By Dr. Arnab Datta
Posted on May 19, 2020
Psychodynamic psychotherapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy
Motivational interviewing
Family & couples therapy
Life coaching and counseling
Customized Meditations
These techniques are applied to treat mood and bipolar disorders, anxiety disorders, and trauma and loss among other conditions. Dr. Datta also uses Holistic care, featuring customized guided meditations with a talk therapy component. Dr. Datta frequently works with creative people to help them realize their potential. I have a network of therapists and programs for comprehensive outpatient general psychiatry, substance use and addiction treatment.
How do psychological issues affect daily life and relationships? I believe that psychological issues have an emotional origin, and that specific types of talk therapy can help one overcome negative emotions and experiences that may be effecting their lives. I often use guided meditations with talk therapy to help engage the unconscious mind in letting go of “emotional baggage” and to alleviate anxiety. The types of talk therapy are explained below.
Talk therapy is the foundation of our full 45-50 minute session. This may include medication management if relevant. When patients already have a therapist, I usually provide 30 minutes of medication management, unless the complexity of the medication management requires more time
A type of talk therapy used in substance abuse and addictions. It can be applied to both behavioral and drug addiction. Motivational interviewing can help change negative, maladaptive and self-sabotaging behavior patterns while keeping you focused on accomplishing your goals.
A type of therapy focused on making you aware of your unconscious thoughts. Carl Jung referred to this as the “shadow” mind. With awareness of underlying motivations behind specific behaviors, comes the ability to change maladaptive and self- sabotaging patterns. However, it is easy to be to deny unconscious drives because they can exist in “blind spots” for so long.
A type of therapy that helps identify core beliefs so that once they become conscious, a step-by-step approach to overcoming obstacles and accomplishing goals can be taken.
Contrasting communication styles are blended and conflicts within family systems are addressed. Dr. Datta uses techniques from the Ackerman and Gottman Institutes of Family and Couples Therapy. Individual patients can talk about their families. We are part and parcel of our family and ancestors whether we like it or not. We inevitably inherit some qualities from them. However, we can choose to make different choices. The journey of overcoming certain maladaptive behaviors is to understand one’s family first. Understand your family and your partner’s family helps in couples therapy as well. We must understand where we came from in order to become who we are meant to be.
Not on the same page? We discuss communication techniques to get you and your partner listening and understanding one another. Every individual has a different expectations and style of communication. The speaker listener technique is a great way to really get to communicate your partner or loved one. It’s not about what your partner says, but what they mean. Give your partner a chance, it does take time to change one’s ways. It takes time to adapt one’s communication style.
Many people prefer seeing a Life Coach or seeking a Counselor. Many people are afraid to see a “Shrink.” Many people think, “No, that’s for crazy people.” What makes a Psychiatrist special in providing Life Coaching or Counseling is that they are trained to see through your eyes and put themselves in your shoes. That means giving objective feedback. There is a very specific training process that Psychiatrists and Therapists go through to be able to do this. Psychiatrists and Psychotherapists often undergo their own psychoanalysis in order to provide objective feedback to patients. You can gain the deepest perspective about what’s holding you back by seeing a psychiatrist or psychotherapist. However, the style and compatibility between patient and psychotherapist is variable. Find someone who you believe can help you.
Seeing a psychiatrist or psychotherapist doesn’t mean that you are mentally ill or crazy. A psychiatrist or therapist can help you understand what is happening in your blind spot or “shadow mind,” as in Jungian psychology. They can help you see something about yourself that you do not see yet. People may think, “No one knows me better than I know myself.” For the most part people are right, how pompous would it be for a stranger to that that they do. However, people don’t understand themselves 100% there are blind spots. We all have them. The therapist has it too. However, the more skilled psychoanalysis the therapist receives, the more they can tell the difference and the more they can help you with your blind spot. The blind spot is a nice way of saying your unconscious mind or what you are not aware of. This is a special part of the psychiatrist’s training. And many psychiatrists continue to study this outside of their training.
Learn how you may be sabotaging yourself. Psychiatrists and Psychotherapists study how the mind can twist certain experiences and create a reality that is maladaptive. It’s possible to learn how you are sabotaging your chances at being successful. Past trauma, relationships and experiences all contribute to how you are functioning in adaptive or maladaptive ways. This can be limiting your thinking. Ongoing objective feedback is necessary in order to see this because most people shrug it off the first time they hear it. As a result, a psychiatrist may not make such a bad life coach or counselor.
