Emotional distress clearly does sometimes mask or camouflage the presence of physical disorders. If you are suffering from serious anxiety or depression, it is important to have a comprehensive physical before beginning psychiatric treatment. This is true especially when the onset of emotional symptoms was sudden—within a period of days or one to two weeks. It may be most useful to see a diagnostic specialist—for example, a doctor of internal medicine. But bear in mind that physicians, even those who are familiar with psychiatric problems, vary considerably in their diagnostic skills, and sometimes a second opinion can be worthwhile before you decide that the most appropriate treatment is psychotherapy.
PART II
EXPERIENCING THERAPY
In Part II you will be able to develop an overall understanding of the main approaches to therapy available today. We will look at psychoanalysis, the first of the psychotherapies, developed by Freud at the beginning of the twentieth century; and then, in the next two chapters, discuss ten major psychotherapies. Because of their widespread use and value, individual chapters will then focus on approaches to behavioral psychotherapy, group therapy, and marriage and family counseling. The two final chapters in this section deal with the therapeutic value of exercise, biofeedback, relaxation methods, hypnosis, meditation, psychopharmacology or the use of drugs in therapy, and dietary approaches.
In the discussion of each approach to therapy you will find:
* a concise description of its special perspective
* information on the kinds of problems it is thought to be most useful in treating—and closely connected with this, but seldom taken into account—
* a description of the kinds of individuals who tend to profit most from that approach; and
* an account of a successful experience in therapy, reconstructed from the reports of clients as they look back on their treatment