What To Expect During An Individual Therapy Session
It is estimated that 1 in 4 people will be affected by a mental health problem at some point during their lives. Mental health problems can affect both a person’s mental and physical well-being, as well as their overall quality of life.
People with mental health disorders are often afraid to talk to their friends and family about their mental health because of the stigma associated with the subject. They choose to suffer in silence. Many people with mental illnesses may also live in denial.
Individual Therapy Explained
If you suspect that a friend or family member has a mental health condition, help convince them to give therapy a try. Individual therapy is a type of psychotherapy in which the therapist helps their patient work through their personal issues that are affecting their personal and professional relationships.
One of the objectives of individual therapy is to help the patient open up to their therapist in a comforting environment. Individual therapy can take two different forms – psychodynamic psychotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
The goal of psychodynamic psychotherapy is to release repressed emotions and experiences. In psychodynamic psychotherapy, the therapist encourages the patient to discuss their personal problems freely, without any inhibitions.
The aim of CBT is to equip the patient with the necessary skills required to face their fears, solve everyday problems, cope with negative emotions, calm their mind and body, and recognize distorted thoughts.
Anyone can benefit from individual therapy. Other problems individual therapy can help with include eating disorders, sleeping problems and intimacy problems.
How many sessions do I need?
How long a person will stay in therapy depends on a number of factors including their condition, treatment goals, and the therapist’s style. Some people need a few sessions, while others are required to stay in therapy for years.
The Benefits of Individual Therapy
There are several compelling reasons to give individual therapy a try. Therapy helps patients gain an in-depth understanding of their inner self. They learn many aspects of their personality they didn’t know before.
It facilitates positive behavioral changes by helping patients learn coping techniques. They learn to identify triggers and avoid them. People who stay in therapy and follow their therapist’s instructions experience sustainable benefits such as improved mental health and confidence. They are able to improve their relationships using the skills they learn in therapy.
The Therapeutic Process
In the initial session, the therapist interviews the patient. They ask them several questions about their family history and childhood. The purpose of the exercise is to gain in-depth insights into their psyche and the life events that shaped it. Once the therapist better understands how the individual thinks and uncovers thought patterns, they develop a treatment plan.
The therapist also defines treatment milestones, goals and objectives. Therapy goals are not set in stone. A therapist revisits goals at regular intervals and can tweak them as the need arises.
Many people with mental health problems hesitate to share their feelings and thoughts with anyone due to the fear of being judged by others. Therapists use various techniques to earn the trust of their clients and build rapport with them. Once patients are sure they won’t be judged for their choices and actions, they open up to their therapist.
Therapists conduct various exercises in every session. The goal of these exercises is to help the individual discover new things about themselves and equip them with life skills.
Some therapists use relaxation/meditation therapy, behavioral therapy, exercise therapy, and other therapeutic techniques that loosen stiff muscles and promote relaxation. Therapists also give their clients homework to help them practice their skills.
Therapists periodically evaluate progress to determine if a patient should stay in therapy longer than they previously anticipated. Even after therapy ends, some patients may be required to visit their therapist from time to time.
What Happens During a Session?
Before starting a session, therapists go to great lengths to create a relaxing environment that stimulates healthy conversations. Many therapists use aromatic oils and relaxing music to create a calm and peaceful environment devoid of any distractions.
Each session is a problem-solving session. Once the patient is comfortable, the therapist starts the session. At the beginning of a typical session, the therapist may ask the patient to share what’s on their mind, what’s been going on in their life, or anything else they want to discuss.
As the client speaks, the therapist may take notes. Some therapists take notes at the end of a session. Therapists conduct several activities during a session to help their clients discover themselves.
These activities may include asking their clients to draw their life timeline and mark important life events on it or dancing with them; dance/movement therapy has been used for decades to improve physical and mental health.
Many therapists give their clients some homework after every session. Typical examples include setting up a date, exercising three times a week, creating a journal that they can use to record their experiences, or spend some time each day taking out their pent-up frustrations on their pillow.
Cooper Mental Health is committed to helping individuals battling mental health disorders boost their mental health. Our therapists do not let any opportunity to show our clients empathy pass them by. We extend our clients full support throughout the therapeutic process and are there for them even after therapy ends. To make an appointment, call (347) 244-7873.
