Life isn’t always easy, but it shouldn’t be an uphill daily battle. Relationship problems, mental health challenges, and chronic stress can interfere with your quality of life and lead to physical health problems in the future. The good news is that you don’t have to continue to struggle day after day. Enrolling in individual therapy provides you with opportunities for empowerment, teaching you the skills needed to tackle life’s challenges more effectively.
At Promises Brazos Valley, we understand the benefits of talk therapy and are here to help you achieve the quality of life you deserve.
What is talk therapy?
Talk therapy is a form of counseling also known as psychotherapy. As indicated by its name, talk therapy involves sessions with a trained therapist to talk about your challenges and work together to create solutions. Talk therapy is one of the most commonly used therapeutic modalities, and there are many different types, including:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): This is one of the most widely used types of talk therapy due to its versatility. CBT involves identifying and restructuring problematic thoughts and beliefs to influence more productive behaviors.
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT): Originally developed for people diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, DBT is now used to assist people who don’t achieve the desired results with CBT or other forms of talk therapy. DBT emphasizes acceptance and promotes mindfulness to facilitate emotional regulation.
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR): This therapy is designed to treat trauma, helping people recall and process traumatic memories while focusing on external stimuli like specific eye movements or tapping.
- Exposure therapy: This type of therapy is a more specific form of CBT used to address anxiety and phobias associated with anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A therapist will help you devise a strategy of slowly exposing yourself to situations that trigger anxiety to help you gradually build a tolerance, with the goal of reducing the anxiety response.
These are just a few of the wide range of talk therapies available. Contact a therapist for guidance on which type of talk therapy might be best for your situation.
What are the benefits of one-on-one therapy?
Some people are hesitant to enroll in therapy because they’re unsure how it can help them or if it’ll be effective. If that sounds like you, consider some of the following benefits of talk therapy.
Emotional support
If you’re struggling with your mental health or problems in your relationships, you need to have a safe space to talk about what’s going on and how you feel. One-on-one therapy provides you with a nonjudgmental space to discuss your challenges with complete confidentiality.
Life skill building
Not all life skills are taught in school—communication skills and coping skills are critical for improving your relationships and helping you deal with everyday stressors. A therapist can help you build valuable life skills so you can enjoy a greater quality of life.
Insight and awareness
Sometimes, it’s difficult to recognize your own destructive thought patterns until someone else points them out to you. A therapist can help you spot when you’re ruminating, practicing all-or-nothing thinking, or lacking self-compassion. Simply being more aware of your thoughts and beliefs can help you stop unhelpful patterns and initiate positive change.
Is talk therapy right for you?
Talk therapy isn’t just for people who don’t have someone they can confide in. Whether or not you have the support of your loved ones, talk therapy could provide additional benefit. Here are a few ways to know if talk therapy may be right for you:
- You keep experiencing the same problems over and over, and feel stuck.
- You’re having problems at work or home that you’re uncomfortable discussing with your loved ones.
- You’re self-medicating with drugs or alcohol to cope with mental health symptoms like depression and anxiety.
If any of these resonate, consider giving one-on-one therapy a try.
Enroll in one-on-one therapy at Promises Brazos Valley today
You don’t need to wait until your problems feel insurmountable to talk to a therapist. Everyone can benefit from one-on-one therapy, whether they simply want to improve their communication skills or are experiencing significant issues in their work or home life. Call Promises Brazos Valley at 979.426.0086 or complete our online form for the guidance you need to build valuable life skills and improve your relationships.