How Individual Therapy Works
Individual therapy is a type of psychotherapy in which a therapist helps an individual work through personal issues and challenges. Also known as talk therapy, psychosocial therapy, and counseling, individual therapy may encompass different treatment methods, including cognitive-behavioral therapy and psychoanalysis.
How Does Individual Therapy Work?
Therapy sessions give patients the opportunity to talk through problems or situations with their therapists confidently. Your problems may not necessarily disappear, but individual therapy will equip you with the tools required to cope with them.
In individual therapy, a therapist will build rapport with you and work with you to solve your issues. Your therapist may use individual therapy in conjunction with other types of mental and behavioral health treatments, including family therapy or substance abuse counseling.
If you have a phobia, your counselor will try to identify and solve the initial conflict. It may take several sessions to counteract negative thought patterns. Your therapist will take incremental steps to achieve treatment goals.
When implementing therapy, your therapist will consider the type of psychological problem you are experiencing, your individual needs, and personal beliefs.
What to Expect
Your therapist will use music and aromatic essential oils to create a calm, relaxing environment. In the first session, the professional will ask several questions about you, your family, job, past experiences, current situation, and friends to get to know you better.
During the initial sessions, your counselor will not try too hard to delve into your past but will take the information that you are comfortable with sharing to create a treatment plan.
In some cases, the problem is evident to both the patient and their therapist. However, in many cases, there may be an underlying issue the individual is not aware of and needs to work with their therapist to understand the cause of their issue.
In the initial sessions, your therapist will try to determine what the problem is. Once the professional makes a diagnosis, the next step involves determining why the problem is present. After gaining a deeper understanding of your problem, your therapist will design and implement a program.
Though your therapist will be directing the sessions, you will be in complete control throughout. If you think the therapy should take a different direction or your therapist must try a different approach, let them know. Remember, they are there to work alongside you and empower you.
Your therapist will be responsive to your feedback. When you make a suggestion, your therapist will revisit the treatment plan and introduce changes, to your program to improve its effectiveness.
Individual therapy may be short-term or long-term. The number of sessions required and the appointment frequency will depend on various factors, including the individual’s situation and the therapists’ recommendations. Plenty of patients are comfortable with continuing their sessions on an ongoing basis, even once their issue is resolved.
Who Can Benefit From Individual Therapy?
Individual therapy is for any individual who experiences extreme emotions such as anger, sadness, or grief or is going through a traumatic experience.
People who are experiencing work problems, going through a rough patch in their relationships, individuals with addiction disorders, and people who have lost interest in activities they used to enjoy can also benefit from therapy.
There can be a lot of uncertainty about attending therapy, but let us be the first to reassure you that any step you are taking towards becoming the best version of yourself is worth taking.
Therapy Goals
In any therapy, the therapist works with the individual to develop a broad overall goal and more focused goals that may change from session to session. Your therapist will break the overall goal into session-by-session objectives to focus on specific parts of the treatment program.
Your therapist will help you identify coping strategies. If you are already using a coping strategy, your therapist will teach you to adapt them to your current situation.
Sometimes, people have unrealistic expectations of themselves and others, leading to stress, anxiety, and depression. Psychotherapists help their patients recognize patterns of unrealistic expectations and rearrange their priorities and expectations.
Your psychotherapist will help you identify your strengths and teach you to focus on them instead of your weaknesses. When you believe in yourself, you can overcome self-doubt and take action to get your life back on track.
Benefits of Therapy
There are several benefits of individual therapy. Your therapist will teach you how to mindfully deal with difficult emotions and gain a better understanding of yourself. The professional will help you learn problem-focused coping skills. You will learn to manage your symptoms and identify their underlying causes.
Therapeutic Techniques
Exercise Therapy
There are several health benefits of exercise. In addition to improving your physical health, exercise helps your mental function. In exercise therapy, your therapist will recommend exercises that boost mental health.
Relaxation/Meditation Therapy
If you have anxiety or are suffering from PTSD, your psychotherapist may recommend relaxation techniques and a series of visualization techniques and stretching exercises to relax tense muscles.
Behavioral Therapy
Behavioral therapists treat disruptive behavior disorders directly. They use classical conditioning techniques and aversive and exposure exercises to treat phobias, eating disorders, and other behavior disorders.
Are you struggling to cope with a mental illness? Let Cooper Mental Health help you face and overcome your inner demons. We provide individual counseling near you and take a holistic approach to mental health. To schedule an appointment, call (347) 244-7873.
