How does therapy actually work, how do you find a good one, and what’s the difference between counseling/therapy/psychiatrists/psychologists/etc.?
In: Other
You’ve gotten a lot of great answers but I wanted to clarify what you mean by how does it work. Do you mean, how does it “fix” mental illness or struggles? If that’s what you mean, I’d love if you could provide more information about what your concern is if you have one or are asking for a friend. A lot of the comments gave great descriptions on the different modalities (approaches) of therapy but they still have some variation based on the issue being addressed (ie personality disorder, mood disorder, substance abuse, trauma, etc).
I wanted to address the middle part of your question. Some of what I’ll mention is a repeat of previous comments but it’s important enough to say again. If you’re asking because you or a friend/family member is considering treatment please consider the following:
-Finding a good fit is HARD. Even harder if you’re in distress. Don’t give up but more importantly don’t give in. If it’s not working that’s okay…therapists know that their work is incredibly subjective and will sometimes even refer you to a colleague they believe will be a better fit. In the end the effort is worth it.
-Don’t discount group therapy. For a lot of people it’s super uncomfortable at first and it takes awhile to acknowledge it’s helpful. For sure it’s not for everyone, but it’s not as awful as a lot of people assume it is.
-Most primary care providers will prescribe antidepressants if you’re experiencing mild-moderate symptoms. That being said, seeing a psychiatrist is definitely a better option if insurance covers it and/or you’ve got significant symptoms. I’ve compared it to this: if you occasionally have symptoms of asthma your PCP will likely run some tests, prescribe an inhaler and they’ll monitor you. If you have significant respiratory issues, they’ll refer you to a specialist who can ensure all aspects of the illness are being treated.
I hope you’re able to find the answers you need.
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