Mental Health Therapy Roles
Therapists do therapy. We spend years learning theory and techniques to address mental health issues. Therapy interventions are intended to allow a client to achieve self-discovery, build personal insights, and learn healthier coping skills. There are times that a therapist can wear different hats, to expand into other territory to promote improved mental health.
Here are 4 basic areas that a therapist can offer while working with a client: 1) Psychoeducation 2) Case Management/Resourcing 3) Coaching and 4) Therapy/Counseling.
Psychoeducation
Providing Information About Diagnosis
Psychoeducation involves the therapist providing their client with information about their diagnosis, symptoms, and prognosis of their issue. A therapist can also provide psychoeducation to family members to assist in creating a realistic understanding of the challenges of the client that may impact the family dynamic. Therapists often educate parents about their child to help them build better tolerance and insight into parenting approaches.
Explaining Therapy Techniques
When a provider diagnoses a client, it is important to educate the client about their diagnosis and review how the symptoms of concern are part of that diagnostic category. Establishing a client profile of the unique symptoms of that client will help to guide the treatment options and specific interventions.
A therapist can introduce the basics of CBT or DBT and how this may be a best fit for that client’s clinical presentation. Using a handout or an online link for information can be very helpful. Psychoeducation empowers the client to make their own informed decisions about how to move forward rather than just adhering to the expert advice.
Giving Examples
A therapist can help to normalize a client by giving examples of other people that have had similar experiences. Hearing the struggles and triumphs of others can help a client not feel as vulnerable, isolated or stigmatized.
Case Management
Resource Materials
Providing local resources to marginalized communities has been shown in several studies of evidence-based practice to increase engagement and positive feelings about treatment which are positively correlated with treatment outcomes and negatively correlated with dropout. Therapists will often source links on YouTube or books.
Case management that happens in therapy will maintain the therapeutic framework and clinical boundaries.
Resource Other Services
There are times when a therapist will focus on coordinating services, connecting clients with necessary resources, and advocating for their needs. This often comes in the form of referrals to outside adjunctive resources.
Coaching
While therapy focuses on addressing mental health concerns and past experiences, coaching often focuses on present goals and future aspirations. Many therapists incorporate coaching techniques as part of the therapy treatment.
Instill Hope
Instilling hope in therapy involves fostering a belief in the possibility of positive change and a motivation to actively engage in the therapeutic process. Even when there are setbacks, the encouragement of a therapist can be life changing.
Motivate
By encouraging clients to step outside their comfort zones and explore new perspectives, therapists can foster growth and self-discovery. By acknowledging and celebrating even small gains, forward progress is promoted to create a sustainable positive change in a client.
Promote Support
Therapists can guide clients in establishing the kind of support and relationship they need for effective change. This can shift from the therapy alliance to a natural support system.
Achieve Goals
Therapists can help clients commit to action items and monitor their progress, ensuring they are held accountable for their progress. And help to identify barriers to success. Helping clients set realistic goals and developing a clear path towards achieving them can foster a sense of agency and control. This can be facilitated through techniques like hope maps, which encourage clients to identify potential barriers and strategies to overcome them.
Therapy/Counseling
Therapy and counseling are both treatments for mental health problems that involve working with a trained professional. You talk about thoughts, feelings and behaviors to understand them better and work in a collaborative way to promote mental wellness. The term therapy is often used interchangeably with counseling, talk therapy or psychotherapy. There can be a lot of similarities and overlaps between therapy and counseling. Counseling is very similar to therapy in that it is another form of support to help you overcome various issues in your life. Counseling tends to focus on more immediate issues while psychotherapy tends to deal with more complex issues and may involve a longer period of care. Here are some features of therapy treatment:
Relies On Evidence-Based Theory
Evidence-based therapies are treatments for mental health diagnoses that have been rigorously tested and found to be effective in clinical research. These therapies are based on scientific evidence and are designed to help clients achieve positive outcomes.
Utilizes Psychometrics
Assessments can quantify the severity of symptoms like depression, anxiety, or PTSD, providing a baseline for treatment and monitoring progress. It involves taking a checklist of symptoms and scoring the severity of symptoms associated with a disorder and creating a symptom profile of high and low scores. In addition to a global score that is normed against thousands of other people to get a severity score, the item cluster can help to guide the treatment plan for interventions that best meet the needs of a client.
Healing Past Trauma
Trauma is an emotional response to an overwhelming and threatening event. Trauma-Informed Care focuses on the healing process of emotional and physical pain associated with these events. There are several evidence-based theories and frameworks to guide the therapist in the treatment of a client suffering from trauma dynamics. The goal is to assist the client in processing the past trauma and work towards overcoming the effects of being stuck in the trauma.
Create New Coping Skills
Many people can get triggered by stressors that can adversely impact their mental state. Having ineffective coping mechanisms can exacerbate the negative impact of a trigger. Sometimes the ineffective coping mechanisms become problems themselves. Therapists can help a client develop personalized coping strategies and provide support as they identify triggers and create healthy and effective coping skills. Having healthy coping skills in your daily routine can lead to increased self-awareness and a greater sense of control over your emotions and behaviors.
Build Personal Insights Of Client
Many clients come to therapy with minimal insights into their problems. Some clients may even blame others for their issues. Through appropriate therapy techniques, the therapist helps the client to increase self-awareness and build insight into their problems. Gaining insight involves developing a deeper understanding of yourself, your thought processes, and your behavior. It enables a client to be more aware of their own motivations and intentions. Having insight allows a client to better understand their own emotions and the emotions of those around them.
