Supportive Psychotherapy

Supportive psychotherapy is the attempt by a therapist by any practical means whatever to help the patients deal with their emotional distress and problems in living. It includes comforting, advising, encouraging, reassuring, and mostly listening, attentively and sympathetically. The therapist provides an emotional outlet, the chance for patients to express themselves and be themselves. Also the therapist may inform patients about their illness and about how to manage it and how to adjust to it. Over the course of treatment he may have to intercede on a patient’s behalf with various authorities, including schools and social agencies, and with the patient’s family.
Supportive psychotherapy is a varied attempt to help patients deal with all the
different problems attendant upon their emotional illness which in turn affects all the rest of their lives.