Individual Therapy for Mental Health

Making the Most of Individual Therapy for Mental Health

If you received the diagnosis of a mental health disorder or you struggle with an awkward family dynamic, your doctor will most likely recommend that you begin to attend individual therapy.

These one-on-one sessions allow you to take a deep-dive into your innermost emotions and thoughts.

This level of introspection will help you see clearly into the underlying causes of your mental illness.

And only then can you let the healing begin.

However, this process is not one that you should attempt to manage alone.

You can take the approach safely with the guidance of a mental health professional or therapist.

Who Needs to Attend Individual Therapy?

Anybody who needs to reshape their thinking, feelings, or behaviors will benefit from individual therapy.

Here at Emerald Isle Health and Recovery, our therapeutic methods come from evidence-based practices that will help promote healing from the inside out.

How do we do this? Take a look at a couple of our methods.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

We base it on a Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy or CBT approach.

This approach teaches you to look inside and examine the root cause of your beliefs, actions, and thoughts.

Once you identify the reason why you respond in a particular manner, you become more attuned to it and learn to control your response.

Once you learn the skill that you need to shape your behavior under the care of your therapist, you will gain the confidence to use it in your real-life settings, outside of your therapy sessions.

The transformational impact this skill set can make in your life is life-changing.

Emotionally Focused Therapy for Individuals

Emotion-Focused Therapy or EFT, also called emotionally focused therapy, for individuals relies on the notion that emotions are the core of our being.

EMT empowers you to put your emotions on the line during individual therapy sessions designed to help you achieve the following outcomes:

1. Increase your awareness of your emotions. Here, you identify your feelings and put a label on them.

2. Enhance your emotional regulation. Now that you labeled your feelings, you learn that it is acceptable to feel a particular way.

You also come to realize that some emotions are unhealthy and hold you back from achieving all your goals. Thus, learning to regulate those negative emotions has a positive impact on life.

3. Transforming your emotions. In this outcome, people learn to turn negatives into positives through individual therapy sessions.

Individual Therapy for Relationship Issues

Some people begin individual therapy sessions, not for a mental health disorder but for relationship issues.

It is not uncommon for couples to be facing challenges. The fast-paced lifestyle so many of us lead, balancing career, family obligations, and love relationships, places a strain on even the most solid of couples.

But, what if only one partner agrees to seek the help of a therapist to try to patch up things?

Then, it becomes individual therapy. By attending these sessions, you are taking every opportunity to remedy your part in the strained relationship.

Furthermore, you are also taking positive steps in taking care of your own emotional well-being.

Here are three benefits of individual therapy for relationship issues:

1. You Learn Relationship Techniques

By spending time with a therapist, you will learn new strategies for coping with relationship challenges.

Better yet, you will be able to apply those new ideas to improve all the relationships in your life positively. Your children, parents, friends, and co-workers will see you in a new, more positive light.

2. You Brush up on Communication Skills

You and your partner used to chat for hours on end, gushing in praise and love for each other. Now you barely utter two words to each other in passing.

You will learn how to communicate more clearly, host “fair” discussions with your partner, and listen to your partner better. With a renewed focus on improved communication, you will have the tools to mend the relationship.

3. You Learn How to Have a Fair Fight

Arguments are a part of any relationship. Unfortunately, you and your partner may lose sight of the respect and love you have for each other when you disagree.

Your therapist can share tips with you on how to keep your cool during a disagreement, how to understand what your partner really means, and how to express your feelings after you both calm down from the fight.

Should your partner eventually come around and decide to attend therapy with you, it can be beneficial to utilize the same therapist for couples and individual therapy.

Should I Choose Individual Therapy Versus Group Therapy?

While we focused on individual therapy for most of this article, let us pivot a moment and look at the concept of group therapy.

As opposed to individual therapy, in which you meet with a counselor one-on-one, a therapist who leads a group therapy session addresses the needs of a group of individuals with similar issues at the same time.

But, that larger number of people in attendance does not take away from the therapeutic benefits of a group therapy session.

Indeed, group therapy offers benefits that you do not necessarily receive during individual counseling sessions.

Here are three excellent benefits of group therapy:

1. You Learn About Yourself from Others in the Group

You have a commonality with others in your group. Also you might share behaviors, a diagnosis, or an addiction.

And, because of these common traits, you can learn about yourself from observing others.

In other words, you can often see some of your own actions from an objective standpoint. That insight is priceless.

2. Group Therapy Sessions are Motivating

Other members of your therapeutic group can push you out of your comfort zone.

As a result of their gentle nudges and encouragement, you might feel empowered to take steps forward in your treatment. In this setting, consider it a positive form of peer pressure.

3. Group Therapy Offers Social Support

Often, we feel isolated or alone when we face challenges in life.

Whether you have a mental illness or a marriage on the rocks, it can be scary to discuss it with others.

However, the people in your group therapy session are walking through the same challenges.

This setting gives you a social support network that has hiked a mile or two in your boots.

So, to answer the original question about individual therapy versus group therapy, don’t think of it in terms of either-or. Instead, consider that group therapy will enhance or supplement individual treatment in a positive way.

How Can I Get Started with Individual Therapy?

Now that you are ready to get started in individual therapy, here are the next steps you can take.

First, you can Google search “individual therapy near me.”

If you happen to be in the Greater Phoenix area, Emerald Isle Health and Recovery is happy to serve as your mental health treatment provider.

While many recognize us as mental health specialists, we also serve our community as a center for individual and family therapy.

Not only can we help you with therapy, but we can also coordinate your health coverage on your behalf.

Give us a call at 855-613-0620. We also offer self-pay options. We are here to serve all your mental wellness needs.