Article Date: 03/22/2022

Wondering if therapy is right for you? You’re not alone.

Seeking help from a mental health expert is something many people consider, especially when:

• facing a significant crisis
• dealing with an extended period of anxiety or depression
• coping with a major life transition
• dealing with complicated family dynamics
• grappling with problems in a relationship
• trying to manage addiction or substance abuse
• wanting to make changes for better mental and emotional health

Regardless of your reason, therapy offers a broad array of benefits for all of us. Here are six types of therapy and the benefits of each.

Benefits of talk therapy

Talk therapy (aka psychotherapy) is a tool used by:

• psychiatrists
• psychologists
• therapists

Talk therapy encourages open and honest dialogue about issues that cause you distress. Through your relationship with your therapist, you’ll work to identify and understand how these stressors are impacting your life, plus develop strategies to manage the symptoms.

If you’re still on the fence about the benefits of talk therapy, consider this: About 75 percent of people who participate in talk therapy experience some benefit, according to the American Psychological Association.

What can talk therapy help with?

Focused on communication, talk therapy allows you discuss concerns that range from stress management and relationship problems to depression and anxiety disorders.

Psychotherapy is a tool that therapists also use to facilitate counseling sessions. They can use this technique for individual, group, couples, or family therapy.

Benefits of individual therapy

In the case of individual therapy, the relationship between you and your therapist — which is fostered through talk therapy — is key to your success. Individual therapy gives you a safe space to explore your thoughts, feelings, and concerns. Unlike couples, family, or group therapy, individual therapy focuses solely on you. This allows for a deeper understanding of the issues and more time for developing coping strategies to help you handle difficult situations.

The goal of individual therapy is to inspire change and improve the quality of life through self-awareness and self-exploration.

Being in therapy can also:

• help improve communication skills
• help you feel empowered
• empower you to develop fresh insights about your life
• learn how to make healthier choices
• develop coping strategies to manage distress

If you want to continue reading this article: https://www.healthline.com/health/benefits-of-therapy#family