Is Therapy Worth It?

Introduction:

My research question “ How does therapy help those that have Mental Health illness? What is the science behind therapy?” Therapy is a crucial tool in helping individuals with mental health issues. It provides a safe and supportive environment where people can explore their thoughts, emotions, and behavioral. Through therapy, individuals gain insight into the root causes of their mental health issues and develop coping strategies to manage them effectively. As someone who started taking therapy to help me navigate work,school and my personal life. It could be very helpful and calming having someone listening to you and someone trying to understand where you’re coming from. Everybody should take therapy at some point in their lives, even if it’s not because of a certain trauma, just for a daily routine could be good for you and your mental health. Therapy can teach you how your own mind operates . It enables you to manage your emotions, develop healthy behavior , and shift your perspective so that your life looks more like you want it to. 

Source Analysis:

Source#1: “Science Behind Therapy” By: MHA Mental Health America 

https://mhanational.org/science-behind-therapy#:~:text=Therapy%20help%20you%20learn%20 how,struggling%20with%20the%20 mental%20health.

Summary:  

 In this article it’s about the science behind therapy and the different types a therapy a person can take on. Neuroscience has shown over the past few decades that our brains are affected by our experience in life. This phenomenon is known as neuroplasticity. Our brains can undergo structural and functional changes in response to a variety of events, including those that stimulate our senses, teach us something new, put us in stressful circumstances, and many more. Which suggests that while some experiences, such as treatment, can assist change the structure and function of the brain into a healthy state, it also implies that certain events or outside pressures might cause mental health issues. Research continuously demonstrates that when treating a variety of mental health issues, such as anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder, behavioral as effective as or even more effective than medicine. Depending on the method or skill you are working on, there are differences in the science behind how therapy operates. Psychotherapy improves connections and communication between neurons in the brain, altering gene expression and resulting in long-term behavioural change. Studies on cognitive behavioural treatment (CBT) in individuals with psychosis revealed that CBT improved connections between the prefrontal cortex and the amygdala, the area of the brain in charge of fear and danger perception. Eight years later, there was a decrease in psychotic symptoms linked to enhanced connection, which may have contributed to people’s ability to recognize social threats. Therapy works long-term not only because of the brain changes it causes, but also because of the skills it teaches individuals. People learn about themselves via treatment and can apply this knowledge when they encounter new obstacles.

Key Quotes:

• “For Instance, studies have found that as people get better at controlling their emotions, the brain’s prefrontal cortex (which is responsible for reasoning and rational thinking) changes.”
• “ Short-term therapy can provide long-term benefits, a study found that PTSD patients displayed less severe symptoms two years after treatment ended,compared to six months after treatment ended.” 
• “Psychotherapy reduces disability, morbidity and mortality; improves work functioning; and decreases psychiatric hospitalisation .”

Rhetorical Analysis:

The overall purpose of this article is to inform the readers the science behind mental health therapy and the science behind everything. How it all comes down to the therapy you do long-term. In the article they first explain the. Neuroscience behind therapy and how affecting it can be someone who has mental health issues. In this article it explains how therapy can be beneficial for you rather than taking medicine in the long run. The experiences we go through in life can affect our mental health and can cause people to have mental health issues. When dealing with depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, therapy is more helpful. The article focuses on the science behind mental health issues and behind therapy when a person with mental health issues improves connections and communication between the brain’s neurons which improves long term behavioral change. The author uses facts to make more sense for therapy and how it is useful and helpful for mental health illnesses. Help the readers to understand more about neuroscience and therapy.

Source #2: “Understanding psychotherapy and how it works” By: American Psychological Association Dated created: November 1, 2012,  Last Updated: December 12, 2023

https://www.apa.org/topics/psychotherapy/understanding

Summary:

In this article from  “American Psychological Association” it talks about how therapy works and how to. Understand psychotherapy. In any given year,over 25% of adult Americans suffer from depression,anxiety or another mental illness, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Some require assistance in quitting smoking, losing weight, or managing a serious illness. Others find it difficult to deal with stress, substance abuse, relationship problems, losing their jobs, losing loved ones, or other problems. These issues frequently become incapacitating. Psychologists use techniques that have been verified by science in psychotherapy to assist clients in forming better, more productive habits. Individuals can solve their problems through a variety of psychotherapy techniques such as cognitive-behavioral, interpersonal and other talk therapies. The collaborative treatment of psychotherapy is predicted on the partnership between a patient and psychologist. It is based on conversation and offers a safe space where you can speak candidly with someone who. Is impartial,objective and nonjudgmental. Together you and your psychologist will determine which thought and behavioral patterns are preventing you from experiencing your best self. This is article they also speak about the different types of psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, psychoanalytic and humanistic approaches.  Psychologists who practice cognitive behavioral therapy take a pragmatic approach to patient care. They can give you tasks to complete in order to improve your ability to cope. This method is frequently called for homework, that can help you process things better when you write them. Psychologists may ask you to record your responses to specific situations as they happen in order to obtain additional information. In between sessions the psychologist might ask you to use the methods you are learning in these sessions in your real life situations, and put them to practice. Reading can also be something a psychologist may ask you to do so you can gain knowledge about a certain topic. Humanistic and psychoanalytic methods usually place more emphasis on speaking than on acting. To better understand the underlying causes of your current problems, talk about your early experiences during sessions. Psychologists might incorporate elements from multiple psychotherapy modalities. The majority of therapists don’t stick to just one method. They combine aspects of various methods and customize categories to meet the needs of each patient. 

Key Quotes:

• “According to the National Institute of Mental Health, more than a quarter of American adults experience depression, anxiety, or another mental disorder in any given year.” 
• “Some people seek psychotherapy because they have felt depressed, anxious, or angry for a long time. Others may want help for a chronic illness that is interfering with their emotional or physical well-being.” 
• “ Psychologists and patients work together, so the right match is important. Good “chemistry” with your psychologist is critical, so don’t be afraid to interview potential candidates about their training, clinical expertise, and experience treating problems like yours.” 

Rhetorical Analysis:

The American Psychological Association’s article discusses the role of therapy in treating mental illnesses, with over 25% of adult Americans suffering from depression, anxiety, or other mental health issues annually. Psychologists use proven techniques, such as cognitive-behavioral, interpersonal, and talk therapies, to help clients form better, more productive habits. The collaborative treatment of psychotherapy is based on a partnership between a patient and a psychologist, offering a safe space for candid, impartial, objective, and nonjudgmental conversation. Together, the patient and psychologist will identify patterns preventing them from experiencing their best self. The article also discusses different types of psychotherapy, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, psychoanalytic, and humanistic approaches. Cognitive-behavioral therapy practitioners use a pragmatic approach, providing tasks to improve coping skills, often called homework. They may also record responses to specific situations to gather additional information. In therapy sessions, psychologists may ask patients to apply the learning methods in real-life situations and read to gain knowledge. Humanistic and psychoanalytic methods emphasize speaking over acting, and discussing early experiences can help understand underlying causes. Therapists often combine elements from multiple modalities and customize categories to meet the needs of each patient, ensuring a comprehensive approach to therapy. By incorporating these methods, patients can better understand and manage their problems.

Source#3: “ Efficacy of Dialectical Behavior Therapy Versus Treatment as Usual for Acute-Care Inpatient Adolescents”  By: Alison A. Tebbett-Mock PhD, Ema Saito MD, Madeline McGee PhD, Patricia Wolosyzn MSN, Maria Venuti RNC, Accepted 30 January 2019, Available online 1 April 2019, Version of Record 23 December 2019.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0890856719302199

Summary:

 In this article, they talk about an evidence-based treatment for suicidal conduct and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) has been modified for use with teenage patients. Many adolescents are sent to mental hospitals due to the severity of these behaviors, but little study has been done on specific uses during hospital stays. In this study, adolescents admitted to an acute-care psychiatric inpatient therapies spital were compared to receive treatment as usual (TAU) or DBT.  Retrospective chart reviews were carried out for teenagers undergoing inpatient DBT (n = 425) as well as for a historical control group (i.e., TAU, n = 376) that was treated on the same unit prior to DBT. As preliminary analyses, χ2 and t tests were performed to look at differences in diagnosis, sex, and age between the groups. To investigate variations in outcome variables between groups, Mann-Whitney U tests were performed. Analysis was done on the possible advantages of cost savings. Compared to patients who got TAU, those who received DBT had considerably fewer constant observation (CO) hours for self-injury, episodes of suicide attempts and self-injury, restraints, and hospital days. There were no statistically significant differences observed in the number of CO hours for aggressiveness, instances of aggression toward patients or staff, seclusions, or readmissions between the DBT and TAU groups. According to a cost analysis, staff time for CO hours with DBT was $251,609 less expensive than with TAU. The outcomes provide credence to the application of DBT in a teenage acute-care mental health inpatient facility. Future research directions, study limitations, and clinical consequences are highlighted. When compared to TAU, DBT implementation on the unit appeared to dramatically reduce a variety of safety-related factors, such as hours of continuous surveillance for self-injury, instances of suicide attempts and self-injury, the use of restraints, and the number of hospital days. The typical length of hospital stay is roughly one week. It was not statistically significant that patients who received DBT had fewer hours of continuous surveillance for suicidal thoughts.

Key Quotes:

• “Statistically significant differences were not found between DBT and TAU groups for number of CO hours for aggression, incidents of aggression toward patients or staff, seclusions, or readmissions.”
• “The goal of this study was to evaluate DBT versus treatment as usual (TAU) for adolescents on an acute-care psychiatric inpatient unit.”
• “Both χ2 and t tests were conducted as preliminary analyses to examine differences between groups on diagnosis, sex, and age. Mann−Whitney U tests were conducted to examine differences between groups on outcome variables.”

Rhetorical Analysis:

This article discusses the application of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) for teenage patients with suicidal conduct and nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI). The study compared adolescents admitted to an acute-care psychiatric inpatient therapy facility to receive treatment as usual (TAU) or DBT. Retrospective chart reviews were conducted for 425 adolescents undergoing inpatient DBT and a historical control group (TAU, 376) treated on the same unit prior to DBT. Preliminary analyses showed that patients who received DBT had significantly fewer constant observation hours for self-injury, episodes of suicide attempts and self-injury, restraints, and hospital days compared to those who received TAU. There were no significant differences in CO hours for aggressiveness, instances of aggression toward patients or staff, seclusions, or readmissions between the DBT and TAU groups.

Reflection/Conclusion:

Therapy has always been an interesting topic for me, it has been intriguing to me. How speaking to someone changes really changes how you carry yourself and look at things around the world. Reading these articles have only encouraged me to not only learn about the science behind therapy and how we as people can explore our behavior, our emotions, thoughts. The range of our actions and how some things can trigger us and how to take control of what we can control. Scientifically trying to find new ways to help people with mental health issues of teenagers who don’t really understand themself, trying to figure out why they feel the way they feel.  As in the second article I read, over 25% of adult Americans are suffering from depression, anxiety, or other mental health illness. Being heard, and engaging in therapy can be beneficial if and when you take the first step to get yourself there. The question now is “How can we as society help those to make that first step”, as educators, as parents, friends, sister, brother. Helping those teenagers in school who are struggling, having open decisions that can help them open up and express how they’re feeling. As a teenager going to therapy can come to you in many different ways. Either you don’t shy away from it or you’re too embarrassed to go and be vulnerable to someone who you don’t know. As someone who didn’t shy away from it, i could say it has help manage and balance out my life, although you can still have challenges and new experiences throughout life, having the tools in your tool box to manage those emotions better.