Metro Atlanta Talk Therapy

When most people think about therapy with a mental health professional, they are thinking about talk therapy, also referred to as psychotherapy. If you are someone who is struggling with managing your emotions or behaviors in response to day-to-day activities and stressors, or if you think that you may have a diagnosable mental health condition, psychotherapy may help. Call our professionals at CNSL today to learn more about psychotherapy and the many other services available to you. 

What Is Talk Therapy?

Talk therapy is therapy that is based around verbal dialogue and conversation between a patient and a therapist. The purpose of talk therapy is to provide a safe space for a patient to discuss feelings and emotions related to stressors, traumatic events, relationships, grief and loss, and more. The purpose of talk therapy is to identify the issues that the patient is facing and then work with the therapist to develop strategies and solutions for decreasing the severity of symptoms and effects of these stressors and issues. Typically, talk therapy sessions last between 45 minutes and an hour, and most patients seek services about once a week, although the frequency may increase or decline based on patient needs. 

Common Reasons Patients Seek Talk Therapy

There are dozens of reasons why patients may seek talk therapy, ranging from wanting help managing feelings of stress to coping with more severe mental health problems. For example, patients may seek talk therapy for help managing anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, eating disorders, mood disorders, substance abuse disorders, relationship issues, parenting issues, child behavioral issues, post-traumatic stress disorder, and grief and loss. 

Types of Talk Therapy

There are different types of talk therapy, so before you engage, you should consult with your therapist about what type of talk therapy they use and what may be most appropriate for you. Types of talk therapy include:

• Behavioral therapy
  • Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
  • Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT)
• Humanistic therapy
• Psychodynamic therapy
• Holistic/integrative therapy

Behavioral therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) are two of the most common types of talk therapy, and they focus on helping patients to recognize negative and unhelpful thoughts and behavior patterns, and to eliminate unhealthy behaviors and replace them with healthier, more productive behaviors. Other types of therapy may consider the impact of your childhood on your current perspective and actions or take into account unconscious meaning and motivation in your feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. 

Is Talk Therapy Effective?

Studies have shown that talk therapy helps patients to achieve the results they want. According to the American Psychiatric Association, about 75% of patients who participate in psychotherapy will benefit from the sessions. Studies have also found that when started early, talk therapy can reduce the risk of long-term serious mental health conditions. The efficacy of talk therapy may be impacted by various factors, including the experience of the therapist and the patient-therapist relationship, as well as the commitment of the person seeking therapy to improve their health outcomes. 

Call CNSL Today

At CNSL, our therapists provide talk therapy services that are designed with our patients in mind. To learn more about talk therapy (psychotherapy) services and how to get started, please reach out to our professionals online or by phone today.