I am overwhelmed. What can I do? Do I need to be in therapy? How can I find someone to help me? These are questions many people will ask themselves at least once in their lifetime. More questions can arise as you access mental health services. Does my insurance cover psychotherapy or testing? What exactly is psychotherapy? Below are answers to some of these questions, in hopes of guiding you through the mental health maze.

What is psychotherapy?

Generally speaking, psychotherapy is treatment that relies on a highly individualized process using verbal communication with a patient. Patients are treated to develop healthier patterns of emotions and behavior, and ultimately, to help people lead happier, healthier and more productive lives. People think psychotherapy is a place to vent with someone who is a neutral party.

Although this is one small aspect of psychotherapy, it involves much more than simply talking or venting. The specifics of psychotherapy depend on the type of psychotherapy approach utilized, the reasons someone is coming in for psychotherapy, as well as their needs. The process includes assessing, diagnosing, sometimes testing, and providing scientifically validated treatment. The process is collaborative and requires patients to be active in the process. How long people remain in psychotherapy depends on their needs. Some people obtain psychotherapy treatment once in their lives. Others may obtain psychotherapy treatment on and off over the course of their lives. Depending on the setting and needs of the patient, you may be seen for a brief 15 minute consults a handful of times — or for psychotherapy 45 minutes once a week, for weeks or months.

Do I need to be in psychotherapy?

There are times when friends, family and community can be a powerful source of comfort and support. However, when your support system is not enough, or you have tried to help yourself without finding relief, psychotherapy is a useful way to make effective and healthy changes. People often assume that only people with serious mental illness obtain psychotherapy treatment. However, the vast majority of people in psychotherapy do not have a serious mental illness. In fact, during any given year, one in four adults suffer from a mental health issue. One in 17 have a serious and persistent mental health issue. People seek out psychotherapy for many reasons including anxiety, academic or work issues, family conflicts, medical illnesses, substance use disorders, stress, depression, trauma or relationship challenges. Many people choose individual or group psychotherapy to help them deal with various stressors in their lives. Additional options include couples and family therapy.

What exactly is psychology?

Simply put, psychology focuses on the scientific study of the mind especially as it relates to behavior. Psychologists study the relationship between behavior and the brain and body, and the environment. The field is grounded in vigorous scientific research methods. Psychology focuses on areas including but not limited to, brain functioning, perception, cognition, personality, emotions and relationships. The field focuses not only on people’s mental health and medical issues, but also global issues ranging from prejudice reduction to healthy communities to businesses and global climate change.

What is a psychologist?

This is a question I am often asked given the various types of mental health professionals. A psychologist’s expertise includes human behavior, assessments, diagnoses and treatment in a variety of ways. They have doctoral degrees and are licensed in the state or jurisdiction they work in. Psychologists spend an average of seven years in graduate school after obtaining their undergraduate degrees. Their focus of study depends on their specialty including but not limited to: psychotherapy theories and interventions, individual differences and lifespan development, bases of behaviors including cognition, emotions, biology, and culture, assessments, diagnostics, neuropsychology, research design and statistics. Additionally, psychologists engage in research in order to complete their master’s theses and doctoral dissertations. Psychologists are also required to have a minimum of one additional year of supervised training after graduating from their doctoral programs.

In addition to psychotherapy, they provide additional services depending on their specialty. For example neuropsychologists provide specialized neuropsychological testing and treat patients with brain injury or disease. Health psychologists help prevent or mitigate medical conditions using psychosocial strategies. Other psychologists specialize in working with children, adolescents or families, rehabilitation or school psychology. Many psychologists do not provide clinical services, such as psychotherapy or testing, but provide other services ranging from engineering psychology to research.

Next month’s column will explore questions people often have regarding the psychotherapy process itself.

Lubna Somjee, Ph.D., is a psychologist practicing psychotherapy and consulting in the mid-Hudson Valley. Visit www.LubnaSomjee-phd. com. For information on local resources, go the Hudson Valley Psychological Association at www.hvpa.org.

On the Web

www.apa.org/helpcenter/understanding-psychotherapy.aspx