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May 2024
How to Face Your Everyday Triggers
At any moment, someone’s aggravating behavior or our own bad luck can set us off on an emotional spiral that threatens to derail our entire day. Here’s how we can face our triggers with less reactivity so that we can get on with our lives.
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Verified by Psychology Today
What Is Therapy?
Reviewed by Psychology Today Staff
Psychotherapy, also called talk therapy or usually just "therapy," is a form of treatment aimed at relieving emotional distress and mental health problems. Provided by any of a variety of trained professionals-psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, or licensed counselors-it involves examining and gaining insight into life choices and difficulties faced by individuals, couples, or families. Therapy sessions refer to structured meetings between a licensed provider and a client with a goal of improving some aspect of their life. Psychotherapy encompasses many types of treatment and is practiced by a range of clinicians using a variety of strategies. The critical aspect is that the client or patient works collaboratively with the therapist and can identify improvement and positive change over time.
Most therapies in wide use have been well-tested and deemed effective. Though it may at first feel difficult to seek out therapy-especially for those of low-income or without comprehensive insurance-the benefits of successful therapy are literally life-changing.
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Should I go to therapy?
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Most people, regardless of their specific challenges, can benefit from having an impartial observer listen and offer guidance. Because of therapy’s cost and time investment, however-as well as lingering stigma surrounding mental health-the decision to begin therapy isn’t always an easy one.
To determine whether therapy is the right choice for a particular individual, they should consider whether they feel sad, anxious, overwhelmed, or irritable more often than not; if yes, therapy would likely offer emotional support and help them develop the tools to manage their mental health. But strong negative emotions aren’t the only reason someone should seek therapy. If they are struggling with relationship challenges, feel stuck in their career, find themselves turning to drugs, alcohol, or food to cope with unpleasant events, or feel disconnected from the people around them, they may find therapy to be immensely helpful.
For more on the choice to start seeing a therapist, visit The Decision to Begin Therapy.
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What’s the first step in looking for a therapist?
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There are countless compassionate and effective therapists in the world-but not every single therapist is the best person to help every individual seeking treatment. Though it can be frustrating for patients and professionals alike, finding the right therapist is usually a process of trial and error.
While the prospect of searching for a therapist can indeed be daunting, several online tools can make the process significantly easier. Using online directories (such as the Psychology Today Therapy Directory), search engines, or their insurance company’s online list of covered providers, prospective clients can locate therapists (either in their area or who are licensed to provide online therapy) who take their insurance and who
