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According to the National Institute of Mental Health, one in five US adults suffers from mental, emotional, or behavioral issues, yet less than half opted for any sort of mental health services in the past year.
General public attitude has improved a lot when it comes to open and candid conversations about mental health, but there is still a long way to go.
In many cultures, therapy is still seen as a “weak” person’s option and people who choose to go for it are automatically labeled crazy.
Highly inappropriate labels like these not only discourage people from choosing the best for their mental health but also perpetuate the generational cycle of toxicity.
Consider therapy if you feel like you have emotional, mental, or behavioral issues that you cannot resolve on your own, or if you want to improve the general quality of your life.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, is a form of mental health treatment where an individual, a group, or a family, talks with a certified therapist to identify their issues and work toward addressing them effectively.
Psychotherapy is for everyone. From people battling with mental illnesses to people wanting to improve the general quality of their lives, psychotherapy offers something for everyone.
If you want to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives through therapy, consider a masters in mental health counseling online – not only will you help make the world a better place but also reap the benefits of a flexible yet rewarding profession.
There are many different types of psychotherapies but only a few are commonly practiced.
Here’s a look at some of the commonly practiced types of psychotherapy so that you can choose the right one for yourself.
Psychodynamic Therapy
In psychodynamic therapy, people are encouraged to talk about anything and everything that’s on their minds – be it their past experiences, childhood issues, or fantasies.
The idea is to uncover their unconscious beliefs which impact their behavior and emotions. Often, these beliefs are ingrained at a young age.
By having a guided and a candid conversation about these experiences and beliefs, your therapist can help you identify the thoughts that drive your behavior.
Once identified, it’s far easier for an individual to manage their thoughts and reinforce positive behavior and avoid falling into negative patterns.
Psychodynamic therapy takes place over the span of several months or longer, depending upon the individual, their experiences, and goals.
This sort of therapy is good for people with self-esteem, abandonment, and self-expression issues. It’s equally effective for anxious and depressed individuals.
Interpersonal Therapy
Interpersonal therapy focuses on an individual’s relationship with others and ways to improve them in a manner that is best for the client’s mental health needs.
It aims to improve the communication skills and self-esteem of a person by assessing their social interactions and identifying negative patterns in them.
The interpersonal therapy usually spans over three to four months.
This sort of therapy works best for people who are dealing with depression associated with loss (of a loved one, or a job), relationship issues, or role transitions.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
CBT works on the principle that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are all interconnected and thus influence each other.
Most of the CBT sessions include the clients talking about different situations in their lives and their thought process behind them, while the therapist asks them how certain experiences made them feel.
The idea is to identify negative thought and behavior patterns, be it about yourself or other life situations, and work actively toward replacing them with positive ones.
In CBT, both the therapist and the client work together to develop a positive and constructive thought process.
Moreover, a therapist may also help the individual understand how certain negative and inaccurate thoughts tend to cause unnecessary distress and add to the existing problems or make them worse.
Replacing unhealthy negative patterns with healthy positive ones can drastically improve a person’s quality of life and peace of mind.
The duration of CBT may vary from person to person, depending on their issues.
CBT is an effective therapy for people suffering from anxiety, depression, trauma, eating disorders, and bipolar disorder.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
The term dialectical refers to the amalgamation of two concepts in mental health treatment – acceptance and change.
In DBT, a person is encouraged to accept difficult emotions and work actively toward changing them with the guidance of their therapist.
DBT was originally designed to help people with severe mental health issues, like suicidal behavior, self-harm, and borderline personality disorder. But now it has been adapted to deal with a range of other issues as well.
DBT focuses on the following areas:
- Distress Management: Learning to not act out impulsively while experiencing intense emotions like anger. Impulsive behavior may include lashing out, self-harm, drug abuse, etc.
- Mindfulness: Learning to practice self-realization and be more aware of yourself and the people around you.
- Effective Emotion Regulation: Categorizing emotions and adjusting them accordingly.
- Interpersonal Behavior Management: Dealing with confrontations and conflict in an assertive yet constructive manner.
Humanistic Therapy
Humanistic therapy focuses on helping an individual live their best life by enabling them to be their true self. It works on the principle of how a client’s worldview affects their life and choices.
Humanistic therapy sessions are usually guided by the client while the therapist actively listens and provides insight or guidance wherever needed.
This sort of therapy focuses on feeling good about yourself and your choices. It encourages positive regard and strives toward personal fulfillment.
Its best for people who feel lost, unmotivated, depressed, or who are dealing with chronic health or self-esteem issues.
The Takeaway
Human beings are complex creatures with complicated emotions and intricate thoughts. Navigating through it all is a task that requires time, effort, will, and active participation. No matter which therapy you choose, you cannot achieve any goal without putting in an honest effort. Your therapist may stick to one type of therapy or choose to incorporate several techniques from different therapies, depending upon your needs, and goals. Feel free to honestly communicate with your therapist regarding your concerns and expectations. Most important of all, seek help when you need it.
