How Therapy Helps Mental Health
Mental health counselling for prevention, support, coping, and treatment
You may be wondering, “but how exactly does therapy help mental health?”. There are many different ways that mental health therapy can be beneficial. Just as there are many different approaches we can take to improve our physical health, we can work to improve our mental health from a number of different ways.
Mental health therapy can look very different depending on the type, purpose, and provider. In this post we discuss four roles of mental health therapy which can help to improve overall health and well-being
- Preventative treatment
- Improving relationships and social supports
- Management and coping with symptoms
- Treating diagnosed mental health conditions
Mental health therapy as preventative treatment
Mental health therapy can play a crucial preventative role by addressing psychological issues before they escalate into mental health conditions. Early intervention through therapy can help individuals develop coping strategies, resilience, and emotional regulation skills, which can mitigate the impact of stressors. In selecting a therapist that you feel comfortable working with, therapy provides a supportive environment where individuals can explore and understand their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, leading to increased self-awareness and healthier decision-making.
Education and understanding early warning signs
One component of therapy is education, sometimes referred to as psychoeducation, which means learning information to better understand and cope with issues related to mental health and mental health conditions. Education empowers individuals to recognize early warning signs of distress, understand strategies to improve mental health, and implement therapeutic techniques in their daily lives.
Reducing stigma in mental health
Unfortunately stigma around mental health and counselling has been problematic in acknowledging concerns and accessing treatment. This has been especially true within certain populations such as men. Being able to talk about thoughts and feelings, as well as have language to put to experiences is crucial for positively working through stressors and preventing distress from escalating.
Values and decision-making in therapy
Clients can attend therapy to develop clarity around planning for the future or decision-making. Our behaviours and the decisions we make can serve to improve our mental health and wellbeing. Mental health therapy can help you to clarify your personal values and the things you desire moving towards or away from. This in turn, can help you to make decisions that are values aligned and most likely to support your mental health long term.
Improving mental health through social skills and relationships
The relationship satisfaction we experience is consistently found to be one of the most important factors of positive mental health. If we struggle to maintain healthy and fulfilling relationships this can lead to feelings of isolation and …
Developing healthy conflict strategies
All close relationships can be expected to experience some conflict from time to time. Mental health therapy can significantly aid in conflict resolution by providing individuals with tools and techniques to manage and navigate interpersonal disputes effectively. Through therapy, clients can learn to communicate more openly and empathetically, understand underlying emotional triggers, and develop problem-solving skills. Therapy can provide insight into identifying and addressing the root causes of conflicts, fostering a deeper understanding of their own and others’ perspectives.
Setting and maintaining personal boundaries
Mental health therapy is helpful in developing a more in depth understanding of your values and personal boundaries. It can serve as a safe space to explore personal limits and identify areas where boundaries are needed. Sometimes this can include developing personal boundaries when someone in your life is unable or unwilling to do their own work on the relationship or in therapy. Therapists assist clients in understanding the importance of boundaries for emotional well-being and guide them in developing clear, assertive communication skills to express their needs effectively. This empowers individuals to protect their mental health, reduce stress, and foster more respectful and balanced relationships.
Therapy for management and coping with mental health symptoms
Mental health symptoms can vary widely but commonly include changes in mood, thought patterns, and behavior that affect daily functioning. Symptoms on their own can be common to experience from time to time and depending on the situation. Symptoms on their own do not indicate a mental health diagnosis, but rather clusters of symptoms occurring over a certain duration and frequency may suggest a diagnosis. Recognizing symptoms and seeking treatment early can help to reduce distress and improve mental health and wellness. Below are some common mental health symptoms.
Feeling irritable, tense or angry
Anger, irritability, and tension can be normal emotions and experiences in response to different situations. Sometimes, however these can exist for reasons that seem disproportionate to a situation or experience. This can occur for a number of reasons and is sometimes a symptoms of different mental health conditions.
Trouble sleeping
Difficulties with falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking too early are very common mental health complaints. Sleep difficulties and mental health are closely intertwined, with disruptions in sleep often exacerbating mental health issues and vice versa. Chronic sleep problems can affect cognitive functions, such as memory and concentration, and can lead to emotional dysregulation. Addressing sleep difficulties through therapeutic interventions can significantly improve mental health.
Coping with worry thoughts
Worrying is a normal experience from time to time, particularly if the focus of the worry is something valuable to us.
Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, and helplessness
Feelings of guilt that do not match the situation, as well as worthlessness and helplessness are commonly experienced in depression and other mental health syndromes.
Treating mental health diagnoses
Mental health therapy or counselling is a first-line treatment for mental health diagnoses. Evidence-based therapy approaches exist for numerous mental health conditions including anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders. Other types of mental health therapy also work in treating across a variety of concerns.
Disclaimer:
The information provided in this post and across this website does not, and is not intended to, constitute medical, mental health, or therapeutic advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this site are for general informational purposes only. This information does not create any therapeutic relationship and should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment. Consult with a licensed mental health provider for advice or support regarding diagnosis and treatment.
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