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Psychotherapy: Tools For Coping

Psychotherapy helps improve mental health and treats some emotional disorders, providing benefits that improve your state of mind and build your confidence.

Talk therapy can be used to manage stress, or emotional and mental health disorders. Therapists use talking and communication to educate an individual about the condition, whether it’s stress or an anxiety disorder, as well as providing tools and strategies for coping and dealing with behaviors.

Other intervention techniques, including writing, art, and music, may be used to cope with emotions. The most common problems psychotherapy treats include depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, low self-esteem, martial problems or family disputes, personality disorders, behavioral problems, and addiction.

 

Types of Therapy

Psychotherapy typically treats psychological problems that have developed over a long period of time. It can be practiced on a one-on-one basis, in pairs, or in groups. Depending on an individual’s needs, therapy may be applied and used in conjunction with medication. Some types of psychotherapies are:

  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy: This therapy helps you understand how making changes in your behavior, thoughts, and beliefs can lead to changes in your emotional state. Therapists help you find new ways of viewing a situation by changing upsetting thoughts to more uplifting thoughts.
  • Family-focused therapy: This therapy is based on the assumption that an individual’s family relationships are key to understanding and treating a mental disorder. Therapy works with the entire family to evaluate and better understand potential conflicts and educate them on ways to support their loved one.
  • Interpersonal therapy: This therapy is commonly used to treat depression. It focuses on addressing issues in the way you relate to other people and your communication patterns. Therapy guides individuals to change behaviors and relationships, and it often explores issues related to depression.

The benefit of psychotherapy depends on the trust between you and your psychotherapist, and treatment can last for several months or years. Many studies and research support the use of psychotherapy to treat mental health conditions—but even anecdotally, psychotherapy can boost feelings of support, stability, and happiness. Other benefits include:

  • A better understanding of yourself, your goals and your values.
  • Developing skills for improving relationships.
  • Coping and overcoming problems such as anxiety and depression.
  • Finding the root of your problems and becoming more aware of potential triggers.

Psychotherapy, or the talking treatment, enables you to identify your feelings and ways of thinking so you can become better at coping with difficult situations. The goal is to help you understand your emotions and accept your strong and weak points.

 

Support groups are one way to deal with some of life’s challenges, including the pressures of being a caregiver or living with chronic disease. Find a support group at Beebe Healthcare.