Benefits Of Talk Therapy For Mental Health Treatment

What Is Talk Therapy?

There are several different approaches to talk therapy, including but not limited to the following: 

• Behavioral therapy
• Cognitive therapy
• Humanistic therapy
• Integrative or holistic therapy
• Psychoanalysis and psychodynamic psychotherapy

Behavioral therapy is a type of talk therapy that focuses on addressing and reducing unwanted or unhelpful behavioral patterns. Classical conditioning, also known as associative learning, is often addressed in behavior therapy. Classical conditioning involves training oneself to partake in wanted behaviors through cues like a clicker sound. Desensitizing is a form of classical conditioning where a talk therapist may aid a patient with a specific phobia or fear through repeated and controlled exposure to safe situations that provoke the fear. Operant conditioning is another method of talk therapy that relies on rewards and consequences to curb behaviors. 

Cognitive therapy, often called cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), is a popular and effective form of talking therapy for many centered on the core belief that changing your thoughts can change how you feel and act. This kind of therapy focuses on identifying unwanted thought patterns, determining the patterns affected by them, and then changing those patterns into positive ones through talking therapy. 

By doing this, people may feel in control of their reactions, no matter the stimuli. Cognitive therapists believe that dysfunctional thinking leads to dysfunctional emotions or behaviors. By changing this thinking, clients can change their outlook and reduce distress from many challenges. There's strong empirical evidence for the impact of CBT, as it's widely considered the gold standard of today's therapeutic approaches. However, like any type of therapy, CBT is a tool that may not benefit everyone. 

Humanistic therapy is a form of treatment emphasizing a client's capacity to make rational decisions and take steps for progress to develop to their maximum potential. Other themes of humanistic therapy are concern for others and a sense of respect for the community. Three types of humanistic therapy include client-centered therapy, Gestalt therapy, and existential therapy.

Holistic or integrative therapy combines many different forms into one, involving an all-encompassing treatment plan. Using different methods and approaches, a counselor can tailor a treatment plan to each client, whether they’re simply feeling anxious or experiencing severe psychological symptoms. 

Psychoanalysis and psychodynamic approaches attempt to address troublesome behaviors, thoughts, and feelings through the self-discovery of unconscious meanings, past experiences, and motivations. More specifically, psychoanalytic talk therapy treatment plans consist of a tight working relationship between the therapist and the client. Clients can explore their underlying motivations, thoughts, dreams, and ideas through the therapeutic relationship. Psychoanalysis was coined by psychologist Sigmund Freud and is considered the birth of talk therapy. 

What Can Talking Therapy Treat? 

Talk therapy can be used for various mental health conditions, symptoms, states, and challenges, including the following: 

• Anxiety and depression
• Stress
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) 
• Phobias
• Bipolar disorder and other mood disorders
• Relationship challenges and conflict
• Body image challenges
• Borderline personality disorder and other personality disorders
• Social anxiety disorder 
• Eating disorders
• Life transition challenges
• Loss and grief 

Finding a suitable talk therapist can allow you to receive positive feedback as you work to change thoughts, behaviors, and feelings. You may also use talk therapy to process a past event or receive validation and emotional support. With the correct mental health professional, a treatment plan can be tailored to focus on the mental health services you seek to address the any of these mental health conditions, or any other common mental health problems in your life. Please consult your primary care physician before starting, changing, or stopping any medication or medical treatment. 

How Can This Type Of Treatment Benefit Me? 

Talk therapy has proven effective in treating various mental health conditions and life challenges. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) endorses talk therapy as a practical and popular approach for many concerns. Below are a few benefits you might find by working with a therapist.  

Long-Term Results 

Many individuals find that the skills learned in psychological therapy can span many years and offer long-term results. When you develop a treatment plan with your therapist, you aren't only addressing present behaviors and concerns but also developing behavioral skills that may help you in future situations. You can continue to turn back to your skills anytime during your life. 

Social Guidance 

Talk therapy may benefit your social interactions and relationships. As you talk to your therapist, you may understand yourself better and feel you can understand those around you without immediately developing unwanted thoughts or behaviors. By removing the process of attributing unwanted thoughts to those around you, you may inhibit those thoughts from remaining in your mind, creating positive changes in your social life.

Physical Improvements

Severe psychological distress can cause symptoms that manifest themselves in a physical form, such as painful or unpleasant sensations. Mental illnesses like depression, anxiety, and PTSD can have physical symptoms like stomach upset, chronic pain, headaches, and more. By starting a plan with your talk therapist, you can find healthy ways to reduce symptoms affecting your sleep and overall well-being.

Techniques To Avoid Self-Remedies 

Talk therapy may help clients ignore or reduce the urge to seek relief through unhealthy behaviors like substance use or risky spending. The desire to look for alternative methods for release can be replaced with a healthy treatment plan. Talk therapists teach clients new behaviors to lean on when experiencing difficult memories, feelings, or thoughts. Some holistic treatments therapists may use in the treatment process are breathing exercises, exposure therapy, meditation, and mindfulness. Mindfulness and deep breathing have been found effective in reducing symptoms of anxiety, stress, and depression. 

Where Do I Find A Therapist?

Talk therapists can be found both in-person and online. When researching which mode of therapy works best for you, keep your symptoms and goals in mind, knowing that you have counseling options available virtually if you face barriers in person. If you're unsure which type of talk therapy you want to try, consider scheduling your first session with a therapist or finding someone who offers integrative therapy. Below are a few methods of finding a talk therapist. 

Talk To Friends And Family

Asking those close to you may be a first step when looking for the best therapist for you. Many people see a therapist and reducing mental health stigma by openly discussing it can be beneficial. You may find that those you love have practical recommendations in your area. 

Do An Online Search

Starting a communicative relationship with potential talk therapists can allow you to get comfortable with potential candidates while discovering their approach to treatment. How someone speaks over the phone may indicate how they offer support. You can also check their reviews online through psychologist directories or their Google business page. 

Ask Your Primary Care Doctor

Many individuals have a primary care physician that they go to for medical care and check-ups. These providers may also be able to offer a referral to a mental health professional in your area. 

Try Internet Therapy 

Many studies have confirmed the efficacy of online therapy for treating various mental health conditions. Both younger and older adults reported improvements in their depression symptoms, for example, when they took part in an online therapy intervention.

Online therapy platforms can open up the world to individuals looking to try talking therapy services or other psychological therapies to address mental health problems. No matter the unhelpful patterns, difficult life events, or other mental health problems, you can find someone who specializes in your area of concern. Online therapy can also help with a language divide. An individual who is seeking talking treatment in the UK and wants someone who is fluent in British sign language can reach out to their local NHS and with video consultation can find a therapist to speak to, no matter where they live. Likewise, anyone who doesn’t speak English as a first language can find multi-lingual therapists or confidential translators to get the guided self-help they need in their chosen language, on their own time.

Online therapy (which includes talking therapy services) can offer affordability and flexibility for many clients. It is best to avoid sites that offer free counseling, but you can find trusted online platforms that offer sliding scale payments and lower prices than in-person therapy. You can also quickly change your therapist if you don't find your first option suitable. Through a platform like BetterHelp, you can vastly network of over 30,000 licensed mental health professionals and choose between phone, video, or live chat sessions, along with unlimited messaging.