Around twenty percent of adults in the U.S. deal with a mental health issue every year. Not seeking out treatment can lead to higher rates of job loss, early death, and more. Those seeking out treatment in our region can benefit from the comprehensive individual therapy options available at our clinic.
Getting well is a matter of uncovering what works best for a patient. Not every therapy is the right fit for every patient. We offer a range of options, including psychoanalysis, psychotherapy, family therapy, and more.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a patient-centered modality that uses a compassionate approach to help the patient identify strengths as well as triggers and develop appropriate coping mechanisms. It is at the heart of much of the behavioral health treatment conducted in the U.S.
Every program of psychotherapy is different, and depends on the unique characteristics and needs of the patient. This specific approach allows patient and therapist to find the best answer for the patient’s needs.
Types of Psychotherapy
There are a wide range of psychotherapy techniques available to patients. Popular types of psychotherapy as well as some of the conditions they treat are listed below:
- Interpersonal Therapy: depression, eating disorders, addiction
- Teletherapy: therapy that happens over video conferencing software
- Mentalization-Based Therapy: BPD
- Psychodynamic Psychotherapy: anxiety disorders and depression, as well as BPD
- Humanistic Therapy: anxiety and depression
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: mood disorders, anxiety disorders, eating disorders
- Behavior or Exposure Therapy: phobias and panic disorders
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy: bipolar disorder
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy: trauma-related disorders
In many cases, patients may benefit from some combination of different types of therapy. Mental health professionals may also recommend supplementing a course of therapy with additional interventions such as medication or lifestyle changes.
Teletherapy
Teletherapy, an important branch in the growing field of Telehealth, allows patients to access care remotely instead of in their therapist’s office by meeting with their therapist online in a teleconferencing session. Patients who participate in teletherapy experience all of the same benefits they would at an in-office session.
Psychoanalysis
Many people immediately think of Freud and a couch when they imagine psychoanalysis, but this intervention has changed much in the last century. Psychoanalysis of the 21st century helps patients overcome historical traumas so that they can have more productive futures.
In psychoanalysis, a subset of psychotherapy, patient and doctor work to identify deeply-rooted triggers that still impact the patient to this day. This data is then used to redesign the patient’s life and relationships.
Who Benefits From Psychoanalysis
Psychoanalysis is the best fit for those with long-standing, chronic illness. This includes individuals who experienced childhood trauma that still affects how they relate to others and the world.
No one should ever make a value judgment on their trauma. There is no such thing as “not serious enough.” Everyone has their own unique experience with trauma. It is also important to undergo psychoanalysis only in the care of a trained mental health professional. They not only provide the technical knowledge, but also the objectivity needed for a patient to heal.
Couples therapy
Couples therapy is a form of psychotherapy. It is designed to help those who are involved in a relationship together, be it marriage, engagement, dating, or living together. The individuals in the relationship can partake in both individual sessions and couple sessions.
Who Should Go to Couples Therapy
Couples therapy is not just for couples at the end of their ropes. It is also useful for those who are doing relatively well and want to take proactive steps to protect their relationship. Couples dealing with a diagnosed mental health disorder in one person can also benefit, allowing the one partner to help the diagnosed partner more effectively.
Misconceptions About Couples Therapy
Myths around couples therapy sometimes keep couples who could benefit from the practice from seeking help. One misconception is that the therapist might choose a side. Choosing sides is antithetical to the ethics of a well-trained mental health professional. Couples can rest assured that a well-trained therapist will remain objective.
Family Therapy
Family therapy is therapy not just for the traditional, nuclear concept of “family”, but also for extended families, adult siblings, and co-parents as well. Any related group that wants to improve their dynamic can benefit from family therapy.
What to Expect in Family Therapy
The first appointment typically serves as an introductory session in which the therapist gets to know the individuals involved and their various dynamics. The family and the therapist also discuss their reasons for seeking out therapy. In acute or high-conflict situations, the therapist can address some issues as soon as the first session.
Family therapy is complex and can take time. While it can run for several sessions, family therapy does not typically last as long as individual therapy might.
When Family Counseling Can Help
Family Counseling can help families dealing with a wide range of issues, including divorce, conflict, or even the illness or addiction of one member of the family. The therapy works to help build meaningful coping mechanisms for everyone involved and to lessen conflict or stress. Family members of unwell or addicted individuals can also learn what they need to do to help that family member and the family as a whole.