Mental Health: What Can We Do?

A common thing to hear when speaking about struggles with mental health is, "Consider seeing a therapist." However, this can be a very broad and/or vague statement. What exactly is a therapist, and what can they do? The most common form that we often hear about in the media as well is also known as counselling. This is the "talk therapy" that most people think of when they think of therapy. It involves working through emotions/feelings and thoughts with a counsellor, to which they can offer suggestions and provide understanding about struggles.

Another type of therapy that is heard a lot is Exposure Therapy. It is a common therapy for patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder and various phobias. The patient learns from a therapist what strategies they can use to control their anxiety when they are in close proximity to a trigger of theirs, and then becomes "exposed" to that trigger to practice those strategies. This allows them to better manage any anxiety they might have surrounding their triggers.

Another form of psychotherapy is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR). This is mainly used for treating patients with PTSD, and involves the patient simultaneously recalling traumatic memories while moving their eyes rapidly for 20-30 seconds to a specific pattern. This is meant to reduce the negative emotions felt while thinking about the traumatic event.

One type of therapy that less people might have heard of dance, or movement therapy. In this, patients can reduce their stress, and can take care of their emotional well-being by expressing themselves in a more physical way. It really emphasizes the connection between the body and mind, and how important it is to take care of both.

These are just a few of the many different types of therapy that can be accessed. It's really important to ensure you are receiving the right kind of therapy for you that can suit your needs. For some more information on potential mental health resources, please click on the Resources tab in the menu bar.

https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Treatments/Psychotherapy