Psychotherapy is used to treat mental illnesses and is the most common mental health therapy. Depending on the actual mental illness, there may be a need for medication, as well. Psychotherapy itself includes many different treatment techniques. Therapy is a well-known treatment used to initiate communication with people that suffer from mental illnesses. A psychotherapist is a licensed and trained professional that specializes in mental health care. A therapist is trained to help patients identify their ailment and work through different factors that might have triggered the illness.
What Are the Different Types of Psychotherapy and How Do They Help?
There are many different types of psychotherapy and they each help in different manners. Formats of therapy such as individual therapy, group therapy, couples and marital therapy, and family therapy all address different issues with the same goals in mind, to help people understand their emotions, behavior, and the ideas that impact an illness, and how to change them. Each type of therapy includes a psychotherapist, the individual suffering from a mental illness, and friends and family that are directly involved. Of course individual therapy is one on one with a therapist and patient. Overall the general idea is to identify and understand the events or life problems, such as a death in the family, major illness, loss of a job, or divorce that has caused the illness. Once this is determined, then the aspects of a problem are discussed with the endeavor to reach a solution to solve or improve the situation. The goal is to help people regain pleasure and a sense of control in life by learning problem solving skills and coping techniques.
Different Approaches to Therapy
Different formats to therapy help people deal with mental illness, but there are different approaches, as well. Once a patient has been talked to, a therapist then must decide which approach suits them best based on the known factors that are underlying to the mental illness. Psychodynamic therapy is used when a patient is suffering from emotional problems due to unresolved conflicts that are affecting them unconsciously, and often stem from childhood. Using this type of therapy helps a patient cope and understand their feelings by talking about childhood experiences. Therapy of this type usually lasts several months, or even years. Another type of therapy that focuses on interactions between a patient and their family and friends is called interpersonal therapy. This therapy approach focuses on self-esteem boosting and improving communication skills over a short period. Interpersonal therapy is used for situations such as relationship conflicts, social isolation, depression due to mourning, and life-changing events.
