry made some of the most significant advances in medicine. Scientific research confirmed that many mental illnesses, previously poorly understood, are caused by imbalances and changes in brain enzymes, and medications that correct these disorders were rapidly developed.
Almost every drug that affects the central nervous system works by binding to specific regions of brain cells called neurons. These drugs influence the release, metabolism, and intracellular activity of chemicals known as monoamines, such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine, regulating our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Similar mechanisms can also cause side effects.
Antidepressants, antipsychotics, anxiolytics, mood stabilizers, and psychostimulants can be used effectively and safely in the treatment of depressive disorders, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, social phobia, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, ADHD, conduct disorders, dementia, eating disorders, and many other psychiatric conditions, when prescribed after comprehensive examination and appropriate diagnosis.
To prevent unnecessary medication use, complaints must be thoroughly evaluated and treatment should be individualized. Treatments suggested by non-specialists can negatively affect your health and lead to significant financial and emotional losses. It is also crucial for treatment success that prescribed medications are taken regularly, without interruption, and never stopped without consulting the doctor.
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