What is therapy? A beginner’s guide to mental health

Finding a therapist who is right for you can be challenging, but the results can make it worth it. Basically, it’s like having a deep conversation with a close friend where you only talk about yourself, said Joy Harden Bradford, a licensed psychologist and the founder of Therapy for Black Girls. “A lot of people are reluctant to seek therapy because what they’re experiencing can feel indescribable, so they’re worried they won’t get what they need,” Traube said. “A therapist is trained to ask questions to get to the root of what you’re searching in the therapy experience.” Your therapist might give you a survey about what symptoms you’re experiencing and other indicators of your mental health, like your sleep habits, employment status and any drug or alcohol use. She said that, for instance, if you have social anxiety or difficulty relating to others, “Group therapy is going to be the best way to get at that work, because you’re going to be able to get feedback in real time from other people.” Art therapy, bibliotherapy, music therapy, dance therapy: “When all of these theories were developed, it was primarily by straight white men,” said Harden Bradford.