types of mental health treatment

There are lots of ways to get help with mental health challenges, however, what works best can depend on the person and what they’re going through. This section breaks down different treatment options, like therapy, medication, support groups, and other tools people use to feel better. A licensed mental health professional can help figure out which approach is the best fit for your needs. Whether you’re exploring help for yourself or someone you care about, this can be a good starting point to see what’s out there.

Psychotherapy helps individuals or groups address emotional and behavioral issues through guided conversation. It includes individual, group, and family-based approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).

A brief description of these therapies includes:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): A structured, short-term therapy that helps individuals identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviors to improve emotional well-being.
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): A type of CBT that emphasizes mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness, often used for borderline personality disorder and intense emotional challenges.
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): A trauma-focused therapy that uses guided eye movements or other bilateral stimulation to help the brain process and reduce the distress of traumatic memories.

Medications can help manage symptoms of mental health conditions. Common types include antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, and anti-anxiety medications.

Inpatient Hospitalization is a type of intensive mental health care where a person stays in a hospital or psychiatric facility for 24-hour monitoring and treatment. It is typically used during a mental health crisis when someone is a danger to themselves or others, or unable to care for themselves due to severe symptoms.

Residential Treatment is a live-in mental health care program that provides structured and intensive therapy in a supportive, home-like setting. It is designed for individuals who need more support than outpatient care but do not require hospitalization.

Peer Support Groups are gatherings of individuals who share similar experiences or challenges, such as living with a mental health condition, addiction, or grief. These groups provide a safe and supportive environment where members can share their stories, offer encouragement, and learn from each other.

Peer Support and recovery coaching involves individuals with lived experience of recovery from mental health or substance use challenges providing support, guidance, and mentorship to others going through similar experiences. They help individuals set goals, build coping strategies, and navigate recovery, drawing on shared experiences to foster empowerment and hope.

A 12-Step program is a mutual support system for individuals recovering from addiction, based on a set of guiding principles that promote personal responsibility, spiritual growth, and community support. It was originally developed by Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and has since been adapted for various addictions. Participants engage in regular meetings, working through the 12 steps with the help of a sponsor, to achieve and maintain sobriety. Other types of 12-step programs include Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACA), Al-Anon/Alateen, and Co-Anon, serving individuals and families affected by addiction or related issues.

Ketamine treatment uses low doses of ketamine—originally an anesthetic—as a rapid-acting therapy for treatment-resistant depression and certain other mental health conditions. It is typically administered via IV infusion or nasal spray in clinical settings, under medical supervision.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a medical treatment for severe depression and some other psychiatric conditions, in which controlled electrical currents are passed through the brain to induce a brief seizure. It is often used when other treatments have failed and is done under anesthesia in a hospital setting.

Spravato is a brand name for esketamine, a fast-acting nasal spray derived from ketamine. It is FDA-approved for treatment-resistant depression and is administered in a healthcare setting under supervision due to potential side effects and risk of misuse.