Psychotherapy or Talk Therapy

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Psychotherapy is “talk therapy.”

When we feel stuck, anxious, stressed or depressed, or our career or relationships aren’t working, therapy can help us take control of our lives, and rebuild feelings of happiness and satisfaction. Recognizing the need for help, and seeking professional therapy, is a sign of both strength and determination to live a more productive and meaningful life.

Talk therapy is used to treat many different issues.

Psychotherapy helps us identify what situations make us feel positive or negative. It also helps us look at our feelings and ways of thinking so we can become better at coping with difficult situations.

Therapy is most commonly used to treat:

  • Addiction
  • Anxiety
  • Behavioral problems
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Depression
  • Eating disorders
  • Emotional crises
  • Low self-esteem
  • Marriage and family problems
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder
  • Personality disorders
  • Post-traumatic stress
  • Problems stemming from childhood trauma
  • Schizophrenia

Therapy may be provided in different formats, like family, group, and individual.

Your therapist will decide which approach to use and may use a combination of approaches in person or through virtual visits.

  • Individual therapy involves only you and your therapist.
  • Group therapy is when two or more individuals participate in therapy at the same time. Participants are able to share experiences and learn that others feel the same way and have had similar experiences.
  • Family therapy may be considered, since the family is a key part of the team that helps people with mental illness get better. It may be helpful for family members to understand what their loved one is going through, how they themselves can cope, and what they can do to help.

Who provides talk therapy?

Talk therapy may be provided by a psychologist, marriage and family therapist, licensed clinical social worker, counselor, psychiatric nurse or psychiatrist. Call our behavioral health team toll-free at 1-800-873-2246, TTY 711, for more information on talk therapy.