What is mental health therapy?
In short, mental health therapy typically involves meeting with a professional mental health therapist to address mental health issues. The therapist will utilize their training to guide the client through the therapeutic process.
What should you expect in a therapy session?
Therapy sessions can look very different, depending on the therapeutic approach employed by your therapist - an art therapist might structure the session around an art activity, for example, while a clinical therapist might sit down and get straight to talking for the entire session. Therapy sessions are also different depending on if they are one-on-one or group based. Generally speaking, one-on-one therapy sessions begin with sitting down in your therapist's office (or in a private area with your computer/tablet/phone if you are seeing your therapist online) to discuss where you would like the session to go. Your therapist will usually begin by asking opening questions like: "how have you been?" "what brings you in today?" or "is there anything in particular you would like to discuss today?" Your therapist will usually follow your lead based on your answer to the opening questions, and the session will be guided by what you want to discuss. Sometimes your therapist will be following a set plan or structure, but you would likely have discussed any structured therapy ahead of time with your therapist. Finally, similar to a doctor's appointment, at the end of your therapy session your therapist will set up your next appointment.
What are the main types of therapy?
The main types of therapy include:
- One-on-one therapy
- Group therapy
- Relationship therapy (or "couples counselling")
- Family therapy
What are the most common delivery modes of therapy?
Nearly all therapy types and therapeutic approaches can be found in clinical, outpatient, or inpatient settings (a.k.a. in a clinic, in a hospital on a temporary basis, or in a hospital for patients currently staying in the hospital).
With changing times, therapy delivery modes have broadened. Now, you can access therapy in person, over the phone, or virtually via online forums, chat, text, audio, or video.
What are the most common therapy approaches?
Simply put, a therapeutic approach is a way of doing therapy. Some therapists have preferences for approaches, some therapists adapt their approaches to suit individual clients, and other therapists use a "multi-modal" approach (a combination of every approach).
The most common therapeutic approaches include:
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Exposure Therapy
- Art Therapy
- Expressive Arts Therapy
- Narrative Therapy
- Play Therapy
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
If you are curious about an approach, there are a variety of YouTube videos online demonstrating examples of what each approach looks like. However, the best way to understand a therapeutic approach is to experience it yourself, first-hand, and from more than one therapist. In other words, do not expect your experience of say, art therapy, from one therapist to be indicative of all art therapy!
Is therapy easy or hard? Is it fun or boring?
Many people have preconceived notions about therapy: "it looks so easy - you just talk to someone about your day! I could do that with a friend! Why go to therapy at all!?" "I know I'll just start crying if I see a therapist. It seems like a miserable experience!" "Who wants to just talk about their feelings for an hour? How boring!" "My friend went to therapy once and hated it! She never went back."
In reality, therapy cannot be viewed through a singular lens. Always keep in mind that every therapist is unique and that there are many therapeutic types, approaches, and delivery modes, so you really cannot expect the same experience across the board. Therapy also differs from day to day, depending on what is happening in your life, and therapy sessions can range from challenging to simple, exciting to mundane, and beyond. Further, if you are seeking to improve your mental wellness, do not expect the road to always be easy - change requires some challenge, but do not let that deter you from therapy.
One of the largest societal barriers to mental wellness is preconceived notions about mental health therapy. Challenge this barrier with a scientific mindset: research your options, try it without bias, and continue your learning process even when you hit dead ends.