How Psychotherapy Can Help Those Struggling Mentally

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If you have a mental illness that's severe, it's sometimes necessary to work with a psychologist. They can have you undergo psychotherapy, a type of talk therapy that helps control troubling symptoms. Utilizing this form of therapy can help in a number of ways.

Identify Negative Thought Patterns

The foundation of psychotherapy is the belief that negative thought patterns influence your behavior. By better understanding these patterns, you can work to deal with them in a healthy manner. 

Once these negative thoughts are identified and treated using psychotherapy, unwanted behaviors will gradually go away as well. Just be aware this form of therapy doesn't work overnight. 

Rather, you'll have to build upon each session and learn more about the negative thought patterns that impact your mental illness. Through understanding and proven techniques, you can eventually become more stable mentally and live a happier life. 

Learn About Healthy Coping Mechanisms

There will be times when you struggle mentally and can't always get help from a psychologist at a moment's notice. Fortunately, psychotherapy will give you the chance to learn about healthy coping mechanisms that you can use when you're not in counseling. 

For instance, positive visualization is often a helpful resource taught in psychotherapy. It involves thinking about positive thoughts and visualizing yourself in a more positive setting.

Then after several minutes have passed, your racing negative thoughts won't be as prominent and you can continue with your day like normal. Deep breathing exercises are also helpful coping mechanisms you'll learn in counseling. 

Build Confidence

Another staple of psychotherapy today is working to build confidence. When you feel confident about yourself and your abilities, you won't be as likely to let negative thought patterns affect your behavior as much.

Instead, you'll see yourself in a positive light and capable of addressing whatever challenges are thrown your way. Psychotherapy aims to give you the tools for mental healing as opposed to just being handed the answers.

The ability to learn about yourself and grow is key in taking responsibility for your own actions and behavior. Ultimately, this helps you reach a more stable state.

Having a mental illness can impact so many aspects of your life, but you don't have to live this way. Psychologists offer psychotherapy today, which is becoming more prominent for those struggling with their emotions and thoughts. As long as you commit yourself fully, you can reap all sorts of life-changing rewards. 

Contact a psychologist like Dr. Derek G Turesky, PH.D. to learn more.


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