How Can Insight Therapy Help With My Mental Health?
Insight therapy can help individuals learn more about the definition of this concept, as well as their own behaviors, thoughts, and emotions.
How can insight therapy help me, and what is it?
This therapy is a type of treatment that aims to offer an understanding of your behaviors, thoughts, beliefs, and feelings. It is an indirect therapy that lets you do most of the talking rather than having the therapist ask the questions and lead you to where they believe the problems might be, like with behavior therapy. This therapy may seem more like a friendly conversation rather than a therapy session, and many people might feel more comfortable with this type of therapy.
Types of client-centered insight therapy
There are different types of this therapy; some are used more than others in psychiatry and psychology. The four types of this therapy are psychoanalysis therapy, cognitive therapy, humanistic therapy, and group, family, and marital therapy.
Psychoanalysis therapy for your mental health
This therapy type is talk therapy based on Sigmund Freud’s work and theories of psychoanalysis. Essentially, this type of insight therapy delves into how the subconscious mind influences and expresses feelings, behaviors, and thoughts. Upon understanding this, the therapy may progress to learning how to uncover, understand, and work through repressed thoughts, feelings, etc. that may be influencing our behaviors and daily lives.
Cognitive therapy
Cognitive therapy focuses on beliefs and thought patterns that may cause emotional or behavioral harm and how to change them. By talking about dealing with your unwanted behaviors and thoughts, you may be able to change your outcomes. There are two main cognitive therapy types: rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) by Albert Ellis and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) by Aaron Beck.
REBT may decrease self-defeating beliefs by rationally examining your beliefs and consequences. CBT often assesses thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Assessing cognitive distortions may help you change unwanted behaviors.
Humanistic therapy for mental health and personal growth
Humanistic therapy might focus on your personal growth with emotional reconstruction. In this type of counseling, theorists may believe that a client can block their natural growth potential and, as a consequence, develop self-esteem issues or act in self-destructive ways. Rogers' client-centered therapy focuses on personal strengths and an inner instinct to become healthy and productive. The techniques of this type of therapy can include the following:
- Active listening.
- Genuineness.
- Unconditional positive regard.
- Empathy.
Group, family, and marital therapies for mood disorders and eating disorders
Group therapy involves a group of people working toward similar goals. For example, there are depression groups that work with people who experience depression and anxiety groups that work with patients with anxiety disorders. There are also support groups and available group therapy, which is known to be beneficial for eating disorders.
Family therapy involves the whole family or certain families when there is a problem or struggles within the family dynamic, such as divorce, conflict, or substance use (sometimes incorrectly referred to as “substance abuse.”) Marital therapy works with married couples to help them discuss their disputes and teach them practical communication methods.
If you are struggling with substance use, contact the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) to receive support and resources. Support is available 24/7.
Insight therapy theories
Below are a few different theories related to this therapy and theory.
Dual process theory of insight
According to the dual-process theory, there are two steps to solving problems. The first step is using analytical and logical thought processes based on reason. The second step uses your intuitive ability and the automatic "gut feeling" process based on your experiences.
Three process theory of insight therapy
With the three-process theory, your intelligence may have a crucial role in gaining understanding, and there are three main processes, including selective encoding, combination, and comparison. Selective encoding is achieved by focusing on the ideas relevant to finding a solution while ignoring information that does not seem like a good fit.
Selective comparison establishes a connection between experience and learned knowledge; selective combination can involve understanding various components of a problem and combining them to find a solution.
Understanding your actions through insight counseling
Metacognitive therapies like this have proven beneficial to those who have compulsion disorders like obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). When an individual experiences anxiety or OCD, they may perform actions on a ritualistic basis to alleviate stress or mental pain. These compulsions can often create significant challenges and relationship issues in a person's life.
Addressing interpersonal relationships with a therapist in insight therapy
This therapy may also benefit those struggling with interpersonal relationships at work or home. If a person is struggling to form a healthy or trusting relationship due to constant misunderstandings and bickering, there may be an underlying cause. Metacognitive strategies can be effective in providing someone with the necessary insight to change their thought patterns as well as their associated behaviors.
Seeking mental health therapy and support from a therapist
You might consider seeking therapy online if you do not have the time to travel to a therapist's office. A study has shown that online therapy can feel more personal than traditional therapy. 96% of people using online therapy reported feeling a personal connection with their online therapists as opposed to 91% who saw face-to-face therapists. They were also more invested in completing homework that the therapists assigned them and occasionally reviewed correspondence between them and their therapists, leading them to move forward with their lives.
Choosing a therapist and type of therapy for your mental health condition
Depending on the type of therapy you seek, you might sign up for an online platform like BetterHelp, where a licensed therapist can work with you on concerns that keep you from fully experiencing life. You can meet with your online therapist from the comfort of your home (or wherever you have an internet connection) at a convenient time. You can also choose between phone, video, or live chat sessions.
Takeaway
What is the major difference between insight therapy and behavior therapy?
Behavior therapy is a more action-based therapeutic approach. It focuses on changing current behaviors and teaching new behaviors to help eliminate the issue rather than exploring the past and applying those insights to the present as insight-oriented therapy does. Insight-oriented therapy aims to help individuals gain insight into their early life experiences or some of their unconscious conflicts. Behavior therapy focuses on how to identify patterns and change current behaviors. It involves both approaches during mental health counseling. Still, in behavior therapy, the emphasis is more on positive changes by applying some techniques like play therapy or stress management to treat or lessen symptoms like anxiety or depression. Both approaches aim to help individuals feel safe and determine effective treatment and ways to cope with their negative feelings and difficulties.
What is the difference between insight therapy and humanistic therapy?
Insight-oriented therapy is an umbrella term that encompasses a number of therapeutic approaches, including humanistic therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), family therapy, and gestalt therapy. In humanistic therapy, the main focus is on a client-centered approach, helping clients and individuals gain insight into their self-esteem issues and explore their emotions, feelings, and client’s thoughts in a supportive and nonjudgemental environment. While insight-oriented therapy may involve some techniques to gain a deeper and better understanding of personality disorders or past experiences, humanistic therapy highlights self-actualization and positive personal growth. Both approaches have the same goal—to provide effective mental health counseling for clients. Still, humanistic therapy tends to foster a stronger sense of empowerment by focusing on some of the most recent and current concerns rather than looking deeply into unconscious conflicts or the past.
What is the insight stage of insight counseling?
The insight stage of insight-oriented therapy or counseling is when a therapist helps their clients understand the reasons behind their thoughts, feelings, and beliefs. During this stage, the therapist may assist and support the clients in discussing and exploring the conflicts or experiences that could be contributing to their issues, like anxiety or depression. Utilizing and using these techniques can encourage self-reflection. The therapists aim to help clients better understand their present challenges and personality disorders. This phase can be particularly important in treating mental health conditions. It enables the clients to gain better control over their behaviors and emotions to improve the counseling experience.
What is insight in psychoanalytic therapy?
Insight-oriented therapy is a client-centered form of psychoanalytic therapy that focuses on psychological factors that influence a person’s behavior. The origins of insight-oriented therapy can be traced back to Freud and form the basis for modern talk therapy.
What is the purpose of insight therapy?
Insight-oriented therapy works by examining different emotions, beliefs, and feelings that have been formed by past experiences and impact their life in the present. The purpose of this is to provide validation, process past trauma, and challenge problematic thoughts and behaviors to make healthier decisions and improve mental health. Children may often benefit from insight-oriented therapy as it can help them better understand their feelings and emotions. Research shows that insight-oriented therapy can be very effective when provided through professional services, especially at the beginning of the treatment. A master's degree in counseling or psychology is often required for therapists offering this support.
What is a major assumption of insight-oriented therapy?
Insight-oriented therapy assumes that past experiences account for present thoughts, feelings, and motivations. This assumption suggests that by understanding and exploring these past experiences, therapists can help individuals recognize how they influence emotions and current behaviors, such as those seen in depression or anxiety. During the first session, therapists may allow clients to discuss their past to slowly uncover how earlier events have shaped their present state of mind and actions. After gaining insight into these patterns, the client can manage and control their responses and gradually improve their emotional well-being.
Is cognitive therapy an insight-oriented therapy?
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a form of insight therapy that has been shown to be effective in the treatment of a wide range of mental health conditions, including anxiety disorders, eating disorders, depression, bipolar disorder, and substance abuse.
What is the importance of insight in psychology?
Understanding your emotions, thoughts, beliefs, and motivations can be a powerful way to identify the why behind the ways you act. This therapy insight can also help a person to change and reshape their current patterns of thought and behavior.
How do we increase insight in therapy?
A therapist will use discussion to help create awareness in their clients of the motivations, thoughts, and experiences that have shaped their present. Therapists are trained to be effective listeners and to use clarifying questions to continue to drill down and uncover further insights into their clients. This approach is often utilized in individual therapy sessions or couples counseling, where the therapists help clients control their emotions and behaviors. In the first session, therapists may begin by exploring past experiences, such as challenges like depression or bipolar disorder, to have a deeper understanding of the issues at hand.
What is the difference between supportive and insight-oriented therapy?
Supportive therapy was developed to address a more immediate challenge. It uses empathy, guidance, and validation to address this concern in real time rather than delving into the psyche and the past. In contrast, Insight-oriented therapy uses exploration of the past to tackle more long-term patterns of thought and behavior. The approach used in insight-oriented therapy is common in non-public practice, where therapists provide a client-centered approach and work with couples or individuals. For those with a master's degree, this is an opportunity to utilize more therapeutic techniques. In couples counseling, it is helpful to assist partners in understanding patterns in their relationship, while with children, it focuses on more developmental issues. These different sessions often discuss both past and present concerns, but they may be limited in scope at the beginning of each treatment. For instance, research in the field emphasizes the benefits of combining supportive and insight-oriented therapy.
What are examples of therapies for mood disorders & eating disorders?
Apart from medication, individuals with mood disorders can benefit from a lot of types of therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), interpersonal therapy, family-focused therapy, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). These services can be effective when they discuss their emotions, feelings, and experiences with a licensed therapist, especially at the beginning of their treatment. On the other hand, cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and interpersonal psychotherapy are just some of the types of therapy that can be a good addition to treating eating disorders.
What is the goal of these therapies?
The goal of most therapy is to help individuals cope with emotions like sadness, anger, anxiety, or anything that causes distress in a person. Its goal is to improve the quality of life for a person by teaching them how to manage challenging situations through understanding their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, which they can discuss with their therapist to gain deeper insight.
What are therapies by Freud?
Therapies by Sigmund Freud include psychoanalysis and free association. Both of which are used for addressing mental health concerns, such as depression and anxiety. In psychoanalysis, therapists help clients and individuals explore their unconscious thoughts, emotions, and feelings to discover hidden personality disorders or unresolved conflicts. One technique is free association, in which clients are encouraged to express their thoughts and share their memories and feelings freely. This method can help clients understand the connection and relationship between past experiences and present issues. These two methods are often utilized in non-public practice and clinical psychology to provide a more stable treatment for clients who are struggling with various mental health challenges.
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