“Healing takes time, and asking for help is a courageous step.” – Mariska Hargitay
“It’s okay to ask for help.”
“Please do not hesitate to seek help from a mental health professional.”
These are just a few of the famous lines we usually hear or read everywhere. There are a lot of people who have already been saved because of these lines, but what is really that “help” they are talking about? What is inside that “help”?
So here in this article, we will talk about this “help”. Mental health professionals help offer “therapy”, also known as “psychotherapy”.
What Is Therapy?
“Therapy” or “Psychotherapy” is the process of working through troubling experiences and inspiring change so that you can become the best version of yourself. Most of the time, the people who seek therapy are those who experience/d depression, anxiety, trauma, or any kind of challenging experience. But lately, some people seek therapy even if they do not experience this kind of negativity or challenges. Their reasons vary from wanting to have a life coach to just simply having a mental health check-up.
Therapy includes the therapist and you, the client. This relationship is built on trust, transparency, and open-mindedness. Your therapist will have key traits like compassion, empathy and will hold you to a standard of accountability. You, as the client, have the option to bring in others who hold key positions within your lives (i.e. spouses, parents, children, significant others, etc.).
Watch this video to learn more about Therapy:
What Are The Various Types Of Therapy?
Therapy is a broad system with many far-reaching branches. At the same time, various types of therapy exist in psychology. So here are some of these:
- Individual Therapy: This therapy is known as the most intimate one because here, it is just you and your therapist who will talk.
- Couple Therapy: This therapy is being chosen by couples who want assistance or help in resolving their own conflicts, improving their skills, and maintaining their strong relationship.
- Family Therapy: This therapy is being used by families in distress who want to seek help in overcoming the problems they have in the family.
- Group Therapy: This form of therapy involves people who are neither related nor in relationships but who share common challenges.
You can watch here to learn more about the Various Types Of Therapy.
What Are The Different Forms Of Therapy?
Aside from the various types of therapy, another thing you need to consider when seeking therapy is the form of therapy you want your therapist to approach your sessions with. The following are some of the different forms of therapy that most therapists use:
- Family Systems Therapy (FST)
- Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)
- Narrative Therapy (NT)
- Contextual Therapy (CT)
- Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
If you want to learn more about these approaches, watch this video below we made about them.
What Are The Benefits Of Therapy?
Seeking help from a mental health expert is something many people consider. Regardless of your reason, therapy offers a broad array of benefits for all of us. Here are some of the benefits you’ll get from seeking therapy:
- You’ll be able to identify and understand how your unconscious stressors affect your life.
- You’ll be able to develop strategies to manage your symptoms.
- You’ll be inspired to change and improve your quality of life through self-awareness and self-exploration.
- You’ll be able to identify your healthy support system around you that you’ve been unaware of.
- You’ll be able to improve your interpersonal dynamics.
Watch this video to learn more about the other Benefits Of Therapy specific to the Different Types of Therapy.
These are just a few of the things you need to learn about psychotherapy before you send that message to your prospective therapist that you want to seek help with. But if you haven’t found the right one for you or you are planning to change your therapist, STACS is here for you. Shirley Therapeutic and Consulting Services, LLC is a diverse therapy clinic that can meet the needs of anyone. If you’d like to talk about your mental health, feel free to message us here.
