What is Supportive Therapy?
Supportive therapy is a type of psychotherapy that uses practical techniques, focused in the here and now, in order to reduce psychological distress and other psychological symptoms, to increase your abilities to cope with life stresses, and to restore, improve, and preserve healthy psychological defenses, coping skills, and self-esteem. A primary focus of supportive psychotherapy is enhancing your adaptive capacities to deal with issues that are currently causing distress. It is focused on present issues that are in your conscious mind, rather than emphasizing unconscious factors or a person’s distant past history. It is a highly practically oriented treatment, in which the therapist relates in a very conversational and straightforward way in order to facilitate a strong therapeutic alliance. Indeed, the therapeutic alliance is the key to success.
What is the Therapeutic Alliance?
The therapeutic alliance is the working alliance you experience with your therapist. It includes an emotional component, the bond you feel with your therapist, and a practical behavioral component, based on the mutual commitment you and your therapist have to collaborate in service of the goals of your choosing. The therapist works to ensure that therapy is a place where you can feel safe and trust that your therapist respects and accepts you, where you can be your authentic self without having to hide or worry about pleasing someone else, and where you can share things with someone who is truly committed to whatever is best for you.
Multiple studies have shown that the therapeutic alliance is one of the most critical factors in treatment success. At The Midtown Practice we work with you right from your first contact with us in order to foster a strong bond between you and your therapist, psychiatrist, or psychopharmacologist.
What Techniques are Used in Supportive Therapy?
Supportive therapy tends to focus on events of daily life or concerns that are most present in the patient’s mind. Much like a supportive parent, coach, or teacher, the therapist employs techniques that include:
- Listening actively and empathically to you, so that you can have the experience of feeling seen, understood, and accepted
- Providing sincere and appropriate praise for accomplishments and positive behavior changes, and comfort and reassurance when dealing with difficult situations or circumstances
- Providing encouragement to take steps to change behavior by identifying tasks and activities to achieve the goal
- Reframing to help you see things in new ways, which may reduce distress or open opportunities to make productive changes in your life
- Giving advice and teaching problem-solving and other skills to help you achieve your goals, and
- Other interventions that aim to help you in your situations and enhance your coping skills.
Supportive therapy may also include educating you and others about your condition/diagnosis, establishing realistic goals, and addressing diverse issues of concern to you. Your therapist may at times model productive behaviors and help you identify how you might want to live your life, consistent with your values and goals, given whatever your circumstances.
When is it Used?
It is effective for anxiety, depression, relationship issues, emotional dysregulation, disordered thinking and disorganized behavior, and a host of other situations.
Contact The Midtown Practice to schedule a call with one of our clinicians so that we can learn more about what you are experiencing and what you are looking for, and so that we can determine which clinician and treatment approach offers the greatest potential to address your needs.
Get Started Today
We’re pleased you are here, and we’re committed to finding the right person to help you with your mental health.
Step 1: Connect
Finding the right person to help can seem challenging, which is why we offer multiple ways to connect with us. You can schedule a complimentary 15-minute consultation with our highly trained Clinical Coordinator, Alli Malamut, by either:
- Calling or texting us at: 212-286-8801
- Email us at: info@midtownpractice.com
- By completing the form to the left.
If you do not reach us directly, you can expect to hear back from us the same day or within one business day.
Step 2: Get Matched
In order to find you an ideal fitting clinician or therapist, our Clinical Coordinator will want to learn more about you. Specifically, it would be helpful to hear about your concerns, personal preferences, and any relevant logistical matters (for example, in-person or video sessions? best time or day to meet?) During this call, please feel free to ask us any questions as well!
Please feel free to share with us if you have already identified someone you would like to work with from our Our Team page.
Step 3: Check the fit
Connect with the clinician or therapist you are matched with to ask questions, share history, and make sure you feel comfortable about moving forward. If so, book your first session. If it does not feel right, circle back with us.
Step 4: Get started
Schedule time to meet with your new clinician or therapist and work towards living a more fulfilling life!
Over the years, we’ve found our thoughtful matching process is the surest way to find you an ideal clinician or therapist and achieve the best outcome for you.
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