Carers Information Pack: Therapies
Talking Treatments and Therapies
Talking treatments is the name for various forms of psychotherapy, which can be effectively used for a range of mental health problems. They are commonly used for stress, depression or anxiety but research indicates that talking treatments may also halve relapse rates for people who have psychosis.
Most people continue taking their medication while attending therapy but sometimes doctors or therapists will encourage people to try to go through the therapy without medication. Talking treatments are available through the NHS though there are sometimes long waiting lists. Therapy is also available privately, but is often expensive.
Counselling/Psychotherapy
This can help to explore and express experiences and feelings in a way that increases the person's self-awareness and self-esteem. This enables them to free themselves from self-defeating behaviour. There are many different styles of counselling or psychotherapy.
- Psychodynamic therapy focuses on linking early development and trauma with current difficulties.
- Focused expressive therapy concentrates on expressing strong underlying feelings, for example anger and grief, which seem to be "stuck".
- Supportive psychotherapy is used to help people overcome their difficulties by exploring more practical solutions for psychological problems.
- Person-centred and solution-focused therapies usually concentrate on the person's current, "here and now" problems.
- Counselling/psychotherapy can be short or long-term, and often consists of weekly sessions lasting about an hour. It may also be done in a group setting.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
This concentrates on how a person's thought processes (cognitions) affect their behaviour. Individuals are helped to confront self-defeating thoughts and to challenge the beliefs that result from those thoughts - for example, thinking negatively. The therapist will focus on everyday activities; some may ask clients to keep diaries to monitor their thoughts and behaviour.
CBT has recently begun to be used successfully with people who hear voices. It is usually short-term therapy; people will be offered 6-12 sessions at a time, then progress is reviewed and further arrangements made. It can also be used over a longer time as part of an ongoing care plan and can be provided in a group setting as well as on an individual basis.
Group Therapy
This can be particularly useful for people who share a common difficulty or experience. Group therapy can be intensive and long term or shorter and more practically based. Some groups will encourage members to explore their early life and how those patterns of relating affect them now. Many groups are for mutual sharing and support through times of crisis.
Bereavement Therapy
Specialised therapy for people who have experienced loss, usually from death but it may also include redundancy, divorce or separation, miscarriage or stillbirth, or forced migration. Therapists will help people explore their feelings and grieve fully so that they can let go and move on with their lives.
Social Care
Research indicates that leading a full life helps protect people's mental health and helps recovery. This is also referred to as being 'socially included' and means that people have opportunities for relationships, work, interests and hobbies. The Government has a department called the Social Exclusion Unit which has published a series of factsheets about the effects on people's mental health of being isolated and not part of their local communities. Further information is available from www.socialexclusion.gov.uk
Complementary/Alternative Therapies
Complementary/alternative therapies have proved to be particularly helpful when people are experiencing stress related symptoms, tension, anxiety and depression. Some complementary/alternative therapists also claim that their treatments can be effective when people are in crisis and suffering from psychotic symptoms. The use of any complementary therapies should be discussed with the medical professionals involved. A useful booklet, The A-Z of Complementary and Alternative Therapies is available from Mind Publications, 15-19 Broadway, London E15 4BQ, priced £1 plus 10% post and packing. Please enclose an A5 S.A.E. Tel 020 8221 9666 or email publications@mind.org.uk For further Information on available therapies please contact:
