What is talk therapy?
Talk therapy refers to a variety of treatments that aim to help a person identify and change troubling emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. Most talk therapy takes place one-on-one with a licensed mental health professional or with other patients in a group setting.
In general, the goals of talk therapy are to gain relief from symptoms, maintain or enhance daily functioning, and improve quality of life.
You or someone you know might seek out psychotherapy for many reasons, including:
- Dealing with severe or long-term stress from a job or family situation, the loss of a loved one, or relationship or family problems
- Having symptoms with no physical explanation, such as changes in sleep or appetite, low energy, lack of interest or pleasure in activities you once enjoyed, persistent irritability, excessive worry, or a sense of discouragement or hopelessness that won’t go away
- A health care provider suspecting you have or diagnosing you with a mental disorder that is interfering with your life
- Supporting a child or family member who has been diagnosed with a condition affecting their mental health
Talk therapy and other treatment options
Talk therapy can be used as an alternative to or alongside medication and other treatment options. Choosing the right treatment plan is based on a person's individual needs and should occur under the guidance of a mental health professional.
Talk therapy can help address specific issues. These might include self-defeating ways of thinking; fears; problems interacting with other people; or difficulty coping with situations at home, school, or work.
What are the elements of talk therapy?
A variety of psychotherapies have been shown to effectively treat mental health disorders. Often, the type of treatment is tailored to the specific individual. Therapists may use one primary approach or incorporate elements from multiple approaches depending on their training and the needs of the person receiving treatment.
Elements of talk therapy can include the following:
- Help a person become aware of automatic ways of thinking that are inaccurate or harmful (for example, having a low opinion of their abilities) and then question those thoughts, understand how the thoughts affect their emotions and behavior, and change self-defeating behavior patterns. This approach is known as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
- Identify ways to cope with stress and develop problem-solving strategies.
- Examine interactions with others and teach social and communication skills.
- Apply mindfulness and relaxation techniques, such as meditation and breathing exercises.
- Track emotions and behaviors to raise awareness of their impact on each other.
- Use supportive counseling to explore troubling issues and receive emotional support.
- Create a safety plan to help with thoughts of self-harm or suicide, recognize warning signs, and use coping strategies, such as contacting friends, family, or emergency personnel.
What are options for digital health care?
The telephone, the internet, and mobile devices have created new opportunities for readily available and accessible treatment, including in areas where mental health professionals may not be physically available. Some of these approaches involve a therapist providing help at a distance.