Therapy
Therapy
or medical treatment is the attempted remediation of a health problem, usually
following a medical diagnosis.
As
a rule, each therapy has indications and contraindications. There are many
different types of therapy. Not all therapies are effective. Many therapies can
produce unwanted adverse effects.
Medical
treatment and therapy are generally considered synonyms. However, in the
context of mental health, the term therapy may refer specifically to
psychotherapy.
Benefits of Therapy
Mental
health therapy is helpful for about 75% of people who try it. People with
mental health conditions who attend therapy often see improvements in their
symptoms and quality of life. There are many benefits of therapy, and they are
not limited to people with mental health conditions. Anyone who needs guidance
or a listening ear during a stressful life event can benefit from therapy.
Potential benefits of therapy include:
- Better communication skills.
- Better sleep.
- Increased happiness and life satisfaction.
- Feelings of empowerment; improved mental function and productivity; fewer missed days from school or work.
- Improved relationships and interactions with other people.
- Improved physical well beings, such as lower blood pressure or reduction in chronic pain.
- Development of skills for coping with daily life challenges and stress.
- Improved management of behavioral health challenges, such as reducing or quitting smoking or drinking alcohol.