Therapy

Another term for counseling and psychotherapy is 'talk therapy'. In counseling and psychotherapy, a therapist will guide the patient in processing what happens in the present, maybe what happened in the past, and strategize about the future. Therapy takes place with a licensed, trained mental health professional and a patient meeting one-on-one or with other patients in a group setting.

The goal of therapy may be to become aware of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, identify ways to cope with stress, develop specific problem-solving strategies, examine a person’s interactions with others, develop social and communication skills, learn to tolerate the distress, and create a safety plan to help someone who has thoughts of self-harm or suicide, recognize warning signs and use coping strategies such as contacting friends, family, or emergency personnel. There are many different types of therapy, and one type should not be considered to be generally superior to others. For many therapies, research has provided evidence that specific therapies are effective for specific disorders and specific patients. These "evidence-based therapies" have been shown to reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and other disorders (National Institute of Mental Health, 2022c).

Some may be reluctant to seek therapy out of fear that a therapist may not share their worldview or faith and therefore be critical and disrespectful. Though this may happen, it is considered to be a breach of professionalism. The role of a therapist is to provide a safe, non-judgmental environment where the patient may explore all their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. The relationship between the patient and their therapist is based on confidentiality, benevolence, and trust, and a good relationship is essential to working together effectively and benefiting from therapy. If the relationship between the patient and therapist over time proves to be unsatisfactory, it may be advisable and necessary for the patient to end the therapy and start a new one with a different therapist.