Mental Health Services That Can Improve Your Well-Being
Mental health is an essential component of well-being, influencing your mood and thinking. It affects your ability to work and maintain relationships as well as socialize and make decisions.
Treatment can aid in managing your symptoms and improve the quality of your life. Medicine and talk therapy can be included. Check with your insurance provider to find out which treatments are covered.
Individual Therapy
Psychotherapy, also known as individual therapy, is a method where a person collaborates with a mental healthcare expert one-on-one to address issues that impact their psychological and emotional wellbeing. During these sessions (also called counseling or talk therapies) individuals can talk about their beliefs, feelings, and behaviors in a space that is safe and caring. They may also work on challenging or significant memories. They can pinpoint areas of their lives that they would like to change and start working toward positive changes.
It is important to remember that individual therapy doesn't solve issues. It helps develop strategies for coping to help people deal with challenges and live more fully. To get the best outcomes, individual therapy is often integrated with other mental and behavioral health treatments, such as family or group therapy.
The first step to find the right therapist for you is to review the directory of your insurance company. Certain insurance companies have directories of therapists who are part of their network. You can also ask your physician for recommendations. Many therapists also offer group counseling, which they may recommend either as a substitute for or in addition with your individual sessions.
In private sessions, your therapist could employ a variety of approaches, depending on your specific needs. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), for example is a method of helping identify and change unhelpful behaviors and thoughts. It may include learning how to express your emotions in healthy ways, identifying problem-solving strategies, and practicing mindfulness.
Individual sessions can take place online or in-person and generally last an hour. They can be scheduled weekly or more frequently, depending on the need. Individual therapy can assist you to overcome the issues that are causing you distress. It can also help improve your life quality by enhancing your self-awareness and encouraging lifestyle changes.
Finding the right therapist is the first step to recovery, no matter if you're experiencing a major life change, such as loss or divorce, or struggling with addiction. If you are looking to start your journey, get in touch with us now.
Group Therapy
Group therapy (also called support groups) is a great way to discuss your concerns and feelings with other people who are experiencing similar problems. Meeting with other people in the same situation can make you realize that you aren't alone and encourage you to explore new ideas that can simplify your life. You can learn from other people' experiences and how they dealt with their difficulties.
Most group therapy sessions are conducted by a mental health professional who has experience treating the issue or issue that the group is working on. The leader may have specific experience in one of the more popular types of psychotherapy, like cognitive behavior therapy or interpersonal therapy. Group therapy can be utilized alone or in combination with individual counseling.
The goal of group therapy is to improve your performance in all aspects of your life such as your relationships, work at home, and in the community. Some groups are based around a diagnosis of depression or anxiety, or drug abuse, while others are open to everyone who wants to participate. Some groups are led by two therapists working together, and research has shown that co-led groups offer more advantages than single-leader groups.
Some group therapy sessions are psychoeducational, with a focus more on imparting information and education on specific topics, such as overcoming phobias or recovery from addiction. Some groups are more active and focus on the interaction among members, such as process groups or skills development groups. Some are founded on specific therapeutic techniques such as cognitive-behavioral therapies or socialization skills training.
In many cases the person who is in group therapy will be required to sign a confidentiality contract, like they would in individual psychotherapy. This is due to the vulnerability that comes with sharing personal feelings and struggles with strangers in a crowded setting. Therapists can also use first names or initials to provide more privacy for those who aren't willing to reveal their identity.
Hospital or Residential Treatment
Mental health issues can be so severe that a person might need to stay in a residential facility or hospital for the duration of their treatment. It is usually a last resort, but an effective treatment facility could save a life if they are in a crisis and at risk of harming them or someone else. Residential or hospital treatment can help a person to recover and begin to learn to live with their mental illness, rather than having it control them.
Inpatient treatment is the most intense treatment option, offering 24 hour supervision in a secure area in an inpatient or treatment facility. This is a choice for patients who are in a severe mental health crisis or who have been hospitalized previously due to self-harming or other risky behaviors. Inpatient care usually includes an evaluation of psychiatric disorders and assessment as well as medication management. It also provides an ongoing treatment plan in the community.
Inpatient treatment seeks to improve symptoms until an individual can reduce or eliminate the requirement for psychiatric medications and be fully prepared to resume their regular activities. Inpatient treatment is often the best option to stabilize someone who is suffering from a mental illness, such as schizophrenia, clinical depression or bipolar disorder.
In inpatient therapy, a patient will be able to attend both group and individual sessions. These sessions can either be educational or therapeutic however they could also be both. They can help patients feel valued and appreciated, which is an important part of recovery. Individual therapy can help an individual examine the causes that brought to a psychiatric emergency and hospitalization, and learn how to manage these issues in the future.
Residential treatment provides a more home-like environment than the hospital setting and can be done as a live-in or a partial hospitalization program (PHP). PHP programs are a step down from inpatient care and offer an opportunity to apply the skills learned in residential treatment in real-life situations. Residential treatment is also offered as a group residential programme in which participants share the same process. This can be beneficial during and after the program.
Medication
The use of medicines can make a huge impact on the lives of those with mental health problems. They alter brain chemicals that regulate the flow of thoughts and emotions and are generally more effective when they are combined with psychotherapy. 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, medication is enough, especially when mild mental illness is controlled. But it's important to speak with a mental health professional regarding any issues you might have with your meds and how they're helping you.
Your mental health professional will watch for indications that your symptoms are worsening or becoming dangerous. They will assess how your symptoms impact your daily living activities, and if you are at risk of causing harm to others or yourself.
If your mental illness is serious and you are suffering from a severe mental illness, a psychiatric hospital may be the best place to seek treatment. There are content of options available that include 24-hour inpatient care and hospitalizations that are either daily or partial and residential treatment. Residential treatment is the possibility of staying in a facility while offering assistance. These settings are suggested for those who are unable to take care of themselves, doesn't have an option to return home safely, or is in imminent danger.
New Yorkers who need mental health services can find help in their local communities as well as online. Many counties offer free, confidential and unbiased counseling and referral services for people suffering from mental illness, substance abuse disorders, and co-occurring diseases such as HIV/AIDS or hepatitis. Many communities also have local programs to help people suffering from mental health issues, which includes resilience and coping tools. Some organizations provide crisis counseling through phone, text or online.