The professional analyses the immediacy of the results and the importance of self-knowledge
Summary
Only 5.1% of Brazilians undergo psychotherapy treatment, demonstrating low adherence to this type of therapy.
Only 5.1% of Brazilians undergo psychotherapy treatment, which is generally used as the primary treatment for mental health problems. About 19% have consulted a psychologist or psychiatrist at least once in the past year, but the majority have not gone beyond five meetings.
The study is part of the Instituto Cactus-Atlas Mental Health Index (iCASM), a survey conducted by the Cactus Institute, a philanthropic organization dedicated to promoting mental well-being, together with AtlasIntel, a company specializing in research and data.
The 2023 study also shows that, of the few Brazilians who access therapy, 43% had started less than a year ago. The research highlights the notable difference between adherence to psychotherapy and the number of people using ongoing medications for emotional, behavioral, or substance use problems.
According to the survey, 16.6% of the population, 1 in 6 Brazilians, uses drugs, 77.7% for more than a year.
Psychologist Ana Beatriz Sahium, who works at the Órion Complex clinical center, in Goiânia, analyzes that the use of drugs is greater, because in the immediate world we live in, people want quick results.
“Only medicine will partially solve it, it will help people feel less the symptoms of sadness, of discouragement, but if I don’t treat what causes it, I don’t have 100% improvement. The person feels that he is fine, but in reality the problem can recur at any time because they don’t treat the causes that cause it. If I go to therapy, treat it and find out what is the beginning of these symptoms of depression and sadness, I will see a huge improvement in my symptoms. If I am learning the techniques on how to solve that problem and I still have the drugs, then we have what today we call the gold standard treatment, which is medication and therapy.”
He explains that, through therapy, the patient finds self-knowledge, the basis for strengthening emotions.
“He understands what is good, what needs to be improved and becomes stronger as an individual. He can resolve conflicts, he can assert himself, he can have his own strength. Work on your self-esteem and start believing in your abilities. With self-knowledge, everyone can solve problems more easily because they can also understand what belongs to them and what belongs to others,” he emphasizes.
Difficulty in exposing oneself
Normally, the psychologist explains, the process of starting therapy is linked to the patient’s discomfort with a specific problem that affects their well-being at a professional, emotional and social level. However, she notes that many people have difficulty expressing their problems, something cultural in her opinion.
“I see this as very ingrained in our society, the point of having a weakness, of needing help, there is also a lot of prejudice from psychologists, of being in treatment. Our society condemns, in a way, a person who, sometimes, needs treatment. So, people have a hard time assuming that they have emotional difficulties.
Ana Beatriz Sahium explains how the therapeutic process takes place. “It is an open and non-judgmental environment, so that the patient can talk about the topic he wants, how he wants, how he wants and when he wants. It is an environment ready to receive this and to face this difficulty,” she specifies.
He explains that the frequency of the therapeutic process will depend greatly on each case. “In some situations, it is recommended to start twice a week, but the standard is once a week. As the treatment progressed, we spaced it out by 15 days and then moved on to the discharge process,” he adds.
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Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
