What Is Mental Health Treatment and How Does It Work?

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 23.4% Americans were diagnosed with mental health conditions in 2024. These disorders are often misunderstood- but they are treatable. But what is mental health treatment, and how does it work?

The truth is, treatment plans can, and should, look different for various people. They should vary depending on the type of mental disorder, the underlying cause, and the person’s goals and lifestyles. This article will take a deep dive, explaining the approach.

What Is Mental Health Treatment?

Mental health treatment is a structured intervention that aims to reduce symptoms, improve daily functioning, and support long-term well-being. It typically involves evidence-based approaches delivered by mental health professionals, such as a licensed psychiatrist, psychologist, or counselor.

While various informal methods are used to support mental health, such as meditation, socialization, and exercise, they are not really a part of mental health treatment. However, they are often recommended as complementary approaches and should not be undermined.

Mental Health Treatment Options

Mental health treatment options can be broken down into categories, such as psychotherapy (talk therapy), medications, and specialized approaches. They are often combined and tailored to individual needs. Multimodal treatment is the combination of multiple treatment approaches to address a condition or disorder, often integrating psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy.

Here are some that are often integrated:

Psychotherapy

Common talk therapy approaches include:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Addresses negative thought processes and teaches people to manage their emotions in a healthy way. This therapy is typically structured and goal-oriented, aiming for quick results.
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT): Originally developed to treat bipolar disorder, DBT is now a popular treatment for various mental health disorders. It offers a mindful approach to help individuals handle emotional distress.
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Rather than trying to change or eliminate negative thoughts, ACT teaches people to accept them with detachment and commit to appropriate actions. It is effective in treating major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, and other common mental health conditions.

Medications

Pharmacotherapy is the use of medications to treat mental health disorders, such as depression and anxiety, to help manage their symptoms. Psychiatric medications do not cure mental illness but can significantly improve symptoms and make other treatments, such as psychotherapy, more effective.

Medications are often prescribed alongside psychotherapy. According to 2016 research from the National Library of Medicine, covering 153 clinical trials, the combined approach outperformed either treatment alone. The most popular medication options include:

• SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors): Block the reuptake of serotonin in the brain, making it more readily available to lift mood.
• SSNRIs: Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors): Have similar effects to SSRIs but also block the reuptake of norepinephrine.
• Benzodiazepines: Produce a calming effect on the nervous system to help with anxiety disorders.

Emerging Specialized Treatments

Innovations in mental health care have guided specialized treatments, such as:

• TMS (Transcranial magnetic stimulation): This non-invasive procedure sends pulses to stimulate brain regions associated with mood regulation. It is mainly used to address treatment-resistant depression.
• Ketamine Therapy: Unlike other antidepressants that stimulate serotonin, ketamine targets the glutamate system to produce more rapid results. Like TMS, it is also used for treatment-resistant depression.
• EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing): A popular form of exposure therapy, EMDR involves focusing on a traumatic event while engaging in sensory stimulation, helping memories lose their emotional charge.

Holistic/Complementary Approaches

Therapists often recommend clients engage in stress-reducing activities to support mental health treatment. They include:

• Mindful activities like yoga, meditation, and deep breathing.
• Exercise and nutrition help with stress management and improve overall well-being.
• Art therapy boosts self-esteem and serves as an outlet for emotional expression.

How Is Mental Health Care Delivered?

Mental health services can be delivered in various settings, as follows:

• Individual Therapy: A popular method for talk therapy, this involves individuals discussing their mental health problems with a therapist in a one-on-one setting.
• Group Therapy: Groups of people with similar issues get together to discuss their experiences, reducing isolation and helping them understand they are not alone.
• Family Therapy: Family Members may be invited into therapy sessions so they gain a better understanding of their loved one’s mental illness and learn how to create a supportive environment conducive to healing.

Levels of Care

Clinics often utilize a step-down approach, as follows:

• Partial Care: Formerly known as Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP), this primary type of care provides high-level outpatient treatment with an intensive schedule, often up to 40 hours per week, for adults with severe mental health diagnoses. However, typically, partial care is closer to 5-6 hours a day, five days a week, making it ideal for individuals who can’t step away from their responsibilities while getting the help they need.
• Intensive Outpatient Care (IOP): Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP) are structured programs designed for individuals who need more support than standard outpatient care but wish to remain living at home. At this stage, clients typically attend shorter sessions 3-5 times a week.
• Outpatient Services: Clients may continue attending therapy sessions after completing IOP to ensure optimal well-being.
• Aftercare: After treatment is completed, clinics typically continue to offer recommendations for support groups and healthy living.

Co-Occurring Disorders

Mental health issues often go hand in hand with substance abuse. Individuals with emotional disorders may use drugs and alcohol to deal with life stressors, manage symptoms, and difficult emotions. While substances may provide temporary relief, they often make problems worse in the long run.

In these instances, clinics will take a dual diagnosis approach. They will start by addressing the physical aspect of dependency issues through supervised detox. Then, they will follow up with evidence-based therapies that target disorders that contributed to addiction.

This approach tends to support long-term recovery.

Types of Mental Health Treatment at a Glance

The Mental Health Treatment Process

If you or a loved one requires mental health treatment, you may wonder what the process looks like. Here’s what you can expect:

• Step 1: Assessment and Diagnosis: A therapist will begin by assessing the individual’s mental and physical health to determine risk factors for addiction. They may use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM)-5) to diagnose the condition.
• Step 2: Building a Treatment Plan: After a diagnosis is made, the therapist will develop a treatment plan suited to the client’s individual needs, goals, and lifestyle.
• Step 3: Active Treatment: Treatment may vary depending on the prescribed course and may involve support groups, one-on-one therapy, family therapy, and homework assignments.
• Step 4: Monitoring and Progress: The therapist will continue monitoring the client’s progress throughout treatment and adjust the approach as needed.
• Step 5: Transition Planning/Ongoing Maintenance: After the course is complete, the therapist may continue care with occasional follow-up sessions and provide tips to support optimal mental well-being.

BlueCrest Counseling’s Mental Health Treatment Process

At BlueCrest, we understand that mental health conditions are complex. We provide a specialized approach that addresses co-occurring disorders through evidence-based therapies. Our team provides comprehensive care that spans from detox to therapy, and beyond, supporting lasting recovery.

Contact us to learn more about our comprehensive approach.

FAQs

How do I know if I need mental health treatment?

Various warning signs indicate you need mental health treatment, such as persistent sadness, anxiety, mood swings, and changes in sleep and appetite that interfere with functioning and daily life.

What’s the difference between a psychologist, a psychiatrist, and a therapist?

A team approach is often recommended for treating severe mental illnesses, ensuring that all psychiatric, medical, and social needs are met through multimodal treatment. Various professionals may be included in the process as follows:

• A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who can diagnose mental health conditions and prescribe medications.
• Psychologists hold a doctoral degree and specialize in psychological testing and therapy, but cannot prescribe medications.
• Therapists and counselors hold different licenses, depending on the state, and offer talk therapy and supportive counseling.

How long does mental health treatment take?

The duration of mental health treatment varies depending on the severity and type of condition. Some people see meaningful improvement after 12-20 sessions. Others, managing chronic conditions like bipolar disorder and PTSD, may require years of treatment.