Therapy Helps Mentally Ill Patients, Family and Friends

When people talk about mental health care and treatment, they often refer to group therapy. While the term may sound curious to those who have never experienced it, this is a way for patients to work through their issues. It helps them get better.

There are different kinds of group therapy, depending on the type of treatment and illness involved with the patient. For example, people with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder may be in the same therapy group even though they have different illnesses.

Patient Therapy

During inpatient treatment, programs are structured to put a number a patients with similar struggles in a group setting where they can talk about issues and experiences. While they may not all have the same diagnoses, they can often relate to each other's successes and difficulties. They may offer advice, support or simply listen. Group therapy is facilitated by a mental health professional who acts as a moderator to keep the therapy session on track. The idea is to help patients cope with what ails them in a productive way.

Family Therapy

People who are mentally ill or are substance abusers are not the only ones affected by mental illness. Friends and family members are often left to handle behavioral crises and sometimes the resulting financial issues. This puts a strain on relationships. Many treatment facilities invite friends and family members of their patients to participate in

therapy with the patient in order to strengthen and heal these relationships. Issues that are dealt with in these sessions may include addressing past indiscretions as well as ways to prevent similar patterns in the future. Seen more as a healing type of therapy than an accusatory one, these group discussions are facilitated by a doctor or case worker assigned to the patient's mental health care.

Support and Education

Aside from participating in therapy sessions for a mentally ill loved one, many mental health clinics or facilities will offer support groups for friends and family members as well. Caring for or living with mentally ill people can leave those around them feeling emotionally drained. Participating in a support group with others in a similar situation gives people a chance to work through their own frustrations, hopes and fears while the patient is in a rehabilitation program.

Aside from support group counseling, caregivers and loved ones of patients also need information and professional advice on how to deal with them at present and in the future. Mental health facilities usually offer therapy or training and educational programs to help the caregiver assist in a patient's recovery.

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