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Psychotherapy is a tool used by psychological professionals to help clients with various emotional difficulties and mental disorders. It is also known as talk therapy and is based on several psychological principles.
Psychotherapy is a collaborative process that involves the client exploring their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors with the help of a trained professional. It consists of a safe and supportive environment in which the client can open up about their difficulties without fear of being judged.
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The primary goal is to assist clients in leading a better life by building better coping strategies, healing mental illnesses, changing negative thoughts, and improving interpersonal relationships.
Mental health benefits of psychotherapy
The primary goal of therapy is to help clients with their mental health. There are many different positive outcomes associated with the therapeutic process that are capable of improving a client's mental health.
1) Help clients cope with mental illnesses
Mental health problems are prevalent in modern society, and therapy is a great tool for those looking to cope with them. Therapy allows people to find out the root cause of their problems with the help of a therapist. It facilitates clients to process their mental health problems and teaches them to cope with their reality.
Depression is one of the most common mental health problems. Psychotherapy helps clients deal with the symptoms of depression like apathy, insomnia, and persistent negative moods that can affect their quality of life. Therapy changes how the client views themselves and their negative thought patterns.
In a similar vein, anxiety is a common problem that can be alleviated through therapy. Therapy helps clients identify the root causes of their anxiety, allowing them to stop being paralyzed by fear and instead work through it.
Therapy is also beneficial for those suffering from mental illnesses related to substance abuse, mood disorders, and schizophrenic disorders. Studies have shown that therapy is just as effective as medication for mental health problems.
2) Improves communication and interpersonal skills
People who experience mental health issues frequently have trouble interacting with those around them. Mental health problems like anxiety and depression make it difficult for clients to keep up with their friends and family.
Clients benefit from psychotherapy by gaining fresh perspectives on their interpersonal interactions and by learning to communicate more effectively. It is a place for clients to learn healthy, positive, and productive communication skills.
Through the therapeutic process, clients learn how to set and maintain healthy boundaries, which is vital for good mental health. They can also learn about conflict resolution and the skills necessary to maintain healthy social support.
3) Alter negative thought patterns and behaviors
A person's mental health and self-esteem are closely connected to one another. Those looking to improve their mental health can use psychotherapy to alter their perceptions of themselves into something positive. Mental health issues can have a negative impact on an individual's self and thought process.
These negative thoughts can form a loop where the client manifests negative outcomes due to their thoughts. Psychotherapy helps clients identify these thoughts and reframe their approach. The clients' fears and insecurities can be analyzed in a therapy session, and they can learn to think in a more positive manner.
Mental health problems can cause people to adopt maladaptive behaviors. Self-sabotaging behaviors like substance abuse and excessive gambling are a form of maladaptive behavior. Psychotherapy can help clients identify these behaviors as being detrimental to leading a good life. They learn ways to change and avoid such behavior.
4) Helps with emotion regulation and decision making
Mental health illnesses can affect a person's ability to regulate their emotions. This emotional dysregulation can lead to problems in their personal and professional lives, which can have a negative impact on their mental health.
Psychotherapy helps clients better express, understand, and accept their emotions. Therapists can guide clients toward various activities like journaling and reading, which have a calming effect. Therapy also helps clients handle emotions like anger, love, jealousy, and despair.
Mental health problems affect a person's ability to make the right decision. Anxiety and depression affect the decision-making part of the brain known as the prefrontal cortex. Psychotherapy facilitates the client to explore their decisions in an objective manner, which leads to improved decision-making.
5) Improved self esteem and contentment
The majority of mental health issues are accompanied by negative self-talk, which has an impact on one's self-esteem and well-being. Psychotherapy provides clients with an opportunity to reflect on their identity in terms of past history, relationships, strengths, and weaknesses in a positive light.
This self-reflection is paired with positive affirmations provided by a therapist that can help clients improve and restore their perception of themselves. Therapy paves the way for clients to be more self-compassionate and accepting of themselves.
Psychotherapy provides many benefits to clients which improve the happiness and contentment of their lives. Therapists can help the clients to start practicing gratitude and adopt behaviors that will result in increased happiness.
Final Thoughts
While the positive effects of psychotherapy on a person's mental health are now well known, people facing personal problems can also benefit from it. Several studies indicate that most people can benefit from therapy. People going through major life changes, suffering from illness and abuse, and facing problems in their professional and personal lives can benefit from it.
While the notion of starting therapy can be daunting, a study indicates that it is one of the best ways to improve mental health in the long term.
Steve George Verghese is a trained psychologist with an MSc in Counseling Psychology from the Indian Institute of Psychology and Research.
