How Mental Health Affects All We Do
From our personal lives to professional endeavors, mental health has a profound impact on everything we do. When we are experiencing good mental health, we tend to have better relationships with ourselves and others. We are better equipped to communicate effectively, empathize with others, and maintain strong connections. Conversely, when we are struggling mentally, it can lead to isolation, strained relationships, and difficulty managing emotions. Our mental health influences the choices we make, our self-esteem, and our ability to find joy and fulfillment in everyday life. That’s why it’s important to prioritize self-care.
Psychological health also has great sway over performance and productivity in professional realms. A positive outlook and clear mind are conducive to concentrating, setting and achieving goals, and managing stress levels. On the other hand, poor mental health can significantly impact our work performance, leading to decreased productivity, increased absenteeism, and difficulties in collaborating with colleagues.
There are also physical impacts of our psyche to consider. Research has shown that mental health disorders can precipitate an array of physical health problems like cardiovascular issues, a weakened immune system, and even chronic pain and can worsen these same conditions, as well. Additionally, poor mental health can be detrimental to our sleep patterns, appetite, and energy levels, which further compromises physical fitness.
First Steps in Making Positive Changes
In order to make a change in your mental health it's vital to acknowledge and accept that there is a need for support or assistance. Once you've come to terms with this reality, the next step is to seek psychotherapy or professional counseling. Before the therapy begins, it's best to take some time to evaluate what your goals are for this process.
These can include anything like building resilience, improving self-esteem, enhancing relationships, managing stress and anxiety, or addressing specific mental health conditions. Having well-defined goals will help you stay focused and motivated throughout the therapeutic journey and can help a professional provide the right treatment path.
A Brief Intro to Psychotherapy in Chicago
Psychotherapy is a form of therapeutic treatment that aims to help people overcome emotional and psychological challenges and make improvements to their well-being. Through a collaborative relationship between a trained psychotherapist in Chicago and you, their client, you enter a safe and non-judgmental space to explore your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
Throughout the process of this “talk therapy,” your therapist will offer support, guidance, and tools that can help you navigate issues and work towards positive change and personal growth. Ultimately, psychotherapy aims to empower people to gain a deeper understanding of themselves, enhance their emotional well-being, and achieve their life goals.
Psychotherapy Techniques to Aid Transformation
Psychotherapy encompasses a range of approaches that aim to understand and address mental health issues. Depending on the psychotherapist you choose to engage with, they may employ various techniques and interventions to help you overcome your specific psychological challenges.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
DBT is one form of psychotherapy that targets emotional dysregulation, self-destructive behaviors, and difficulty in interpersonal relationships. This therapy is particularly effective for those who struggle with borderline personality disorder (BPD) but has also shown positive outcomes for individuals with various mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, and substance abuse disorders. DBT focuses on teaching people skills to manage distress, regulate their emotions, tolerate distressing situations, and enhance interpersonal effectiveness. It provides you with a framework to understand your emotions and thoughts, while also providing you with practical strategies to cope with challenging situations.
Psychodynamic Therapy
Psychodynamic therapy aims to improve mental health by exploring the less conscious aspects of the mind and its influence on our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. This approach is based on a more modern adaptation of psychoanalytic principles first associated with Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung and others’ theories on the unconscious mind, childhood experiences, and the influence of past relationships on current psychological functioning.
Psychodynamic therapy focuses first and foremost on the relationship between therapist and client and can venture into the territory of repressed emotions and unresolved conflicts that may be contributing to mental health issues. Through this relationship and these techniques, the therapist and client form a strong therapeutic alliance through which you and your treatment professional may delve the unconscious and gain insight into your emotions and behaviors, even bringing in the less explored experiences in everyday life like art, expression, and dreams.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT focuses on the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It recognizes that our thoughts can influence our emotions and actions, and that by changing these thoughts, we can ultimately improve our mental well-being. CBT is goal-oriented and highly practical, designed to help individuals identify and challenge negative thought patterns and beliefs that contribute to mental health problems such as anxiety and depression. Through various techniques, including cognitive restructuring and behavioral experiments, CBT helps you develop healthier and more adaptive ways of thinking and behaving.
Start Working with a Psychotherapist in Chicago at WCG
Prioritizing your mental health is essential in leading a fulfilling and balanced life. By partnering with a psychotherapist at Wellington Counseling Group, you can find support to take on life's many challenges. Through evidence-based techniques and a client-centered approach, we empower you to explore your inner world, develop resilience, and cultivate healthier coping mechanisms.
Take the first step toward a healthier mind by contacting us today and learning about our therapists.