An individual treatment mode for mental illness that can be used
easily along with a variety of other approaches (biologial, family,
group, etc.). This involves attempting to understand the patient as
a person, who has various private feelings and experiences, wishes
or motivations, fears, etc. which may be in conflict, or problematic.
Sessions last 45 minutes, and are once or twice per week (the exception
being psychoanalysis, see below) The key idea is that our emotional
development is a result of experiential and genetic (or inbuilt) factors.
It is possible for us to reduce our mental suffering by learning as
much as possible about what creates mental problems in ourselves.
Insight-oriented psychotherapists take the time to work individually
with patients often for longer time periods, and have training in
psychiatry, psychology, or social work. The most intensive kind of
such therapy is psychoanalysis.