Why Therapy Works

Therapy has been around for centuries, but it’s only recently that we’ve really begun to understand how it works and why it is so effective. It has been proven time and again that therapy is one of the most effective tools in helping people cope with anxiety, depression, trauma, and other mental health issues. In this blog post, we'll explore why therapy can be so helpful in improving mental health.

What is therapy, exactly? 

In a nutshell, therapy is a form of psychological treatment that helps people understand their feelings and behaviour better through conversations with a trained professional. The therapist helps the patient identify patterns of thought or behaviours that may be contributing to their difficulty in navigating life.

Working together, the patient and therapist can explore solutions to improve the patient’s mental health outlook. Through this process, the patient may gain insight on how to manage their emotions and make positive changes in their life. This process also allows for processing trauma from difficult experiences, which can lead to increased resilience when faced with challenging situations. 

How does therapy work?

The goal of therapy is to help patients increase their understanding of themselves and others by focusing on thoughts and behaviours while gaining insight into how they are impacting daily life decisions. The therapist may use a variety of techniques including:

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), which focuses on identifying negative thinking patterns
• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), which focuses on teaching distress tolerance skills such as mindfulness and acceptance as well as emotion regulation strategies
• Other therapies such as psychodynamic therapy, interpersonal therapy and family systems therapy are also available depending upon patient needs

Ultimately, all therapeutic approaches focus on helping the patient gain understanding of self and others while learning skills for coping with difficult emotions or circumstances. These skills can be applied to everyday life situations, allowing for improved quality of life overall. 



Why is therapy effective?

It’s important to remember that everyone responds differently to varying treatments, so there isn’t one answer when it comes to whether or not someone will benefit from therapy or what type of therapy might work best for them as an individual.

That said, research has consistently shown that engaging in some form of psychotherapy leads to improved mental health outcomes overall, as opposed to attempting to manage symptoms without any outside assistance. People who engage in regular sessions report feeling more confident in managing stressors associated with daily living, while developing coping strategies for dealing with difficult emotions such as anxiety or depression, which often accompany mental health issues like PTSD or bipolar disorder.

Additionally, many people find comfort in being able to openly discuss thoughts or feelings they have not been able to express before without judgement, which further adds value to the therapeutic experience itself. 

Will therapy work for you?

Overall, psychotherapy is an effective way for people struggling with mental health issues to improve their lives by developing healthier habits and exploring ways to better cope with difficult emotions or past traumas. With the right approach tailored specifically towards each individual's needs, people can gain greater insight about themselves while learning new skills for managing stressors associated with everyday living. 

If you feel that you would benefit from consulting with a therapist, Franco Greco at Your Psychologist in Elsternwick is fully qualified and highly experienced in helping people overcome negative thought patterns and behaviours - from anxiety and depression to addiction, weight loss, relationship issues and more. Book your initial consultation today.