Lecture 1

In today's lecture, I explored the powerful yet often underappreciated psychotherapeutic framework in psychiatry, emphasizing that every interaction has the potential to be therapeutic. I outlined the four core purposes of psychotherapy: promoting insight, providing corrective emotional experiences, integrating affect, cognition, and behavior, and building an alliance for change. I also introduced Harold Lang's principles, which can enhance even brief encounters, and discussed the importance of supportive psychotherapy as the backbone of psychiatric care. I encourage you to approach each patient visit as a psychotherapeutic opportunity, transforming routine sessions into meaningful healing encounters. Remember, your consistency, curiosity, and containment may be the most powerful medicine your patients receive.