What is Therapy?
Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, is an effective psychological intervention for a multitude of psychological, behavioral, and somatic problems, symptoms, and disorders (Locher et al., 2019). A popular therapeutic approach, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), has been shown to effectively treat many mental illnesses, reduce emotional distress, and help people work through difficult issues. CBT uses therapeutic strategies aimed at changing maladaptive cognitions, or unhelpful thoughts, which can lead to decreases in emotional distress and problematic behaviors (Hofmann et al., 2012).
Psychotherapy can be short term or long term depending on the immediacy and complexity of issues. Sessions are commonly held once a week or once every two weeks. However, there is not a one-size-fits-all approach.
The general effects of psychotherapy are understood and accepted to be significant (American Psychological Association, 2012 as cited in Chorpita et al., 2011; Smith, Glass, & Miller, 1980; Wampold, 2001). In 2016, the American Psychological Association stated that about 75 percent of people who enter psychotherapy show some benefit from it. The results of psychotherapy tend to last longer and be less likely to require additional treatment than psychopharmacological treatments (American Psychological Association, 2012). Clients often report the benefits of treatment at the completion of therapy but continue to improve following therapy (American Psychological Association, 2012 as cited in Abbass, et al., 2006; Anderson & Lambert, 1995; De Maat, et al., 2009; Grant, et al., 2012; Leichsenring & Rabung, 2008; Leichsenring, et al., 2004; Shedler, 2010).
What are the Benefits of Therapy in NYC?
Therapy does not only show benefits in managing mental health disorders, but it can also help with daily challenges. Therapy can help you handle difficult situations in a more effective way, so you can live a more meaningful life. Some benefits of therapy include:
- Improvement in mood and ability to regulate emotions
- Reduced symptoms of mental illness
- A stronger sense of self and purpose
- Decreased substance and alcohol abuse
- Ability to recognize problematic behaviors
- Gaining new skills to assist in problem-solving and decision-making
- Ability to process and deal with trauma
- Understand,attend to, and change unhelpful patterns or behaviors
- Create and achieve goals
- Create healthier relationships with improved communication and interpersonal skills
- Increased productivity and confidence
- And many more!
How do I Know what Type of Therapy is Best for Me?
There are multiple types of therapy in NYC, such as individual therapy, family therapy, couples therapy, and group therapy. There are also multiple modalities which can be used in talk therapy, such as psychoanalysis and psychodynamic therapies, cognitive-behavioral therapies, humanistic therapies, or integrative therapies. When searching for what type of therapy is best for you, it is important to first know what your goals are.
Here at New York Behavioral Health, our therapists take a behavioral approach utilizing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy which are evidence-based practices that have been found to be effective in treating many diagnoses including anxiety disorders such as Generalized Anxiety Disorder or Social Anxiety Disorder, personality disorders such as Borderline Personality Disorder or Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder, depressive disorders, and many more!
Knowing what challenges you have been facing and what you hope to accomplish can help you and the therapist decide what is the best therapy for you!
Have questions or want to schedule an appointment?
How to find Therapy in NYC?
If you are looking for therapy in NYC and don’t know where to start, you are not alone. Finding a therapist can be overwhelming, and costly, especially in NYC. If you’re looking for a cost effective therapist, you can either search for one who accepts your insurance or find an outpatient practice that offers lower fees. Here at NYBH, we offer therapy for man reduced rates for intern therapists. Plus, many places offer virtual options in addition to in-person sessions.
It’s important you find someone who you feel comfortable with and trust. It is not uncommon to speak with multiple therapists before finding one that you connect with. Want to make a change? Learn more, schedule a free consultation today.
References:
American Psychological Association. (2012, August). Recognition of psychotherapy effectiveness. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/about/policy/resolution-psychotherapy
American Psychological Association. (2016). Understanding psychotherapy and how it works. https://www.apa.org/topics/psychotherapy/understanding
American Psychiatric Association. (2019, January). What is psychotherapy? Retrieved from https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/psychotherapy
Hofmann, S. G., Asnaani, A., Vonk, I. J., Sawyer, A. T., & Fang, A. (2012). The efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy: A review of meta-analyses. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 36(5), 427–440. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-012-9476-1
Locher, C., Meier, S., & Gaab, J. (2019). Psychotherapy: A world of meanings. Frontiers in Psychology, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00460
Shedler, J. (2010). The efficacy of psychodynamic psychotherapy. American Psychologist, 65(2), 98–109. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0018378
Stafford, M. R., Cooper, M., Barkham, M., Beecham, J., Bower, P., Cromarty, K., Fugard, A. J., Jackson, C., Pearce, P., Ryder, R., & Street, C. (2018). Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of humanistic counselling in schools for young people with emotional distress (ETHOS): Study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. Trials, 19(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-018-2538-2 Öst, L.-G. (2014). The efficacy of acceptance and commitment therapy: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 61, 105–121. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2014.07.018
