Over the years, mental health therapy has been on an upward stride of evolution. It is now approached and perceived in a whole different way. We are no longer part of a society where the only time a mental health therapist was needed was when someone hit the ground with severe depression.
In fact, people are much more aware of mental health issues and, hence, more open to visiting a therapist.
But this is not something that happened on its own.
Mental health professionals have opened their doors to modern therapeutic methods and integrated them with technology. Whether you are dealing with an unexplainable trauma or just need someone to talk to, a professional equipped with modern therapy plans is available at your convenience.
Let’s explore what mental health therapists have done so far that is shaping up the future of this field.
1. Evolving Therapies: Integrating Mind, Body, and Spirit
A traditional image of mental health therapy that comes to mind is you and your therapist sitting face-to-face and talking about the concern. It’s called talk therapy and, despite being old, remains one of the key approaches to mental health therapy.
However, with time, therapists have realized that mental health is a deeper connection with three main factors—emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being. Using this information, they have introduced therapeutic practices that help patients reconnect with themselves and quickly hop on the path of recovery.
That’s not all; modern NASP accredited programs teach students the importance of helping patients build a deeper connection with themselves. As an aspiring therapist, you’ll be more confident and suggest a more comprehensive treatment plan to your patients.
Holistic therapy involves different approaches, and the therapist can choose what they feel would be the best choice for the patient. For example, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy combines modern therapy with ancient spiritual elements to help patients gain clarity on their problems.
Somatic therapy includes yoga, dance, and breathing exercises that help build a deeper connection with the body.
2. Teletherapy is More Approachable
The concept of teletherapy may have reached its peak during the COVID-19 pandemic, but it has been around since smartphones were invented. Teletherapy involves the doctor and patient joining remotely through a calling medium and holding a session.
With time, video conferencing has become easier. Therapists now have online profiles and can hold a session with you without you actually coming to their clinic. Mental health experts are now available for teletherapy on different online platforms.
They give online sessions by video or audio, depending on the preference and requirement of the patient.
Teletherapy allows anyone from anywhere in the world to look up a therapist and connect with them to get professional services. Let’s suppose none of the doctors physically present in your area seem to fit your budget. What can you do about it?
Using the internet, you can now easily find a therapist from a reliable source who fits your budget and conducts the sessions online.
3. Use of Digital Platforms
We are all clear that technology has rapidly taken over the healthcare industry—let’s say that the mental health ward is also not an exception. Therapists use trends created by digital applications to determine patient behavior and suggest a recovery plan based on that.
This is not only customized to the patient’s needs but is also a much quicker way to develop understanding and suggest treatment.
Nowadays, apps to detect eating habits, sleeping patterns, and moods are available on almost everyone’s phone. These apps observe trends to create charts, which can allow therapists to analyze patients’ performance and suggest a treatment plan.
For example, a therapist can use a sleep and mood tracker to determine the patterns and then suggest a plan to a patient who has a sleeping disorder.
Data management software maintains patients’ records, billings, medical histories, and prescriptions. It basically puts all the relevant information in one place, so therapists don’t have to go through a lot of paperwork.
With all that manual work sorted with utmost efficiency, therapists can focus on their patients.
4. Focus on Trauma-Informed Care
Since awareness regarding mental health is growing, therapists are taking hands-on measures to be more sensitive to patients with a traumatic history. Due to this approach, patients are more inclined to visit therapists.
Mental health professionals now prefer working at the patient’s pace—understanding, acceptance, and therapy are the approaches of a present-day mental health professional.
Modern therapists believe that building a transparent relationship with patients can help them achieve results quicker and more effectively. A patient is highly likely to respond to the treatment plan of a therapist they trust.
5. Eliminating Social Taboos
Have you ever heard how people from the previous days perceived therapy? It was a horrifying experience for them even to admit there was something wrong and that they needed to see a mental health expert to help them. Thankfully, we don’t live in those times.
Nowadays, admitting the need for a therapist for your mental health concern is perceived with much more acceptance than it would have a few decades ago. We can call it a consistent effort of present-day therapists to reduce this taboo among people.
The public has gradually accepted that seeking the services of a therapist doesn’t mean you are crazy — it simply implies that it is a natural concern that should be treated accordingly.
The rising use of social media has worked in the favor of therapists. You will find a lot of mental health experts active on social media, sharing what they think people should know.
With a simple slogan that you are always welcome if you need help, mental health therapists are indeed on the way to educating people about when and why they may need professional guidance.
Even if you do not have any trauma to deal with, just talk to a therapist to feel better.
All in all, mental health, which was once considered a stigma, is now being redesigned altogether by therapists. Nowadays, people are willing to seek the services of an expert if needed.
Different technological innovations and therapeutic programs allow patients to recover from their mental health issues much quicker. With a softer and non-judgemental image, therapists are easy to talk to and connect with.
