Mental Health Services That Can Improve Your Well-Being
Mental health is an essential element of overall wellbeing. It influences the way you feel and think. It can affect your ability to work and maintain relationships, socialize and make decisions.
Treatment can help you manage your symptoms and improve your quality of life. Talk therapy and medicines could be covered. Consult your insurance provider to find out what treatments are covered.
Individual Therapy
Psychotherapy or individual therapy is a process where a person collaborates with a mental healthcare professional one-on-1 to address issues that impact their psychological and emotional well-being. During these sessions (also called therapy or counseling) individuals can talk about their beliefs, feelings and actions in a space that is secure and supportive. They can also work on challenging or significant memories. They can identify aspects of their lives they'd like to change and begin working towards positive changes.
It is important to remember that individual therapy does not solve issues. Instead, agree with this helps to teach coping skills to help individuals deal with the challenges they face and live life more fully. To get the most effective outcomes, individual therapy is often combined with other mental and behavior health treatments, including therapy for families or groups.
The first step to finding the right therapist for you is to look at the directory of your insurance provider. Certain insurance companies have directories of therapists who are in-network. You can also ask your doctor for recommendations. Many therapists also offer group counseling, which they are able to recommend as an alternative to or in addition with your individual sessions.
During individual sessions your therapist will employ different approaches based on the needs of you. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), for example is focused on helping you identify and change unhelpful habits and thoughts. It may include learning to express your emotions in a healthy and positive manner and identifying strategies for problem solving, and practicing mindfullness.
Individual sessions can be conducted online or in person, and last for about an hour. They may be scheduled every week or more frequently as needed. Individual therapy can assist you overcome the problems that cause you distress. It can also help improve your quality of life, by enhancing your self-awareness and encouraging lifestyle changes.
If you are going through an event in your life that is significant like divorce or a loss or are struggling with an addiction Finding the right therapist could be an important first step towards recovery. Contact us today if you are ready to begin your journey.
Group Therapy
Group therapy, also often referred to as support groups, gives you the chance to discuss issues and feelings with other people who share similar struggles. Meeting with others who are similar to you can help you realize that you are not alone. It may also encourage you to try new methods that could make your life easier. You can learn from others their experiences and learn from how they overcame their challenges.
Most sessions for group therapy will be directed by a mental health specialist who is experienced in treating the problem or issue that the group is focused on. The leader might have experience in one of the more commonly used types of psychotherapy such as cognitive behavioral therapy or interpersonal therapy. Group therapy is a method of therapy that can be used on its own or used in conjunction with individual counseling.
The aim of group therapy is to improve your performance in all areas of your life, including your relationships, work at home, and in the community. Some groups are based around a diagnosis like depression or anxiety, or drug abuse or substance abuse, while others are open to everyone who is interested in participating. Some groups are facilitated by two therapists. Research shows that co-led groups offer more benefits than groups with a single leader.
Some group therapy sessions are psychoeducational and focus more on delivering information and education about certain topics like conquering phobias or recovering from addiction. Other groups are more interactive and focus on interaction between members, like process groups or skill development groups. Others are based on specific methods like cognitive-behavioral or socialization skills training.
In many cases the person who is in group therapy will be required to sign a confidentiality agreement like they would in individual psychotherapy. This is because of the vulnerability that comes with sharing personal feelings and struggles with strangers in a group environment. Therapists can also offer additional privacy by using initials or first names which can be helpful for those who aren't ready to share their true identities with other people.
Hospital or Residential Treatment
Mental health issues can be so severe that a person may need to stay in a residential treatment facility or hospital for the duration of their treatment. It's usually a last option, but a reputable treatment facility can save a life if they are in a crisis and at risk of harming them or someone else. Treatment in a hospital or in a residential setting can help a person to get back on track and begin to learn to live with their mental illness instead of letting it control them.
Inpatient treatment is a type of care that offers 24/7 surveillance in a secure unit in a hospital or treatment center. This option is best for those who are suffering from a grave mental health crisis or have been hospitalized before due to self-harm or other dangerous behaviors. Inpatient treatment usually provides an evaluation of psychiatric disorders and assessment as well as medication management. It also provides a plan for continuing treatment in the community.
The goal of inpatient treatment is to improve a patient's symptoms enough to reduce or eliminate the need for psychiatric drugs and to make them ready to return to daily activities in the community. It is often the most effective method to stabilize a patient who is suffering from an acute mental illness like schizophrenia, clinical depression or bipolar disorder.
During inpatient therapy, patients will be able to attend both group and individual sessions. These sessions can be therapeutic, educational or both. They can make people feel heard and accepted, which is an important aspect of recovery. Individual therapy can help a person to examine the causes that led to their psychiatric illness and hospitalization and discover ways to manage them in the future.
Residential treatment offers an environment that is more like the hospital setting and can be carried out as a live-in program or a partial hospitalization program (PHP). PHP programs are a step back from inpatient care and provide an opportunity to apply the skills that are learned during residential treatment in real-world situations. Residential treatment can also be offered in a group residential program, where people go through the same process. This can be beneficial both during and after the program.
Medication
People suffering from mental health issues can benefit greatly from taking medications. They affect brain chemicals that regulate emotions, thought patterns and thoughts. Psychotherapy is generally more effective when it is combined with these drugs. Psychiatric medications can also reduce symptoms that interfere with treatment such as anxiety, depression or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, so a person can participate more fully in therapy.
Sometimes, medications can be sufficient to treat mild mental illnesses are well controlled. However, it's essential to be able to talk with an expert in mental health regarding any issues you might be experiencing with your medications and how they're assisting you.
Your mental health professional will be on the lookout for indications that your symptoms could be getting worse or dangerous. He or she will look at how your symptoms are affecting your quality of life and activities, and whether you're in danger of causing harm to yourself or others.
If your mental health issue is severe, you might require treatment in a psychiatric hospital. The options include 24 hour inpatient care, partial or daily hospitalization, as well as residential treatment which offers a place to live while providing support. These types of settings are usually recommended when you can't take care of yourself and don't have a safe way home or are in imminent danger of harming yourself or others.
New Yorkers in need of mental health services can get assistance from a variety of resources in their communities and online. Many counties offer free, confidential, and unbiased counseling services and referrals for mental illness, substance abuse disorders, and co-occurring disorders like HIV/AIDS or hepatitis. Many communities also have local programs to help those suffering from mental health issues, including resilience and coping tools. Some organizations also offer telephone or online crisis counseling.
