There are many reasons that people do not seek mental health treatment. Whether they’re afraid of the stigma attached to it or just don’t want to acknowledge that anything is wrong, people will find ways to avoid seeking treatment. But an individualized therapy program can help treat a variety of mental health conditions. If you are dealing with anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance use, or any other type of mental health issue, you can get the treatment that is specifically designed around your unique needs.

Treating Comorbidities

Substance use is a common theme for those seeking mental health counseling. Individualized therapy can address all of these issues in a combined manner in order to get to the root of the problem. Combined with other integrative components (like Medication-Assisted Treatment and group therapy), you get a holistic treatment. Of course, some individuals will only need (or want) individualized therapy, which can be just as effective on its own for treating comorbidities.

Substance Use

Let’s talk more specifically about substance use. Those with substance use disorder (SUD) are hyperfocused on obtaining whichever substance(s) they desire. They yearn to feel great pleasure, to relieve stress, enhance their thinking or performance, or are just experimenting. This leads to impaired impulse control, social problems, risky behaviors, as well as tolerance, and withdrawal drug effects. Repeated use of substances will lead to changes in how the brain functions.

Some damage can be reversed through an individualized therapy program used in conjunction with rehabilitation programs. Treating SUD requires knowing how usage has impacted your life and leads to learning what caused you to use that substance in the first place. The unhelpful and negative thoughts and behaviors can be readjusted to healthier and more realistic ones.

How Individualized Therapy Works

There are numerous forms of therapy out there. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a popular form that helps you build a bridge between your behaviors, emotions, and thoughts. You learn how to replace negative thoughts with helpful ones, which changes your behavior.

Other forms of individualized therapy include dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT), and psychodynamic therapy. DBT can help you work on your relationships, reduce stress, and enhance your emotional regulation. ACT helps increase awareness of your thoughts and emotions and make commitments to changing them. IPT aids in building relationship skills, and psychodynamic therapy assists you in understanding how your unconscious experiences impact your behavior.

Effectiveness of Individualized Therapy Programs

There is no cure for depression, anxiety, PTSD, and so forth. They are also medical problems after all. But, through individualized therapy, you can work to reduce your symptoms. Research suggests that individualized therapy results in fewer relapses for people with anxiety and depression. It can also help reduce relapses for people with SUD. Using psychotropic medication or medical treatments alone is not as effective.

The trick is finding a counselor with whom you feel comfortable. By cooperating with them, you allow them to guide you through building a new toolbox of coping mechanisms – healthy ones.

There is no shame in reaching out for help. You can get started on your individualized therapy program now regardless of which mental health condition(s) you have. It is up to you to take the next step in improving the quality of your life.