If you’re struggling with a mental illness that has been identified, everyday life stressors, relationship problems, or another emotional or mental health issue, the decision to start therapy can be an important step towards prioritizing the health of your mental health and well-being.
How Is Therapy for Mental Health?
Therapy is a general term which refers to mental health treatment that consists of speaking with a psychiatrist or psychologist, or another mental health provider.
Therapy for mental and emotional wellbeing is a non-judgmental friendly and safe space that allows the client to openly talk to a mental health practitioner who is independent, neutral and not judging. While most therapy focuses on the individual, it can also involve working with couples, families or groups.
What are the various Types of Mental Health Therapy?
Mental health practitioners apply numerous methods and therapies that they’ve been trained in to help their patients. Some are better than others in dealing with specific conditions and disorders typically the therapist will employ different techniques.
The most frequent research-backed strategies that you’ll find include:
- Supportive psychotherapyThis is among the most frequently used types of talk therapy the therapists utilize. It’s goal is to relieve anxiety and other symptoms through stressing reassurance, reeducation counseling, and encouragement for positive behaviour.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) CBT is an extremely popular type of therapy that is focused on helping you realize the effects of negative or inaccurate thinking in order to view difficult situations with greater clarity and deal with your challenges in a more healthy way. A lot of times, Psychiatrist give clients work assignments between sessions to develop behaviors or ways of thinking about whatever they’re facing.
- Psychodynamic psychotherapyIn psychodynamic therapy, Psychiatrist as well as clients speak about their negative behaviors and feelings which are rooted in previous experiences with the goal of resolving these issues. Your Psychiatrist will help you see the way your subconscious thoughts are impacting your thoughts and behaviors.
- Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT)DBT is heavily similar to CBT, with few exceptions. CBT is focused on understanding the connection between thoughts, feelings , and behaviours, whereas DBT is focused on dealing with distressing or uncomfortable thoughts and feelings. It also places greater the emphasis on changing behaviors, or working on skills that can help improve bad behavior patterns.
- Exposure therapyExposure therapy is another type of CBT most often used to treat anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, PTSD and phobias, including fear of leaving home, or fears of flying. While in treatment patients are paired using a Psychiatrist discover their triggers and develop methods to overcome their fears through gradual exposure to them in a controlled and controlled environment.
- Mindfulness-based therapy (MBT)MBT helps patients identify their thoughts body sensations, feelings and their surroundings with the intention of being open, mindful, interested, and understanding.
- Eye treatment for movement desensitization (EMDR)EMDR is used to treat PTSD Research suggests it may significantly ease emotional stress that comes from traumatic memories.
- Family or couples therapyFamily therapy is one type of counseling that can help family members increase communication and resolve conflicts. It’s usually brief-term, delivered by a psychologist, clinical social worker, or licensed therapy.
- Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)TMS is a noninvasive procedure that uses magnets to activate nerve cells within the brain in order to relieve effects of depression.
Does Therapy Work? Here’s what the science says.
Studies suggest that talking therapy for mental and emotional health can aid in a significant way.
A review of 270 studies that considered whether psychotherapy could be effective for those suffering from depression The researchers concluded that it was effective and, in certain cases, more than other forms of treatment.
Another large meta-analysis of psychodynamic therapy revealed that over the long run, this kind of therapy was beneficial to patients who suffer from depression alongside social anxiety and social fears.
How Can I Tell If I’m in need of therapy?
To begin, therapy is utilized to treat mental health problems, including:
- Anxiety disorders, like PTSD, OCD, phobias, or panic disorder
- Disorders of the mood, like depression as well as bipolar disorder
- Addiction, alcohol abuse disorder and other drug use disorders, as well as gambling disorder
- A eating disorder, such as orexia and bulimia
- Personality disorders like borderline personality disorder
- Schizophrenia as well as other disorders that cause separation from reality
But you don’t need an mental health diagnosis to seek for therapy. Also, seeking therapy doesn’t necessarily mean you’re suffering from an illness or disorder.
Apart from mental illness, other reasons for seeking therapy include:
- The family is suffering from chronic illness, death or loss of a loved one in the family
- Problems with finances, job loss or problems at the workplace
- Stress in relationships can include trying to make your marriage work, taking care of younger children or parents who are aging, and managing friendships
- Everyday stressors are weighing on you or throwing your life out of balance
- Recovering from sexual or physical trauma or witnessing violence experiencing a traumatizing event
- Cope with sexual problems It doesn’t matter if they’re due to a physical or psychological cause
Anyone who seeks out therapy could be able to:
- Be stronger in the face of challenges
- Change the behavior that’s holding them back
- Look at ways of thinking that influence their emotions or behave
- Find relief from pain of the past
- Build relationship skills
- Make a list of goals
- Improve their self-confidence
- Better manage emotions that cause stress, like fear, grief, or anger
- Increase their problem-solving skills
Therapy can be beneficial to anyone who feels that they’re having trouble coping through life’s challenges on their self, Linde says. Therapy may be a suitable first step when emotional concerns or problems are interfering greatly (and frequently) with everyday routines and activities, such as school, work or household duties. Find the best suited Psychiatrist for you in Texas, College Station.