Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsBenefitsTypesWho Should Go?Other TypesFinding a TherapistTelehealth
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Benefits
Types
Who Should Go?
Other Types
Finding a Therapist
Telehealth
Therapy (talk therapyor psychotherapy) takes place when you work with a mental health provider to improve yourmental health.There are many benefits of therapy, such as learning specific skills or coping strategies.
This article will discuss the different types of therapy, the benefits, who should go to therapy, and some tips for finding the right therapist for you.
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Benefits of Therapy
Mental health therapy is helpful for about 75% of people after six months of therapy.People with mental health conditions who go to therapy often see improvements in their symptoms and quality of life.
From 2018-2019, about 19% of American adults received some form of mental health therapy or counseling, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
That said, the benefits of therapy are not limited to people with diagnosed mental health conditions. Anyone who needs guidance or a listening ear during a stressful life event can benefit from going to therapy.
Therapy can help you:
The potential benefits of therapy include improvements in:
Types of Mental Health Therapy
Mental health therapy can be done in a variety of settings. Individual therapy is for one person and a mental health professional, while couples therapy is for intimate partners and a mental health professional.
The benefits of therapy extend beyond those in treatment. For example, one person can go to individual therapy, but the other people in their life will likely benefit from that person’s improved communication and relationship interactions.
Another example would be a person who misses fewer days at work because working with a therapist has helped them manage their symptoms more effectively. That person’s coworkers will probably benefit from having them at work more consistently.
Therapy vs. CounselingTherapy and counseling are often confused, and the terms are sometimes used interchangeably. However, therapy and counseling are different.Therapyfocuses on mental health conditions or behavioral, thought, or emotional patterns. It usually takes place over a longer period of time, and a person may work on several goals related to their mental well-being.Counselingis focused on specific issues that a person is dealing with, such as trouble getting along with a partner or family member. It can be more of a short-term opportunity to work through these challenges as they are happening.
Therapy vs. Counseling
Therapy and counseling are often confused, and the terms are sometimes used interchangeably. However, therapy and counseling are different.Therapyfocuses on mental health conditions or behavioral, thought, or emotional patterns. It usually takes place over a longer period of time, and a person may work on several goals related to their mental well-being.Counselingis focused on specific issues that a person is dealing with, such as trouble getting along with a partner or family member. It can be more of a short-term opportunity to work through these challenges as they are happening.
Therapy and counseling are often confused, and the terms are sometimes used interchangeably. However, therapy and counseling are different.
Individual Therapy
Individual therapy is talk therapy between one person and a mental health professional.This setup allows the treatment to be customized to a person’s needs. For example, a person who is trying to understand how their childhood influenced who they have grown up to be may benefit from working one-on-one with a therapist.
This type of therapy is sometimes called dyadic therapy or individual psychotherapy. There are various types of individual therapy, including:
Family Therapy
Family therapy is talk therapy that involves a mental health professional and the whole family, each family member individually, or sometimes groups of family members.For example, if a family is having trouble communicating and often fights, a mental health professional may meet with the entire family at the same time, then with each parent and child individually, and then with one parent and child or two siblings, to identify challenges and barriers to communication. From there, everyone can work on making changes that will help them communicate more effectively.
This type of therapy focuses on family relationships and patterns of behavior within members. It is sometimes called marriage and family therapy or couples and family therapy.
Best Online Therapy Services That Accept Insurance of 2023
Couples Therapy
Couples therapyis talk therapy with a mental health professional and two partners in a committed relationship.This type of therapy involves both partners receiving therapy together at the same time from the same mental health professional. For example, a couple who is trying to decide whether they are ready to become parents may benefit from working with a couples therapist.
Each partner can also have sessions with the mental health professional individually. When the couple is married, it’s also called marital therapy.
The challenges addressed with couples therapy are those that affect both partners as well as their relationship. Topics that can be addressed in couples therapy include:
Group Therapy
Group therapy is talk therapy with at least two people and at least one mental health professional.The people receiving therapy can interact with each other under the guidance and support of the mental health professional. For example, several people who are all recovering from addiction may benefit from having therapy together.
In group therapy, everyone gets to share in the therapy experience. It is also sometimes called group psychotherapy.
Asupport groupis a type of group therapy where the people getting therapy are all facing the same challenge, such as losing a loved one.
What Is Mindfulness Therapy?
Who Should Go to Therapy?
Different types of therapy are available to help people with many kinds of physical or mental health challenges. Talk therapy is for anyone with a mental, emotional, or behavioral challenge. However, people without these challenges may benefit from other types of therapy as well.
Therapy is also for people looking for support with daily life challenges, going through stressful life events such as the death of a loved one, or struggling with relationships.
Therapy can help with:
What Is Integrative Therapy?
Other Types of Therapy
In addition to talk therapy, many other types of therapy can treat mental health conditions.
Talk therapy can be used alone or with another type of therapy.For example, talk therapy is often used with medications (or drug therapy) to treat mental health conditions.
Other types of therapy include:
Types of Complementary TherapiesSome examples of complementary therapy include:Diet changesBody treatments likemassageandacupunctureMeditationNutritional supplementsYoga
Types of Complementary Therapies
Some examples of complementary therapy include:Diet changesBody treatments likemassageandacupunctureMeditationNutritional supplementsYoga
Some examples of complementary therapy include:
What Is Music Therapy?
How to Find a Therapist
It is important to make sure the therapy provider is properly credentialed and qualified to provide mental health care. You should also feel comfortable with and trust the therapist you choose.
Choosing the Right Therapist
Telehealth Therapy
Technology has opened doors for doing therapy in new ways. Withtelehealth, you can talk to a therapist on your computer, phone, or tablet instead of having to physically go to their office.
With telehealth therapy, you can see and hear your therapist through a secure video chat from the comfort of your own home. Not every mental health care provider can provide telehealth, but many do. If you have insurance, check to see if they will cover telehealth.
According to the APA, around 38% of Americans said they used telehealth for mental health or healthcare providers in 2020. Over half (59%) of adults said they’d consider using telehealth for mental health.
How Does Telehealth Work?
Summary
The benefits of therapy can be mental or emotional, physical, behavioral, or related to relationships and life. Some common benefits of therapy include reduced pain, better sleep, improved communication, less stress, and increased happiness.
There are different options for participating in mental health therapy, including as an individual, couple, family, or group. Therapy options can be used alone or combined with other treatments, depending on your needs and goals.
14 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychological Association.Psychotherapy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Mental health treatment among adults: United States, 2019.American Psychological Association.Understanding psychotherapy and how it works.American Psychiatric Association.What is psychotherapy?.Ohio State University.Therapy vs. counseling: Is there a difference? Which is right for you?.American Psychological Association.Individual therapy.American Psychological Association.Family therapy.American Psychological Association.Couples therapy.American Psychological Association.Group therapy.UCLA Health.Animal-assisted therapy research.University of Minnesota.Creative therapies.Martina de Witte, Hod Orkibi, Zarate R, et al.From therapeutic factors to mechanisms of change in the creative arts therapies: a scoping review.Frontiers in Psychology. 2021;12. doi:https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.678397National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Complementary, alternative, or integrative health: what’s in a name?APA.New nationwide poll shows an increased popularity for telehealth services.
14 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychological Association.Psychotherapy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Mental health treatment among adults: United States, 2019.American Psychological Association.Understanding psychotherapy and how it works.American Psychiatric Association.What is psychotherapy?.Ohio State University.Therapy vs. counseling: Is there a difference? Which is right for you?.American Psychological Association.Individual therapy.American Psychological Association.Family therapy.American Psychological Association.Couples therapy.American Psychological Association.Group therapy.UCLA Health.Animal-assisted therapy research.University of Minnesota.Creative therapies.Martina de Witte, Hod Orkibi, Zarate R, et al.From therapeutic factors to mechanisms of change in the creative arts therapies: a scoping review.Frontiers in Psychology. 2021;12. doi:https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.678397National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Complementary, alternative, or integrative health: what’s in a name?APA.New nationwide poll shows an increased popularity for telehealth services.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Psychological Association.Psychotherapy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Mental health treatment among adults: United States, 2019.American Psychological Association.Understanding psychotherapy and how it works.American Psychiatric Association.What is psychotherapy?.Ohio State University.Therapy vs. counseling: Is there a difference? Which is right for you?.American Psychological Association.Individual therapy.American Psychological Association.Family therapy.American Psychological Association.Couples therapy.American Psychological Association.Group therapy.UCLA Health.Animal-assisted therapy research.University of Minnesota.Creative therapies.Martina de Witte, Hod Orkibi, Zarate R, et al.From therapeutic factors to mechanisms of change in the creative arts therapies: a scoping review.Frontiers in Psychology. 2021;12. doi:https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.678397National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Complementary, alternative, or integrative health: what’s in a name?APA.New nationwide poll shows an increased popularity for telehealth services.
American Psychological Association.Psychotherapy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Mental health treatment among adults: United States, 2019.
American Psychological Association.Understanding psychotherapy and how it works.
American Psychiatric Association.What is psychotherapy?.
Ohio State University.Therapy vs. counseling: Is there a difference? Which is right for you?.
American Psychological Association.Individual therapy.
American Psychological Association.Family therapy.
American Psychological Association.Couples therapy.
American Psychological Association.Group therapy.
UCLA Health.Animal-assisted therapy research.
University of Minnesota.Creative therapies.
Martina de Witte, Hod Orkibi, Zarate R, et al.From therapeutic factors to mechanisms of change in the creative arts therapies: a scoping review.Frontiers in Psychology. 2021;12. doi:https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.678397
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Complementary, alternative, or integrative health: what’s in a name?
APA.New nationwide poll shows an increased popularity for telehealth services.
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