Therapies in Mental Health

Overview of Therapies for Mental Health

  • Therapy Exploration:

    • A session focusing on an exploration of various therapies; not an assignment.

    • Opportunity for participants to share findings about different therapies.

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT):

    • Involves restructuring thinking processes.

    • Goal-oriented and pragmatic approach.

    • Commonly used for anxiety, depression, trauma.

    • Focuses on the link between thoughts, feelings, and behavior.

  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT):

    • Similar to CBT, incorporates mindfulness.

    • Focuses on emotional dysregulation.

    • Aims to turn distress into eustress through talking therapy imbued with mindfulness techniques.

  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR):

    • Particularly effective for PTSD.

    • Growing specialization among psychologists.

    • Uses rapid eye movements to retrain brain pathways related to trauma.

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT):

    • Emphasizes acceptance of difficult feelings.

    • Mindfulness-based, holistic approach.

    • Encourages sitting with uncomfortable feelings to transform distress into eustress, making situations more manageable.

  • Psychodynamic Therapy:

    • Based on Freudian methods, tapping into unconscious processes.

    • Focus on verbal therapy to explore feelings under the surface (iceberg model).

  • Person-Centered Therapy:

    • Client-focused, reducing hierarchy between client and therapist.

    • Deep listening and validation of client expertise about their experiences.

    • Empowers clients to initiate change in their lives.

  • Gestalt Therapy:

    • Humanistic approach focusing on present experience and self-awareness.

    • Utilizes a technique allowing clients to view their experiences externally for better understanding.

  • Solution-Focused Brief Therapy:

    • Centered on finding solutions rather than problems.

  • Narrative Therapy:

    • Focuses on the stories individuals tell about their lives.

    • Aims to reframe negative narratives to help individuals reshape their lives positively.

  • Emotion-Focused Therapy:

    • Focuses on the acknowledgment and exploration of emotional experiences.

  • Family Therapy:

    • Often used in contexts like eating disorders where family dynamics are significant.

    • Involves all family members in the therapeutic process.

  • Couples/Marital Therapy:

    • Addresses relationship dynamics and challenges.

  • Group Therapy:

    • Provides peer support and helps reduce feelings of isolation, especially in contexts like rehabilitation and postpartum issues.

  • Play, Art, and Music Therapies:

    • Related to psychodynamic therapy; tapping into children's unmet emotional needs.

  • Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT):

    • Combines traditional CBT skills with mindfulness strategies.

  • Schema Therapy:

    • Addresses long-standing schemas formed during childhood regarding unmet needs.

    • Involves identifying specific schemas that affect current life and emotional responses.

    • Therapists may take on supportive roles without breaching professional boundaries.

  • Internal Family Systems (IFS):

    • Explores the different parts of the self and their interactions.

  • Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS):

    • Non-invasive technique resembling MRI; aims to retrain brain circuitry.

  • Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT):

    • Used for severe depression and bipolar disorder.

    • Involves inducing seizures to reset brain activity.

Pre-Existing Mental Health Conditions

  • Model of Care:

    • Women may present with pre-existing mental health conditions when seeking midwifery care.

    • Importance of screening for pre-existing conditions during pregnancy.

  • Importance of Screening:

    • Early identification can prevent worsening of conditions during pregnancy and postpartum.

  • Concept of Mental Health:

    • Differentiation between mental health struggles and mental illness.

    • Mental health conditions are generally treatable.

    • Role of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors.

    • Significant changes in mental health can manifest during major life events, particularly pregnancy.

  • Common Mental Health Conditions:

    • Anxiety: Excessive fear and worry; affects daily functioning.

    • Depression: Persistent sadness and loss of interest; can severely impair life quality.

    • Patterns can include major depressive disorder, persistent depressive disorder, and postpartum depression—effects on individuals and families need attention.

  • Risk Factors for Depression and Anxiety in Pregnancy:

    • Historical mental health issues increase risk of postnatal depression; prevalence noted as 1 in 10 women during pregnancy and 1 in 7 within the first year after childbirth.

  • Unique Aspects of Neonatal and Maternal Mental Health:

    • Stigma surrounding mental health can discourage seeking help; essential to normalize discussions around mental health.

Essential Treating Therapies and Management Strategies

  • Therapeutic Interventions:
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