Mental health is a serious topic. Most folks would probably agree with that assessment. Whether you live in the Albuquerque area or elsewhere in the country, it’s something everyone should take some time to consider on a deeper level than we currently do. Why is that?
Well, it’s something that everyone has some problems with, at least at some point in our lives. Whether it’s grief, anxiety, or something else entirely, there may come a time when seeing a therapist can help. Now, if you’re entirely unfamiliar with how that works and the overall process, you may want to check out an article like this one: https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-081219-115923.
Otherwise, make sure to stick around if you’re interested in what therapists can help with. There are a lot of benefits to seeing a therapist and attending sessions, after all. There’s a good reason that more and more people are starting to find therapy and attend it, despite some of the negative things said about it on social media.
What is therapy?
First, let’s take a moment to examine what therapy is, especially since there are some common misconceptions about it. Therapy is a form of treatment that involves talking to a licensed mental health professional, such as a psychologist, psychiatrist, or counselor. The key part there is the “licensed” bit—you’ll always want to ensure that you’re seeing someone properly licensed.
As far as purposes go, there are many. Namely, it aims to help individuals address emotional, psychological, or behavioral issues, as well as improve their overall well-being and quality of life. Therapy sessions usually involve discussing personal problems, thoughts, emotions, and experiences in a safe and confidential environment.
Along the way, the therapist provides support, guidance, and tools to help the individual understand their feelings, develop coping strategies, and make positive changes, as you can read about on this page. Therapy can be individual, couples, family, or group-based and can address a wide range of concerns, such as anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship issues, addiction, grief, and more, which we’ll get into.
What Can Therapy Help With?
The next major thing for us to consider is, of course, what sorts of things therapy can help with. There are a few answers here, as you can probably imagine.
Depression
One thing that has entered our collective consciousness a lot as a society is depression, and it can really vary in severity. Depression is a mental health disorder characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness that significantly impact a person’s thoughts, emotions, and daily functioning. It goes beyond simply feeling sad or going through temporary periods of low mood, which is a common misconception.
Depression can be caused by various factors, including genetic predisposition, chemical imbalances in the brain, stressful life events, certain medical conditions, or a combination of these factors. Remember, it is important to note that depression is a treatable condition, and seeking professional help, such as therapy or medication, can significantly improve symptoms and overall well-being. That’s why therapy can be so important if you suspect you are suffering from it.
Anxiety
Anxiety is a mental health condition characterized by persistent and excessive worry or fear about various aspects of life. This makes it different from the normal, temporary feelings of anxiousness that everyone experiences in certain situations, such as large crowds or something like that. Anxiety disorders involve intense and overwhelming feelings of anxiety that can interfere with a person’s daily functioning and quality of life.
Things like Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) can be treated by going to therapy in Albuquerque, like other anxiety disorders. In fact, therapeutic techniques are shown to be quite impactful for helping to alleviate symptoms of anxiety disorders, or mental health issues with comorbidity.
Grief
Grief is a natural response to loss, particularly the loss of someone or something significant in a person’s life. It’s really a complex and deeply personal experience that involves a range of emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. Unfortunately, it can be triggered in a variety of ways, making it difficult to navigate those feelings in the aftermath.
Coping with it can be quite difficult. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us have become all-too familiar with the concept of grief and the devastation it can bring. Because of that, it’s not hard to see why therapy techniques can be so valuable.
Is Therapy Worth Pursuing?
One question that often comes up in relation to therapy is whether or not we should actively look for it and whether it’s really worth the cost that sometimes comes along. Now, sometimes insurance will cover it, but that tends to vary. Beyond just that factor, it’s hard to say therapy isn’t worth it; after all, there’s lots of evidence that it can be extremely effective and helpful with symptom management.