You walk into your therapist’s office, check in at the front desk, and take a seat in the waiting room. Your therapist calls you back to their office, you get settled in a comfy chair and then — you feel a wave of relief come over you. You take a deep breath. You think… finally, a little bit of time for me... Before your session even begins, you feel seen and acknowledged. You feel vulnerable but in a really safe way and you’re ready to talk it out.  

This is what therapy should feel like.  

Rewind to when you were searching for therapy. You didn’t know what therapy was, but you knew you were feeling off and needed help. You’re so glad you searched “what is therapy” and found someone to talk to.  

But what even is “therapy”?  

What is Therapy?  

Therapy, also known as Psychotherapy or Talk Therapy, is a type of mental health care where you talk through concerns, feelings, experiences and symptoms with an educated and trained therapist. Often therapy appointments are held on a weekly basis, and therapists conduct sessions with their initial treatment plan in mind. Your first appointment typically is an evaluation, where your therapist will gather comprehensive information about you, including assessing your symptoms, concerns, and goals. Your evaluation may include questionnaires and providing medical history. After your evaluation, your therapist will create a tailored treatment plan based on your individualized needs and mental health goals, and conduct sessions on a regular basis.  

Therapy benefits many people with various situations in all walks of life. You may find therapy especially helpful if you live with: 

  • Trauma  

Therapy can also be beneficial to if you are struggling with:  

  • Grief/Loss  
  • Family Conflict 
  • Marriage Conflict 
  • Making major life changes and decisions  

What is a Therapist? 

A therapist is an educated and trained mental health care professional who helps patients break down and understand their feelings, learn new coping skills, treat mental illness symptoms, develop emotional intelligence, and more.  

There are various types of therapy sessions a therapist can conduct, including individual talk therapy, family or marriage counseling, or group therapy.  

Therapists are required to complete a master’s degree, so you may see a variety of degrees and titles when searching for a therapist. Titles can include: 

  • Licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) 
  • Licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) 
  • Licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) 
  • Psychologist or doctor of psychology (PsyD) 
  • Registered mental health counselor intern (RMHCI) 
  • Registered clinical social work intern (RCSWI)  

After graduating with a master’s degree, registered interns in the therapy field must work for two years to gain experience before they are able to achieve licensure. Registered therapy interns, also referred to as associate therapists, are educated and qualified to support the mental health of patients and receive clinical support from licensed therapists.  

What Do Therapists Do?  

Therapists are educated and trained in using various therapeutic modalities that support their patient’s mental health. They conduct initial evaluations with their patients, create treatment plans based on your symptoms and concerns, and regularly conduct therapy sessions in line with the treatment plan. As mental health professionals, therapists use evidence-based approaches to care, including: 

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) – A type of therapy that is focused on changing your behavior, accepting your emotions and experiences, and helping you develop psychological flexibility when dealing with life events.  

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – Focused on helping you recognize thought patterns and how they impact you. CBT helps you change your thought patterns over time and is highly effective for a variety of mental health conditions or concerns.  

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) – If you feel intense emotions, DBT is a great form of therapy aimed at helping you explore and validate your feelings and modify your thought patterns. The goal of DBT is to help you tolerate distress, create mindfulness skills, and effectively regulate your emotions.  

Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) – This form of therapy focuses on your current challenges or relationships rather than past issues. The goal of IPT is to relieve symptoms you are experiencing by talking through your concerns and learning new coping strategies. Those who undergo IPT typically feel more aware of their feelings and behaviors, can respond to stressful situations more positively, can manage shifts in mood better, and feel more confident in their future.  

Motivational Interviewing – A great therapy for those who feel uncertain or doubtful, motivational interviewing is focused on helping you change your behavior by talking in-depth with clients about your desired life changes and where you feel barriers in achieving them.  

Psychodynamic Therapy – This type of talk therapy can benefit those with depression, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and PTSD. The goal of psychodynamic therapy is to bring insight into your thoughts, feelings, and personal challenges. It can help you uncover subconscious thought patterns, beliefs and feelings and develop more positive coping skills.  

Solution-focused Therapy – A short-term form of talk therapy where you’ll be guided through breaking down solutions, rather than focusing on the problem. Your therapist will help you uncover your own next steps to handle any issues you’re facing.  

Supportive Psychotherapy – If you’re going through intense emotional stress, supportive psychotherapy can help you breakdown the issues in a conversational way, where your therapist can provide feedback, insights, and recommendations in real-time.  

What Training and Education Do Therapists Have?  

All therapists must have achieved a master’s degree, either as a mental health counselor, a clinical social worker, or a have achieved a doctorate in psychology. Additionally, therapists are required to complete continuous education in order to maintain their licensure and stay abreast of what is new in mental health care. However, therapists may opt to complete additional certifications that help them specialize in an area of mental health they are passionate about, such as s such as in EMDR, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, to treat patients with trauma 

How Do I Know I Need to See a Therapist?  

It may be time to see at therapist if you’re feeling intense worry or anxiety, having trouble concentrating or performing daily tasks, you’re isolating or avoiding social interactions, you’re feeling stuck or hopeless, or turning to unhealthy coping mechanisms. Asking for help is not a weakness, it’s a strength So if you’re feeling off and struggling, ask for support.  

How Does Therapy Help People?  

Individuals who see a therapist report that they have a deeper understanding of themselves and mental health, acquire healthier coping skills, have improved communication skills, have better emotional regulation, and lower stress. Therapy can help you change your negative thought patterns and alter negative behaviors. You may also experience: 

  • Improved mental health 
  • Better performance at work  
  • Stronger relationships  
  • Healthier boundaries  
  • Increased awareness and understanding of your feelings  

Therapy also aims to decrease symptoms of mental health conditions that may include obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, anxiety, and more.  

When your mind is healthy, you can achieve anything.  

How Do I Find a Therapist?  

In a world with an abundance of mental health resources, it can still be a challenge to find a therapist that suits you. Your first step is to understand where you are and your needs, and to finally make that call for support.  

  • Check with your insurance: if you have insurance, you can search through your online directory or call your insurance company for some recommended providers.  
  • Psychology Today: this is a great platform to search for local mental health providers that fit your requirements, allowing you to tailor your search by location and condition.  
  • Call your local mental health clinic: Most cities in the U.S. have a variety of local therapy clinics that can assist you in your mental health journey.  
  • Ask about a sliding scale: If you’re uninsured, some mental health clinics will offer a sliding scale based on your income.  

Once you find your provider, we recommend attending at least five sessions to get a feel for how your therapy appointments go. If you don’t vibe with your therapist, typically you can request to see another provider within the clinic, meaning you won’t have to start completely over with a new mental health provider and will still receive the care you need.  

Ready to get started? Find a local trusted mental health provider now and start your personalized journey to a happier, healthier you. At Elite DNA, we accept nearly every insurance plan in Florida including Medicare and Medicaid.  

The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.