Getting Help

Traversing the Minefield

Learning about the various therapies for treating mental illness can be much like traversing a minefield-the obstacles are many and there's no map to warn of potential pitfalls. Still, knowledge is power and the more you know about psychotherapy, the better position you'll be in for making informed choices about the appropriate treatments available to you and your loved ones.

Psychotherapy is a catch-all term for the various types of therapy that involve talking about emotional issues with a trained therapist. Sometimes it's called psychosocial therapy, talk therapy, or counseling, but most often people call it simply: therapy. During the course of therapy, you may talk about the underlying causes of your behavior, learn to identify and change behavior or thoughts that may have a negative impact on your life, delve into your experiences and relationships, improve your ability to solve problems as well as to cope with the vagaries of daily living, and to learn how to set realistic goals for your life.

Find Happiness in the Act of Living Life

Psychotherapy can help to ameliorate painful feelings like anger and hopelessness so you can once again begin to feel a measure of control over your life and find happiness in the act of living your life. Therapy may consist of a few short sessions, last a few months, or sometimes several years. Therapy can take place in a one on one session, with your family, or as a select group. Therapy may be given in conjunction with medication.

Art therapy-This type of therapy is helpful for those who have trouble expressing their feelings and uses a wide range of creative media such as music, dance, and drama to improve self-awareness, cope with symptoms, and to foster positive changes.

Behavior therapy-Uses rewards to reinforce positive behaviors and employs desensitization to change unhealthy behaviors.

Cognitive therapy-Identify and change thought patterns that determine the way you behave.

Cognitive-behavior therapy-This combines elements of both cognitive and behavior therapies to replace negative thoughts and behaviors with positive ones.

Dialectical behavior therapy-This teaches behavioral skills for dealing with stress, the regulation of emotions, and the improvement of relationships with others.

Exposure therapy-This is the deliberate exposure to the very things you find upsetting. This takes place in a controlled environment where  you can learn how to cope with the feelings these situations engender.

Interpersonal therapy-This focuses on current relationships and teaches you to evaluate and improve your interpersonal skills.

Play therapy-Helpful for non-verbal children, this employs playacting with dolls and other toys to explore feelings and learn ways of coping.