But no matter the path, the courage to confront problems is the first step to healing mental distress and problems. The key to psychotherapy is taking the time to examine the root causes of ideas, behaviors, emotions and actions that cause mental illness. Once you understand the issues, you can begin to focus on ways to avoid triggers and solve problems with confidence.
Individual psychological treatment involves a one-on-one session between therapist and patient. Group therapy involves two or more people in a setting where shared experiences and interaction are the path to healing. Then there is marital and family therapy, which involve a spouse and/or family members attempting to resolve various issues.
Which you choose is a matter of personal preference, availability and sometimes financial, but all seek the same goal: to make a better you.
Types of Therapy
Therapy has more specific forms. Psychodynamic therapy tries to work through unresolved childhood issues. The incidents that the now-adult may have faced in childhood are discussed and ways to cope are developed.
Interpersonal therapy examines the patient’s family and friends as a means to raise self-esteem and facilitate communication. The focus is usually major life events that cause depression, social isolation or relationship issues.
Finally, cognitive-behavioral therapy aims to assess the patient’s views and change assumptions they may hold.
In all cases, all scheduled sessions must be attended, and patients should be ready to discuss uncomfortable issues that may hold them back from fulfillment. Typically, this will be accomplished by talking about the goals of therapy with the patient during the first session, setting expectations and providing a road map to the anticipated healing.
Not all therapy is grounded in the above treatments. There are as many different types of therapy as there are potential issues, and there undoubtedly will be more as our world continues to change through technology and sociological pressures. What bothers someone today may not even be around in the future, and the field is ever-evolving into new developments.
Here are a few lesser-known therapies out there that may be helpful for some patients:
1) Poetry Therapy – This involves using poetry and spoken or written media to attempt to achieve psychological well-being. The therapist reads the poetry and the patient responds to the reading with verbal, physical and emotional responses as the reading commences. The idea is to allow the patient to explore reactions and feelings that are subconscious but brought to the fore by the poetry. The therapist chooses the selections based on patient history.
2) Music Therapy – This is part of what’s termed “expressive arts” therapy and involves listening, singing and sometimes playing a musical instrument as a way to bring forth the psychological issues affecting the patient. It’s been used as a therapeutic tool for centuries, and studies have shown it promotes healing of physical issues as well as mental ones like depression and anxiety.
3) Shamanic Journeying – A therapist guides the patient through a journey using talk to hear, feel and see symbolic things. It is based on the belief that a person can connect to the spirit world via an ecstatic trance, then go into a transcendent reality of the Upper, Middle and Lower Worlds. The concept is these inner realms have been within us since creation and are part of the psyche. Once within, the patient will use these insights to interpret beyond their own awareness.
4) Wilderness Therapy – This is used with so-called “at-risk” youth and presents a series of challenges to correct behaviors and provide activities and challenges wherein youths can “find” themselves. The challenges mimic family and social structures so that youths can look within themselves and come up with solutions that are better than the ones they’ve used in the past.
5) Feminist Therapy – The many challenges women have faced throughout history are examined, and ways to overcome oppression are taught. Patients are urged to verbalize the limitations they’ve experienced and the sociopolitical status that has been imposed on them, exploring solutions to help with their own mental health and to effect social change.
Finding a Therapist
Finding a therapist that specializes in one of the above forms or the hundreds of other therapies can be difficult at times, particularly if you select an esoteric form that is offered only in large cities that may be far away from your suburban setting. But many forms of therapy offer week-long, weekend and holiday explorations that may suit your schedule. It's possible to find an online practitioner who can see patients via Skype, FaceTime or email. If a form of therapy appeals to you, it may be worthwhile to take the time and expense of travel to see if it helps your condition.
Before you undertake any form of therapy, check with your insurance company to find out what will be covered, whether you need to be referred and if there is an approved list of providers. Also be aware of the financial limitations of certain forms of coverage. Make sure you know how much you will pay out-of-pocket before undertaking any journey.
The best therapy for mental illness is one in which patients are comfortable and feel like they are making progress in solving their goals. That can come in many forms, and even though some of the suggestions may seem strange at first, they may just be the right ones for your particular needs.