What Do Mental Health Therapists Do?

A survey by the National Institute of Health (NIH) shows that 57.8 million American adults live with mental illness. While the severity of the condition varies among these people, many don’t get the much-needed treatment. If you or your loved one has a mental illness, it’s good that you get help. You can do this by talking to a qualified mental health therapist.

What Is a Mental Health Therapist?

Mental health therapy, also called psychotherapy or talk therapy, is a form of treatment that helps individuals address a variety of emotional and psychological challenges. Mental health therapists offer mental health services.

These trained professionals work with individuals, families, and groups to address and manage mental health issues. They come from various educational backgrounds, including psychology, social work, counseling, and psychiatry.

Mental health therapists use their expertise to diagnose and treat a wide range of mental health conditions, from anxiety and depression to more severe disorders like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

What Is Behavioral Therapy?

Behavioral therapy is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on identifying and modifying unhealthy behavioral patterns. It operates on the principle that your thoughts, feelings and behaviors are interconnected. By changing your behaviors, you can influence your emotions and thought processes.

Behavioral therapy is used to treat various mental illnesses like intermittent explosive disorder, panic disorder, depression and anxiety. Here are different types of behavioral therapy used to treat mental illnesses, according to the mental health service providers at Davis Behavioral Health.

·      Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): CBT is one of the most widely-used forms of behavioral therapy. It aims to change negative thought patterns that contribute to maladaptive behaviors and emotional distress.

·      Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT): DBT is a form of CBT that specifically targets emotion regulation and is often used to treat borderline personality disorder.

·      Exposure therapy: This type of therapy is commonly used to treat phobias or anxiety disorders by slowly exposing clients to the feared object or situation in a controlled manner.

·      Behavioral activation: Often used to treat depression, this therapy focuses on increasing engagement in positive and rewarding activities.

Techniques used in behavioral therapy

·      Reinforcement: Positive reinforcement encourages desired behaviors by offering rewards, while negative reinforcement removes unpleasant stimuli when the desired behavior occurs.

·      Modeling: Clients learn new behaviors by observing and imitating others.

·      Systematic desensitization: This technique involves gradually exposing clients to anxiety-provoking stimuli while teaching relaxation techniques.

·      Cognitive restructuring: Therapists help clients identify and challenge negative thought patterns and replace them with more positive and realistic ones.

·      Aversion therapy: Therapists teach clients to associate pleasant but unhealthy stimuli with unpleasant stimuli. For instance, associating drugs with uncomfortable memories.

What Do Mental Health Therapists Do?

The goal of every mental health therapist is to empower clients to develop healthy coping mechanisms, improve their relationships and achieve greater emotional well-being. Some of the services they provide include;

·      Assessment: Because mental health issues vary, mental health therapists usually conduct thorough assessments to understand a client’s mental health status and identify any underlying issues. They use several methods, such as interviews, questionnaires and psychological testing.

·      Diagnosis: Based on their assessments, therapists diagnose mental health conditions.

·      Treatment planning: Based on the diagnosis, therapists will develop individualized treatment plans tailored to each client’s specific needs and goals. These plans may include various therapeutic modalities and interventions.

·      Therapy sessions: Therapists conduct regular therapy sessions during which clients can discuss their thoughts, feelings and behaviors in a safe and supportive environment.

·      Crisis intervention: In situations where clients are experiencing severe distress or crisis, therapists provide immediate support and intervention to ensure their safety and well-being.

·      Education and advocacy: Therapists educate clients about their mental health conditions and advocate for their needs within the healthcare system and the broader community.

Final Thought

Mental health therapists are essential providers of mental health care. They offer various services to support individuals in managing their mental health. If you are considering seeking help from a mental health therapist, know that you are not alone. The mental health service providers at Davis Behavioral Health will walk with you.