One of our key aims at Real Men’s Health is to breakdown medical jargon and provide easy to understand information- particularly how it relates to the health and wellbeing of men and boys.
It can be difficult when hearing about different therapies or treatments to make sense of what is being spoken about. By partnering with clinical experts, Real Men’s Health is making important information about men’s health more understandable.
This article discusses what Talk Therapy is, and who may benefit from it.
What is talk therapy?
Talk or talking therapy refers to a range of treatments which involve speaking with a qualified professional about feelings, behaviours and thoughts, and helping to identify the cause of emotional distress.
Talk therapy is sometimes known as psychotherapy.
Who does talk therapy help?
Talk therapy can be used to address a number of conditions which affect men’s and boys’ health including-
- Depression
- Anxiety and panic disorders
- Eating disorders
- Substance misuse & addiction
- Obsessive compulsive disorder
- Management of chronic health conditions which cause distress or poorer quality of life.
What are the different types of talk therapy?
According to the American Psychological Association, there are several categories of psychotherapy. These are-
- Psychoanalysis & psychodynamic therapies
- Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
- Humanistic therapy
- Integrative or holistic therapy
Therapists may choose to a combination of practices from different types of psychotherapies to customise an approach best for your situation.
What does talk therapy involve?
Talking therapies involve speaking with a qualified therapist either in person or on a telehealth platform.
Your first session with the therapist will involve discussing how the therapy sessions will work, and details about the therapist and also yourself.
Some questions which may be discussed include-
- Why you came to therapy
- If you’ve attended therapy before
- What would you like to achieve
- What is occurring in your life presently
Following the initial consultation, the therapist will discuss the next steps including future sessions.
It is important when engaging in any type of therapy, to ensure that the therapist is suitably qualified (accredited) and that you have a good rapport with them.
How to find a suitable therapist?
The best approach is to firstly speak with your GP and discuss why therapy may be a good fit for you. This will help your doctor understand what you are experiencing and allow them to recommend therapists that are local to where you are.
Some therapies may be eligible under the mental health treatment plan, which your GP can assist you with.
Expert Opinion: Katie Dobinson, Clinical Psychologist- The Clinical Research Unit for Anxiety and Depression (CRUfAD) at St Vincent’s Public Hospital, Sydney.
The authors provide an excellent outline of what talk therapy involves, and highlights some of the common difficulties that talk therapy can help with. For most people who haven’t experienced talk therapy before, it can feel somewhat anxiety-provoking to consider reaching out to talk with a professional about your mental health.
It’s perfectly normal to experience some anxiety or trepidation if you’re considering attending talk therapy for the first time, though rest-assured that mental health professionals are trained to create a safe, welcoming and comfortable space for you to start the talk therapy process and will help guide you through the conversation. If you’re not sure where to start, that’s OK! That’s what the therapist is there for, to help you talk through what’s going on and to make a plan to help improve how you’ve been feeling.
The authors highlight some of the common mental health difficulties that might lead someone to start talk therapy, such as anxiety disorders, depression, disordered eating and substance use difficulties. Indeed, these are very common mental health conditions that talk therapy can help to treat. However, talk therapy is also a safe and effective treatment for other life stressors, as well as to prevent symptoms from worsening into a more severe condition.
There is never a ‘wrong’ reason to seek talk therapy and it’s never ‘too early’ to reach out. In fact, seeking help when experiencing early warning signs, such as feeling low, worried, or in navigating a difficult time in one’s life (such as work stress, or navigating a relationship breakup) are also extremely valid reasons to talk to a mental health professional.
Seeking help early can provide you with evidence-based skills to manage early signs of stress, so that you’re feeling more like your healthy self sooner rather than suffering unnecessarily. Other common reasons for seeking talk therapy may involve adjusting to changes in life, such as starting a new education program, a new job, moving/relocating, fatherhood, or friendship difficulties.
Talk therapy is an evidence-based practice and has been developed over many decades through clinical research to identify treatment skills and strategies that are effective. Mental health clinicians are trained to create personalised treatment plans and interventions to meet your individual needs, using the best available evidence and research to inform the intervention.
Talk therapy is a collaborative process where the clinician will work with you on your goals and help to make a plan of action to achieve these goals.
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based treatment for many common mental health difficulties, such as anxiety, depression, substance use difficulties, eating disorders, OCD, relationship difficulties, trauma, and adjustment difficulties. CBT is a very practical form of therapy where the clinician will help you to identify how patterns in your thinking, and behaviours, can be adjusted to improve your overall mental health and wellbeing. CBT can be delivered in-person, and there are also online treatments available.
THIS WAY UP is a trusted digital mental health platform developed by expert researchers and clinicians at St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney and The University of New South Wales. THIS WAY UP has a range of CBT treatment programs available if you’re looking to learn some effective skills to improve how you’re feeling, feel free to explore the resources and programs here: https://thiswayup.org.au/
The author’s also highlight how to seek help if you’re thinking of starting talk therapy. The best place to start is often with your GP, how can provide a referral to a psychologist, clinical psychologist, clinical social worker, psychiatrist or other mental health professional who can provide talk therapy. Some people find it helpful to use other resources to find a suitable clinician, such as the Australian Psychological Society’s ‘Find a Psychologist’ tool. You can use this tool to search for a psychologist in your areas with a specific specialisation, here: https://psychology.org.au/find-a-psychologist
If you’d like to talk to your GP about getting started with talk therapy, there are some helpful tips on this blog which may help you feel more ready to ask for help: https://thiswayup.org.au/how-to-talk-to-your-gp-about-your-mental-health/
Remember, we all need help during difficult times, and it is a strength, not a weakness, to seek support and learn ways to feel better.
