Counseling, Therapy, Support Groups: How They Work, What They Do For You

Why try talking treatments?
What are the different talking treatments?
Who are talking treatments for?
When are talking treatments not suitable?
Do talking treatments work?
How can I get started?
How should this relationship work?
Organizations that can help

Here's a brief guide to the different talking treatments that are available. It also provides information on who might benefit from them and who you should contact about getting this type of help.

Why try talking treatments?

Talking treatments (i.e. counseling, therapy, support groups) can help you to overcome emotional difficulties and free yourself from self-destructive ways of feeling, thinking and behaving. They work by providing an opportunity for you to talk in a way that assists you to understand yourself better. Having gained this understanding, you can work out ways of living your life in a more positive and constructive way.

This way of changing your life is very different from using drugs, such as tranquilizers and antidepressants, which doctors often prescribe for people who are emotionally distressed. These drugs change your mood by affecting the balance of chemicals in your body, but do not help you to deal with underlying problems.

People who use mental health services often prefer talking treatments to drugs. Research has proved that talking treatments can be just as helpful as drugs for many mental health problems and suggests they should be offered as well as, or instead of, medication, when possible. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) makes recommendations to doctors about treating mental health problems. They often suggest forms of talking treatment that are brief, cost-effective and supported by clinical evidence. This does not necessarily mean that they are always the best form of talking treatment for you. Many organizations and private therapists offer treatment, although it can be more difficult to find if you can’t afford to pay very much. (See this for more information.)

What are the different talking treatments?

There is a wide variety of talking treatments. Some last for several years, while others take just a few sessions. You may see someone on your own or be part of a group.

The self-help group

This is usually for people who want to overcome a problem shared by members of the group. It may be alcohol abuse, depression or being scared to go out of the house, to give some examples. Often these groups are led by people who have overcome the difficulties themselves. The people in the group are able to share their experiences, and learn from and encourage each other.

The support group

This is similar, but for people with a common background or interest. For example, it could be a group for mothers of young children, for gay men or for people doing similar, stressful jobs.

Individual counseling

This is an opportunity to talk about whatever is troubling you, and to be heard. It is generally face-to-face, but can also take place over the phone or via email. If you decide to see a counselor in person, it may be for one session, or you may arrange for regular appointments, perhaps an hour a week for several months. Telephone and internet counseling is also obtainable from a variety of organizations, and is especially valuable in a particular crisis.

Counseling tends to focus on your current problems, with the counselor helping you to find the best ways to tackle them. The counselor's most important skill is the ability to listen. The aim is not to tell you what to do, or to offer a personal opinion, but about helping you to arrive at your own solutions.

continue: Individual, Group, Marriage and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

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Reviewed: 04/2006