Philosophy of Therapy

I believe that there are many factors that go into the human condition that leads to an inability for one to deal with the situations it throws at them. I believe it is the way one thinks about those situations as well as how one lives, that leads them to effective coping strategies and a happy existence. My main thought then is that thought patterns and lifestyle choices are crucial; in regards to thinking I believe that cognitive behavioral therapy is best suited to deal with the disorders that may arise from those thought patterns. I believe that healthy lifestyle choices that arise from thought patterns are crucial to deal with a disorder in conjunction with therapy.
I believe that all suffering is a result of the way a person thinks about the stimulus that leads to suffering. Yes, there may be external issues that arise causing stress, but it is ultimately our thinking and how we deal with controlling our thinking that determines what a situation’s true severity is. If we are able to not become overwhelmed with emotion in an experience such as driving, where an example would be; being cut off at an intersection, the common reaction may be for one to start thinking really mean and angry thoughts about that person, then their blood pressure may rise and they may become hot and nervous and need to stop the car. If one can learn to not be affected by external issues that arise in life, then they will always be in complete control of their emotions and they will be able to use their emotions in the way they are supposed to be used. We are given emotions to express something that is very innately human, which are feelings.
To be able to feel happy or feel excited is the result of emotions and if those emotions are reinforced then they will occur more often. Though it is when one gets stuck thinking negative emotions about a situation that leads to a need for therapy in order to help redirect or change those thought patterns that become so difficult to deal with. Neurologically it can be explained that we as humans get stuck in certain thought patterns that can lead to negative and/or positive outcomes. We all form neurological pathways in our brains that are a result of our most consistent thought patterns, if we always think positively about a certain issue it is because we have trained our brain to use certain pathways that lead to that result. This is why the underlying cause, in my opinion, of psychological dysfunction is simply the reinforcement of certain emotions. Though I do recognize that there are certain disorders that are genetically based that cannot be explained exclusively by the way the person thinks, though that person can still benefit from having control over how they may deal with their thought patterns.
I also believe that through diet therapy and exercise, one can change the way they feel and cope better with a problem such as ADHD or depression. Many people in America and around the world are suffering from nutritional deficiencies, because they are simply not putting the right food into their bodies. Food is the fuel that keeps the body running, though so often people are drawn to the more western approach which is to get a pill or procedure to fix what could be fixed by changing the habit that caused it in the first place. I do believe that many psychological disorders exist outside of external control; genetic disorders are a prime example. Though I think that diet plays a huge part in making those disorders either better or worse, not necessarily curing them. A child diagnosed with ADHD is not going to have a very easy time dealing with their disorder if they are given preservative-loaded foods and sugar-filled sodas that make them more hyper. They are more susceptible to these tendencies to become hyper so their diet should be monitored just as much as therapy and medication are. Exercise is something else that is shown to be incredibly effective in treating and curing depression, it stimulates the body, gets the blood flowing, and gives an individual energy to stop the reinforcing habits that continue depression, such as sitting and doing nothing. Again, through consistent cognitive behavioral therapy and the monitoring of lifestyle choices, an individual has a great chance of overcoming their situation.
I also believe highly in exposure therapy, which works by exposing the individual to the anxiety provoking stimulus. In my case I had suffered from a traumatic event and was experiencing post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The type of exposure therapy I received was EMDR, I found it to be very helpful but I suppose in further contemplation of it, it seems that it really was just overall exposure therapy. By allowing the therapist to reintroduce the experience and then allow him to lead me into a better way of looking at the situation, I now do not experience symptoms of PTSD.
One of the reasons I have so much interest in the field of psychology is because I spent a lot of time in therapy as a child and adolescent and continued through early adulthood. It was not that I still needed therapy in early adulthood in the way I did when I was younger, though I find that it is the way I have learned works the best in dealing with the ups and downs of normal everyday life. I found for me that one of the most effective therapies was art therapy. The first time I was treated with this therapy was at age 16 and while I was spending a 9 day stint in a behavioral health clinic called Valle Vista in Greenwood, Indiana. It was group setting that the art therapy was performed in and basically it consisted of everyone drawing pictures of certain events as well as incorporating music therapy in to allow us to feel more relaxed.
The therapeutic aspect of creating art is unlike any other form of therapy I’ve come across, the amount of satisfaction an individual can achieve once they see what they were able to create is just amazing. Through creating art, the patient is completely absorbed in the process, it is very therapeutic because it allows one to not only get out feelings they may not be able to express verbally but also feel relaxed and more in control of their feelings. Art also allows one to become more aware of their surroundings, if one wants to draw a tree for example; they have to fully become aware of the tree and look at it deeper than they may have before. That deep reflection leads to a stronger connection with nature and appreciation of self and the world around them.
I really want to do my best in life to help others enjoy the love that is existent in everything around us. I believe that most of the psychological disorders people are dealing with today are a result of having come so far from their true existence. Humans used to live in nature, grow their own food, and strengthen their bodies during this process. Now people are living indoors almost all hours and never questioning the life sustenance that is their food. There is so much beauty and reason to be happy if one goes outside to enjoy that beauty, though depression is the result of many factors, I feel it is so important to encourage a depressed individual to look inside their own hearts and seek what it is that makes them who they are and what their purpose is. That can be found so much faster and easier if they are already able to reflect on the true beauty that is a flower or tree. When one is able to seek their true self and deplete the ego that has led them and so many others astray, they will be able to better defend their minds from the psychological traps our society throws at them. Such as television, people are told over and over again that they are not good enough and they do not look right and they should eat like this and live like that. And right afterwards they are shown advertisements for pharmaceuticals which proclaim can make them happy and the person they want to be. I think that if television is causing people to become depressed there needs to be more drive from therapists and psychologists to speak up against those mediums which lead to unhappiness and depression as well as other disorders such as ADHD.
I am quite an idealist in the overall way I look at the world, though I really do have hope and reason to be optimistic that change is close and that I may be able to be a huge part of it if I just stay true to what I know has worked for me, and that is; developing my talents, creating art, spending time in nature, respecting the planet as well as my body and over all giving thanks to myself, to others, and to the One we call God.