Singles

Psychosocial treatments- including certain forms of psychotherapy (often called talk therapy) and social and vocational training-are helpful in providing support, education, and guidance to peoplewith mental illnesses and their families. Studies tell us that psychosocial treatments for mental illnesses can help consumers keep their moods more stable, stay out of the hospital, and generallyfunction better. a licensed psychiatrist (a doctor, who can prescribe medications), psychologist, social worker, or counselor typically provides these psychosocial therapies. the therapist and apsychiatrist may work together as the psychiatrist prescribes medications and the therapist monitors the consumer´s progress. the number, frequency, and type of psychotherapy sessions a consumer has should bebased on his or her individual treatment needs. as with medication, it is important to follow the treatment plan for psychosocial treatments to gain the greatest benefit.

individual psychotherapyindividual psychotherapy involves regularly scheduled sessions between the patient and a mental health professional such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, psychiatric social worker, or psychiatricnurse. the goal of this treatment is to help consumers understand why they are acting and thinking in ways that are troubling or dangerous to themselves or others so they have more control over theirbehaviors and can correct them. talk-therapy sessions may focus on a consumer’s current or past problems, experiences, thoughts, feelings, or relationships. by sharing experiences with a trained,knowledgeable, and understanding person-by talking about the consumer´s world with someone outside it-people with mental illnesses may gradually understand more about themselves and their problems.individual psychotherapy is used successfully to treat emotional, behavioral, and social problems in people with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, depression, eating...