Counselling and Therapy- Opening Doors for Getting Help for Mental Health through Psychotherapy

When we think of the word “Mental Health” all of us are guaranteed to have different thoughts or feelings about how we define it (*I know, I know, you must be thinking how spectacularly unique and magical my prediction is. No one would have thought of this*). No, but really take a moment to check in with yourself- What are all the words or emotions that come up for you when you think of the word “Mental Health”? Some people who have shared their opinions out loud have said the words/phrases like ‘important’, ‘necessary to talk about’, ‘a crisis’, ‘an excuse’, ‘this generations’ problem’ and many more. Conversations about Mental Health have been a mixed bag of sentiments ranging from worrying about the crisis that it is, being critical of it and seeing it as an excuse or feeling ‘somewhere-in-between’ about it.

Mental health is something we can’t really avoid talking about though because it is every bit a part of our lives as our physical health. Financial crisis, life transitions, physical health issues, biological causes of mental health concerns can all affect us and how we operate through our life, our relationships, our productivity and how we see ourselves.

Psychological Health is Important…

So, seeing that our psychological health can be so pervasive in our life, it is important to make sure that we have different ways to help ourselves and others through the problems we face. Which is where Psychiatrists and Psychologists have worked hard to apply years of research and training to help alleviate the many difficulties that comes with psychological difficulties. The former is a field of medicine and includes using medicines as a way of managing our thoughts and emotions depending on the diagnosis which can be life-changing for many. At the same time, medicines are not the only available option for those dealing with mental health concerns and it helps to know that we have multiple options.

Psychology branched out from philosophy and medicine and over the years has become a separate field that has made huge contributions to public health, corporates, advertising, law, academic research and what not. In India, Psychology is still in its nascent stage and psychotherapy and counselling are given the same treatment as is given to a new employee in an established workplace- interested about the new addition, suspicious about their credibility and feeling slightly resistant to the change. Don’t get me wrong, this is human nature to respond similarly to anything new- this is not unique to psychology. But paired with the stigma many have about mental health, psychology as a field has a long way to go before seen as more than the- less competent sibling of Psychiatry (not these exact words but these were the sentiments some had shared).

"The principle aim of psychotherapy is not to transport one to an impossible state of happiness, but to help (the client) acquire steadfastness and patience in the face of suffering.

~Carl Jung"

Then what is Psychotherapy? Different approaches of psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is a continuous process of engaging in purposeful interaction to work on the mental, emotional, relational, or spiritual health of people. It can help navigate developmental, relationship related, psychological or wellbeing related concerns faced throughout life. Psychotherapy doesn’t simply focus on alleviating the problems a person goes through, but it also focuses on building acceptance, empathy and understanding of how one interprets their life. Psychotherapists apply the theories of psychology to enhance wellbeing and empower people seeking therapy.

Based on the different theories of psychology, psychotherapy too has developed corresponding approaches-

1. Psychodynamic approach-based therapies- This theoretical approach was founded by Sigmund Freud and developed by different Psychologists following the Psychoanalytic school of psychology. Psychodynamic therapists follow the principle of our unconscious childhood experiences affecting our mental health. The theoretical approach has moved ahead to emphasize uncovering the underlying meaning and motivation of the problems faced by us.

2. Behavior Therapies- Behavior Therapy took a different approach to Psychoanalysis, i.e., they focused on the conscious actions (behaviors) and aimed to change unfavorable behavior using either reinforcement, punishment or forming associations with other actions. Behavior Therapy approaches have found a lot of success in de-addiction therapy, skills training and therapy for phobias among others. Systematic Desensitization techniques help to form new associations to help manage fear/phobic behavior and thus feelings/thoughts. Token Economy and Shaping help to develop new behavior and habits through the use of reinforcements.

3. Cognitive Therapy Approaches- Cognitive Therapists focused on thoughts rather than our behavior as the way to help with our mental health. They believe that irrational, unhelpful thoughts form belief systems which in turn affects how we feel or act. Over the years, cognitive therapists have combined Behavior therapy components to develop Cognitive-Behavior Approaches.

4. Humanistic Therapies- Humanistic Therapies is an umbrella term used for different modalities like Person-Centered Therapy, Gestalt Therapy, Solution Focussed Therapy and Transactional Analysis. Humanistic therapies takes a step away from more directive approaches like cognitive behaviour therapies or behaviour therapies (where the focus is on changing unhealthy behaviour or thoughts) to help people understand themselves, their free-will, the meaning they can make of their lives. Humanistic approaches put the person as being more than the mental health issues they may face without ignoring how mental health concerns can affect them. Humanistic therapies are person led and believes that a person’s nature is inherently capable of doing good and that they have the capacity to find answers to their own problems. With a good rapport between therapist and client, humanistic therapies can help people tap into their potential of self-reflection and growth.

5. Integrative or eclectic therapy- Many therapists combine diverse techniques and theories to make sure that the therapy sessions and interventions are tailored to the person’s individual needs.

Interventions for mental health needs don't need to be limited to only one method. Each individual is unique and so are their emotional needs which is why providing options of which intervention to choose (or combine) can be a much better way to address psychological distress. Psychotherapy is one such method used by psychologists and sometimes psychiatrists to talk to people and help them find insights to their concerns. Psychotherapists use different theoretical approaches to help understand the root causes, the possible reasons the problem still persists and what could be done to bring change within themselves/ around them to alleviate distress.

References

Different approaches to psychotherapy (2009) American Psychological Association. Available at: https://www.apa.org/topics/psychotherapy/approaches (Accessed: 22 February 2025).

What is Humanistic Therapy? Types of Therapy (no date) What is humanistic therapy? | Types of therapy. Available at: https://www.bacp.co.uk/about-therapy/types-of-therapy/humanistic-therapy/ (Accessed: February 2025).

Photo by cottonbro studio: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-in-black-pants-and-black-shoes-sitting-on-brown-wooden-chair-4101143/