How Does Individual Therapy Work?

Individual Therapy is a collaboration between the person seeking therapy and their therapist. Individual therapy is also known as psychotherapy, talk therapy, counseling or psychosocial therapy. Therapy is when a person needs help with issues that they feel they can’t solve themselves, it also helps a person if they want to change their behavior, or need to improve something in their life.
Individual therapy is conducted in a one-on-one therapy session with the client and the therapist. Cognitive behavioral therapy or CBT and psychoanalysis are popular treatment styles of individual therapy. Therapy is done so that people can handle and overcome past and present traumas and obstacles, improve self-esteem and confidence, change negative thought patterns and behavior that can hinder them living their best life.
The therapist guides the individual to realize how their thoughts, behavior and past actions can affect their behavior now and teaches them how to change it. They learn skills and methods on how to handle these obstacles in order to reach goals and or improve current behavior.
Individual therapy is a learning process of self-realization, self-discipline and self-growth, where people can become self-aware of how their negative feelings can grow to destructive behavior and even become a serious health issue in their life.
When do you need Individual Therapy?
Knowing that you need therapy and want to seek out help is the first step you take in getting the help you need. Although it can take some time and deep thinking to finally feel that you are ready for therapy. If you have an issue or problems that causes distress or interferes with your daily life, these stressors can bring about negative thoughts, feelings, behaviors, or even physical feelings of pain and fatigue to your body.
Prevention is better than cure so you don’t need to prolong the distress that you feel before deciding to seek therapy. The American Psychological Association suggests that you should consider therapy when something causes distress and interferes with some part of life, particularly when you are thinking about or coping with the issue takes up at least an hour each day, the issue causes embarrassment or makes you want to avoid others, the issue has caused your quality of life to decrease, the issue has negatively affected school, work, or relationships and you’ve made changes in your life or developed habits to cope with the issue.
Some people associate therapy with feelings of weakness and lack of emotional strength and until now there is a negative stigma surrounding therapy, however there is no need to feel ashamed or embarrassed about wanting help to cope up with whatever you are dealing with. People make excuses like money problems, lack of time, judgement, lack of confidentiality, the past is the past, and denial in order to avoid going to therapy even though you sorely need it.
Benefits of Individual Therapy
People who seek therapy can experience an exploration of their moods, past and current behaviors in a clinical setting with a therapist who will non-judgingly listen to their concerns. Therapists are there to guide people to understand and realize their own emotions and behavior which can alter the mood and way of life.
In therapy you learn valuable life skills like better communication to convey your thoughts and feelings to others, improving self-esteem and confidence and ways on how to have a positive outlook on life.
Therapy is helpful to individuals who are suffering from:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Relationship problems
- Stress
- Food and Eating Disorders
- Anger Issues
- Addiction
- Abuse
- Sleeping issues
- Sexuality
Seek Help Now
Individual therapy helps people cope with the emotions and feelings that are too much for them to handle by themselves. Anyone can enjoy the benefits of therapy, whether young or old, in your teens or in your middle aged crises.
Individual therapy helps anyone who is willing to change their own behavior and is motivated to learn or re-learn attitudes and skills in order to become a better and improved person. If you are concerned about your mental health and do not want anymore to suffer from it, do not hesitate and seek the appropriate help now.
Therapy is there to give you a safe haven where you can talk about your problems and experiences without judgement. You do not have to suffer alone, seek a therapist’s help now.