Footprints to Recovery, Mental Health Treatment Program in NJ

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Footprints to Recovery Mental Health New Jersey

Individual Therapy

During outpatient mental health treatment in New Jersey, our team of licensed and certified therapists dedicates their time to helping individuals overcome mental health disorders and improve their over-all well-being.

Individual Therapy

You’ve probably heard of therapy before, but what does it actually mean? Psychotherapy has been around for well over 100 years and it’s a primary treatment method for both mental illness and substance abuse disorders. Individual therapy is a whole lot more than just sitting on a mental health professional’s couch and talking. It’s a structured process with targeted treatments used to target the specific problems someone is experiencing with their mental or behavioral health.

Finding reliable help for a mental health issue doesn’t have to be difficult. Footprints to Recovery offers a mental health treatment program in New Jersey with a team of licensed and certified counselors. Individual therapy sessions with your clinical team can be a positive force of change along your recovery journey.

GET HELP FOR YOUR MENTAL HEALTH

The healing process can pose many challenges - all of which can be difficult to cope with on your own.

Our team of licensed mental health professionals can help you manage your symptoms and create a new, more fulfilling life.

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We accept most major insurance provider plans.

If you have coverage of any kind, we will work with you to determine your benefits for mental health treatment. Any information you share with us is kept strictly confidential.

What Is Individual Therapy?

Individual therapy is a form of psychotherapy used to treat mental health disorders. It involves a collaborative process between a trained therapist and a client, to address and resolve specific problems, improve mental health, and promote personal growth. Individual therapy differs from other forms of treatment like group therapy in that it’s a one-on-one session with just you and your therapist. Sessions last around an hour and occur at least once a week. Your individual therapy schedule is something your therapist will help decide.

The idea of using talking to treat mental health issues was first studied by famed Austrian neurologist Sigmund Freud. Freud is widely considered the father of psychoanalysis due to his extensive research on the subject in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Freud coined the term “talking cure” and outlined that our minds have two parts; the conscious and the unconscious. Through his research, Freud found that motivations are found in the unconscious mind, and it takes a trained professional to bring those feelings to the surface. Today, many of Freud’s findings and conclusions are used in the treatment of a variety of mental health issues.

Why Do People Seek Therapy?

Everyone has their reason for getting help. There are countless instances in life in which talking to someone can help relieve issues like depression, anxiety, stress, and more. 

For example, people see therapists for reasons such as:

Therapy can assist with all of these and more, but only when conducted by professional, licensed, and experienced therapists. Individual therapy can also be a great way to gain insights about yourself and your life. People often find that talking through their feelings with an objective person can help them make sense of difficult situations and understand themselves better.

No matter the reason, one universal truth is that therapy can be beneficial for anyone. It provides an opportunity to explore thoughts, feelings, and experiences in a setting designed to promote change. Through therapy, people can learn to manage stress and anxiety while gaining clarity and insights about their lives. Ultimately, therapy is an invaluable tool for anyone looking to live a more fulfilling life.

What Is Individual Therapy Used For?

Alongside assisting with life’s everyday stressors, individual therapy can be used to treat a vast array of persistent mental health disorders. Your therapist will tailor sessions depending on your consultation and their diagnosis. Getting checked out by your primary care physician can be helpful before therapy to rule out any medical conditions that could be contributing to symptoms. Your therapist may ask about your overall health, including medical history, during your consultation.

Individual therapy can assist in treating mental health conditions such as:

There are many benefits of individual therapy. Therapy provides a safe and non-judgmental space for individuals to express and explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. It offers emotional support and validation, helping clients gain insight into their emotions and develop healthier coping strategies to manage stress, grief, relationship difficulties, or other life challenges.

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Treatments Used in Individual Therapy

Therapy can be instrumental in helping individuals modify unhealthy patterns of thinking, feeling, and behavior. Therapists may use different techniques throughout the course of treatment. Not everyone responds the same way to treatment. A therapist will work with you to find the treatment methods which offer the best chance at recovery from a mental health disorder.

Types of Individual Therapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a widely used approach in individual therapy sessions with a counselor. CBT is based on the idea that our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are interconnected, and by changing our thoughts and behaviors, we can effectively manage and overcome emotional difficulties.

Your therapist helps you identify negative or distorted thoughts that contribute to your emotional distress through a process called cognitive restructuring. These thoughts are often referred to as cognitive distortions. You learn to recognize and challenge these thoughts, replacing them with more positive and helpful ones.

CBT can be applied to treat many different mental health disorders such as:

For decades, cognitive behavioral therapy has proven to be a highly effective treatment for mental health conditions. With CBT techniques, you can work to change your thoughts and behaviors and effectively manage and overcome emotional difficulties. 

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a therapeutic approach that was originally developed to treat individuals with borderline personality disorder. However, it has since been found effective for a range of mental health conditions and is often used in individual therapy sessions with a therapist. DBT integrates cognitive-behavioral techniques with concepts from mindfulness and acceptance-based therapies.

DBT emphasizes helping you manage intense and overwhelming emotions. The therapist assists you in understanding and labeling your emotions, exploring the functions and consequences of different emotions, and developing strategies to regulate emotions effectively.

DBT differs from CBT in that the focus is on accepting negative thoughts, feelings, and behaviors instead of letting them control your life. Coming to terms with these feelings can be the catalyst that shows change is possible through therapy. DBT helps reduce the frequency and severity of mental illness symptoms.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is a therapeutic approach that focuses on promoting psychological flexibility and fostering values-based action. It is often used in individual therapy sessions to help individuals develop greater psychological resilience and live a meaningful life.

The core principles of acceptance and commitment therapy are:

ACT encourages us to take mindful, meaningful actions that are consistent with our values. This can involve setting clear goals and taking action toward them, even if it is difficult or uncomfortable. By committing ourselves to the process of engaging in valued activities we can create meaningful and lasting change in our lives.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is a therapeutic approach used to treat individuals who have experienced trauma or distressing life events. It is used in individual psychotherapy sessions with a licensed counselor. EMDR involves a specific protocol and technique that aids in the processing and integration of traumatic memories.

Before directly addressing traumatic memories, the therapist helps you develop a set of internal resources to ensure emotional stability and containment during the EMDR process. These resources can include imagery, self-soothing techniques, or other coping strategies that you can access when needed.

You and your therapist collaboratively identify a specific traumatic memory or distressing event to target during the EMDR session. This memory is often referred to as the “target memory” or “target event.” The therapist assists you in identifying the associated negative beliefs, emotions, and physical sensations that are connected to the target memory.

EMDR involves the use of bilateral stimulation, which can be achieved through eye movements, tapping, or auditory tones. The therapist guides you in focusing on the target memory while simultaneously engaging in bilateral stimulation. This is believed to facilitate the processing of traumatic memories by stimulating both sides of the brain.

As you engage in the desensitization and reprocessing phase, the therapist assists in identifying and installing positive beliefs or self-statements that are more adaptive and empowering. These positive beliefs act as a counterbalance to the negative beliefs associated with the traumatic memory.

Who Provides Individual Therapy?

Not everyone can provide individual therapy. It can only be conducted by a licensed therapist. Psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors, and social workers are the most common behavioral health administrators of individual therapy.

Finding a licensed therapist is a key part of effective therapy. Here are some tips for finding a licensed therapist:

How To Choose a Therapist

When looking for a therapist, there are a few questions to ask before committing. Some questions to consider before selecting a therapist include:

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What to Expect During Individual Therapy

The power of therapy is undeniable. The process has helped countless others overcome their mental health issues and move on to a happy life. Understanding how individual therapy works and what to expect before you try it can be helpful in the recovery process. If you’ve never tried talk therapy, here’s what to expect the first time you do.

The first individual therapy session with a new therapist is about getting to know one another. Your therapist will ask questions about your life which can help them better understand your situation and how to help. They may ask questions about why you’re looking for help, your personal history with mental health issues, any current situations in your life that may be causing problems, and they may have you describe any symptoms you’re feeling.

During therapy, the goal is to explore any feelings, beliefs, or behaviors that you would like to change. You can use individual therapy to set and work towards goals with assistance from your therapist. It may not be easy to open up at first. Therapy is an ongoing process and the longer you do it, the more comfortable sessions become.

It can be difficult to face painful memories and feelings. Some people feel uncomfortable or vulnerable during therapy. Finding the right therapist for your needs can help alleviate this discomfort during sessions.

Comprehensive Mental Health Services

At our mental health facility in New Jersey, we offer intensive therapy services for a variety of mental health disorders. Individual therapy explores the many different aspects of mental health such as cognition and behavior and how they may be contributing to a person’s physical, mental, or emotional struggles. Throughout our individual therapy program, we help clients develop coping strategies that will allow them to cope with stress, anxiety, and depression. 

“We take pride in our work and are committed to making each of our clients happy.”

Individual Therapy at Footprints to Recovery Mental Health

Footprints to Recovery is a mental health treatment program in New Jersey that provides a range of services, including individual therapy. We provide the education, tools, and support for individuals, families, and the community to help them achieve a life being lived to its fullest potential.

Our programs use the latest evidence-based and holistic treatments to help our clients overcome their struggles with mental health disorders. We tailor treatment plans to meet the specific needs of each client, empowering them to take an active role in their recovery and fostering improved mental and behavioral health. Contact the team at Footprints to Recovery Mental Health today and learn more about finding a reliable therapist. 

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