Why Therapy?
The in's and out's of psychotherapy, therapists, and myth debunking
Has someone in your life recommended you try therapy, and you just can’t seem to figure out why? Are you considering therapy, or maybe even think it’s just a bunch of hocus-pocus? This article is for you! Your questions and concerns will be addressed through explaining what therapy is, why people seek therapy, the misconceptions around mental health, and what us therapists REALLY do and why we do it.
What is Psychotherapy?
Psychotherapy, typically referred to as therapy, is a medical service geared towards emotional health. It is a collaborative process between a therapist and an individual, known as the patient or client. A therapist is a highly trained and licensed professional. A therapist must complete a graduate (Master’s) degree, years of supervised clinical training, pass a state licensure exam, and obtain Continuing Education Credits every few years to maintain licensure. When we typically think of therapy, we imagine an office setting. This is known as “outpatient psychotherapy”, which can include one-on-one therapy, group therapy, family counseling, or couples counseling. Sessions typically start weekly, with the goal of decreasing frequency until discharge. A client might “graduate” therapy when they have met their goals, have a significant decrease in presenting symptoms, or have developed effective skills to manage emotional challenges. For individuals experiencing severe mental health crises or conditions, they may need a higher level of care, or a more intensive treatment approach providing greater structure, supervision, and 24/7 support.
Why Therapy?
You may be thinking, “once a week, that’s a big commitment!” Therapy is indeed a commitment, and for valid reasons. When thinking about the brain, it is significantly more complex than the human body as a whole. It is shaped by our experiences and is the basis of our individuality. Each client’s unique experiences require tailored treatment plans to help them reach their desired goals. If we think about mental health the same way we do physical health, both address our overall well-being and ability to function in our daily lives. When we notice physical symptoms, we make an appointment with our medical doctor to receive proper diagnosis and treatment. If someone is newly diagnosed with diabetes, they meet with their medical doctor, sometimes as frequently as weekly, to help stabilize glucose levels and discuss treatment adherence. For mental health, a client may present with chronic symptoms, like anxiety or depression, trouble meeting their desired goals, or a challenging situation like loss of a job, divorce, or grief. Their daily functioning is impacted, resulting in trouble at work/school, issues in relationships, low self-esteem, memory or concentration challenges, intense emotional reactions, or even legal troubles. Many times, especially for chronic conditions, symptoms don’t necessarily go away and require proper treatment to resolve and/or manage. A therapist is the medical professional that can help with these situations.
Benefits of Therapy
Therapy can lead to various benefits for individuals hoping to work on their mental health and well-being, including:
Symptom Reduction: decreased symptoms of anxiety, depression, or other mental health conditions, improved executive functioning skills (e.g. organization, planning, focus), decreased stress
Enhanced Emotional Regulation: better understanding of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, developing healthier/helpful ways to express and manage emotions
Improved Interpersonal Skills: relationship improvement through communication and conflict resolution skills, better understanding of others
Increased Self-Awareness: exploration of personal behaviors and patterns, identifying and resolving underlying issues, understand personal strengths
Improved Self-Esteem: building confidence in abilities and use of coping skills, overcoming self doubt and negative thoughts, developing a more positive and optimistic mindset
Improved sleep, reduced substance use, increased productivity
Untangling the Misconceptions Behind Mental Health
Stigma around mental health and societal conditioning lead individuals to believe that asking for help or showing emotion is a sign of weakness. Research has demonstrated that therapy has extensive benefits (noted above), ultimately improving well-being for individuals and communities. Showing emotion is not a sign of weakness, in fact, engaging in therapy requires dedication. It takes strong-will to confront unhelpful behaviors, revisit vulnerable experiences and emotions, and stick with the skills that are helping you grow and meet your goals.
There are many misconceptions about the therapeutic process and what therapists provide. Most importantly, therapists are humans first. We do not have all the answers and are not perfect. We experience our own challenges just like our clients and may even seek our own therapy. Therapists are not “always analyzing” you or just someone you talk/vent to. The goal of psychotherapy is to create an empathetic, validating, nonjudgmental and confidential space alongside evidence-based modalities to help promote self-discovery and goal achievement. There may be diagnostics involved to best address your needs and/or for health insurance purposes, however you do not necessarily need to meet criteria for a mental health disorder to be in therapy.
It is important to note that therapists come from various backgrounds and training. There are different types of therapists, such as marriage and family therapists, psychologists, licensed mental health counselors, and licensed clinical social workers, who may use different modalities like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, trauma therapies, art therapy, or Dialectic Behavior Therapy backed by science and extensive research to help different challenges. The drive to become a therapist may come from personal experience with mental health and life challenges, a desire to promote change, a sense of purpose to help others, or a passion for lifelong learning of psychological topics.
Therapists are legally required to abide by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), also known as Protected Health Information (PHI). This federal law governs how healthcare providers, insurers, and other entities handle patient data. This means that patient medical data cannot be disclosed unless required by law, if there is clear reason to believe you are a danger to yourself/others, or if written authorization from the patient is provided. Therapists keep standard medical records, known as “progress notes,” that include brief subjective reports, clinical observations/assessments, interventions, and a plan for treatment. In addition, they may keep separate “psychotherapy notes” that may have more detailed information and require a specific, special authorization to be released, making them even more protected.
It’s Not Only For You: The Ripple Effect
When therapy is accessible and utilized by members of the community, it creates a ripple effect that promotes resilience and well-being for the collective. Addressing mental health improves overall public health, increases economic productivity, fosters an empathetic and cohesive environment, and reduces strain on other public services. Mental health and physical health are deeply interconnected. Effectively treating mental illnesses like anxiety and depression can reduce the risk of chronic physical diseases caused by stress, and improve overall physical health. By giving people the tools to manage stress and emotions, therapy can prevent mental health issues from developing or escalating. Mental health issues are heavily prevalent among incarcerated adults and youth in the juvenile justice system. By providing early intervention and access to quality mental health services, communities can reduce the cycle of involvement with the criminal justice system. Therapy as a proactive approach reduces the overall burden of mental illness on the healthcare system, decreases crime rates, and fosters a supportive community. For individuals with both chronic illnesses and mental health conditions, proper mental health treatment can reduce the need for emergency room visits and other costly medical care. Investing in accessible mental health services is cost-effective in the long run. By preventing severe illness and supporting recovery, therapy can reduce the immense burden on the healthcare system from managing untreated conditions. Anxiety and depression are the leading cause of employment absenteeism, and access to therapy reduces these symptoms, therefore increasing economic productivity. Integrating mental health services into community life and openly discussing therapy helps to normalize mental illness. This reduces stigma and misunderstanding, making it easier for people to seek help without fear of judgment.
Conclusion
With the never ending lists of benefits, therapy is a major piece of healthcare often overlooked or stigmatized. In reality, it is keeping our communities safe and supportive and elevating our society as a whole. Attending therapy is meant to help not only you, but the world we live in. It’s okay to feel scared, worried, or skeptical about mental health care - that’s normal! However, knowing the facts, benefits, and goals of therapy is the first step to breaking the stigma and prioritizing your well being.