Understanding Mental Health Therapy

Common Mental Health Disorders Addressed in Therapy

Psychotherapy is effective in treating and improving various mental health conditions such as:

• Anxiety Disorders
  Anxiety Disorders can make you feel constantly worried, restless, or overwhelmed, even when there is no reason to feel so. Symptoms of Anxiety include a racing heart, sweating, trouble sleeping, overthinking, or constant worrying. These feelings can be very intense and hard to control. Mental health therapy helps you manage these feelings by identifying what causes these episodes, challenging irrational thoughts, and developing coping strategies that help you regain control over your emotions.
• Depressive Disorders
  Depressive Disorders are marked by ongoing feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest in activities. These feelings last for weeks or longer and interfere with your daily functioning. Symptoms often include fatigue, trouble concentrating, changes in appetite, low self-esteem, low confidence, and increased irritability. Therapy for Depression helps you recognise negative patterns, reframe negative thoughts, and find ways to reignite joy and motivation in your everyday life.
• Bipolar Disorder
  Bipolar Disorder causes intense mood swings that range from high-energy “manic” episodes to deep “depressive” lows. During mania, you may feel overly excited, take increased risks, or have trouble sleeping due to high energy levels. In depressive episodes, you might feel sad, drained, tired, or unable to concentrate. These shifts can disrupt your relationships, work, and other daily routines if not managed correctly. Bipolar Disorder is a lifelong condition, but it is manageable with a combination of therapy, mood-stabilising medications, and healthy habits.
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) develops after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, such as a natural disaster, loss of a loved one, abuse, assault, or war. It causes symptoms like flashbacks, nightmares, and emotional numbness. People with PTSD may avoid reminders of the event or feel constantly on edge, which impacts their daily lives and relationships. Therapies such as  Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) help identify triggers, and replace malformed beliefs with positive ones. Medications can also help reduce symptoms. 

Sessions often involve catharsis—commonly known as “venting” or letting out your feelings, exercises, and homework to practise newly learnt skills in real-life situations. Over time, CBT helps you build resilience and equips you with tools to manage challenges more effectively, making it one of the most researched and effective therapy methods available.

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) was originally created for the treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder, however, it is also effective for issues like mood swings, self-harm, Eating Disorders, and improving relationships. DBT combines mindfulness practices with skills like distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness to foster growth and resilience. 

Sessions may include individual therapy, group training, and phone coaching for support between appointments. This structured, skill-building approach empowers you to handle stressful situations, break negative cycles, and build a more stable, fulfilling life.

Psychodynamic Therapy
Psychodynamic Therapy explores how past experiences, relationships, and unconscious thoughts shape your current behaviour and emotions. By uncovering these patterns, you gain a deeper understanding of yourself and your struggles. This insight helps you address your unconscious conflicts and fosters change in your present life. 

It is especially useful for long-standing issues like relationship problems, self-esteem, or chronic unhappiness. This therapy involves discussing feelings, dreams, and childhood memories to reveal hidden influences.

Humanistic Therapy
Humanistic Therapy emphasises your potential for personal growth and self-discovery. It focuses on your unique perspective, fostering self-acceptance, empathy, and empowerment. It helps you accept and connect with your authentic self by exploring your values, goals, and feelings. 

Humanistic Therapy is ideal for those seeking purpose, greater self-understanding, or healing from emotional turmoils. It promotes a positive, non-judgemental environment where you can explore your emotions freely and work towards living a more fulfilling and authentic life.

Integrative or Holistic Therapy
Integrative Therapy combines techniques from various therapeutic approaches, tailoring the process to your unique needs and challenges. This flexible, personalised method can address emotional struggles, relationship issues, or life transitions. It draws from treatment approaches such as CBT, psychodynamic, and Humanistic Therapies, adapting them to suit your goals. 

Integrative Therapy emphasises treating you as a whole—mind, body, and emotions. By combining tools from different approaches, it helps you build resilience, gain insights, and navigate complex issues more effectively.

A therapist will guide you through a structured therapy session making you feel heard, and improve mental health conditions such as Anxiety, Depression, and stress by teaching coping strategies and tools for managing your emotions. It helps strengthen your relationships by enhancing communication skills and resolving conflicts. Therapy also promotes personal growth, helping you set and achieve goals while building confidence and resilience. Whether you’re facing a specific issue or seeking self-improvement, therapy supports emotional healing and empowers you to live a more balanced, fulfilling, and healthier life.

A therapy session is collaborative, it should not feel like communication is only one-sided. It is common to “shop around” for a therapist—you can consult different therapists, take a trial session and decide whether you want to continue with them or not. Before investing more of your time, energy and money; these trial sessions can tell you if the therapist is right for you or not.

In fact, most insurance in India does not cover mental health at all, making it financially difficult to seek mental health therapy. If you live in a remote area or a place with limited mental health professionals, finding a therapist can be even more challenging. However, nowadays online therapy platforms are bridging these challenges by offering affordable and flexible therapy options.