Therapy is a valuable tool for self-development; setting and achieving goals; overcoming relationship problems; solving sexual issues; controlling anger outbursts, improving communication skills; and learning new ways of solving problems. Although psychotherapy is an effective treatment for mental health problems, not everyone who benefits from psychotherapy is diagnosed with a mental illness.
Psychotherapy can help anyone looking to
Learn to manage unhealthy reactions, such as anger, road rage or passive-aggressive behavior
Understand how their past is affecting the present
Resolve conflicts with their partner or someone else in their life
Cope with major life changes, such as divorce, the death of a loved one or the loss of a job
Relieve anxiety or stress due to work or other situations
Come to terms with an ongoing or serious physical health problem, such as diabetes, cancer or long-term (chronic) pain
Recover from physical or sexual abuse or witnessing violence
Cope with sexual problems, whether they're due to a physical or psychological cause
Reduce symptoms of mental illness
Prevent the development of mental illnesses
Sleep better, if they have trouble getting to sleep or staying asleep (insomnia)
Learn to be more authentic and understand who they are.
Psychotherapy is also used for treating mental health issues such as
Anxiety disorders, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), phobias, panic disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Mood disorders, such as depression or bipolar disorder
Addictions, such as alcoholism, drug dependence or compulsive gambling
Eating disorders, such as anorexia or bulimia
Personality disorders, such as borderline personality disorder or dependent personality disorder
Schizophrenia or other disorders that cause detachment from reality (psychotic disorders)