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THE MANY ROLES PLAYED BY A MENTAL HEALTH THERAPIST


When people hear the phrase "mental therapist" they think of a serious doctor type person who takes notes while you talk and then prescribes medicines and sends you on your way. This stereotype of a mental health therapist just presents one aspect of their job. Therapists in fact do so much more that even an article won't suffice to cover their entire role. From being a relationship advisor to a counselor to those seeking depression help, therapists wear many hats.

At the core of it, yes, a mental health therapist is a professional and fully qualified doctor who specializes in treating mental health issues. And yes, they do work with patients with severe forms of mental illness and provide intensive and sustained therapy to such individuals. But they also work with people seeking depression help. This is not to say that depression is not as serious a condition, however society does tend to perceive it as not really a mental health issue. In such cases, therapists almost wear the hat of a counselor of a friend. They might not necessarily prescribe medicines, but they will indulge in a series of regular therapy sessions with their patients. And these sessions are designed in such a way that it gives the patients a safe space to vent their issues and talk about their problems. They are made to feel as if they are being heard by somebody who truly understands their condition and such therapy is invaluable for the treatment of several mental health conditions like depression, obsessive compulsive disorder and more. On the other hand, a therapist can also play the role of a counselor or advisor when needed. Especially when it comes to something like couples’ therapy, a mental health therapist will slip into the persona of a relationship advisor and will provide the feuding couple with an impartial and trained listener who is truly invested in helping them. Through a process of regular and sustained therapy, the advisor will then try and get to the root of their problems and will initiate a constructive conversation to help them come up with solutions to their problems. They perform similar functions for families as well and this is known as family counseling. On the other hand, they also play the role of a friend when it comes to providing teenage therapy. Teenage is a very stressful time of life for everyone and a mental health therapist essentially provides teenagers with a listening ear for their problems. 

Mental health therapists aren't just doctors who only focus on curing their patients. They are also invested in improving the quality of life of those who visit them. Their work goes beyond mental health therapy to mental health wellness as they handhold their patients through therapy and teach them how to function better in life. Therapy in general is an extremely constructive process and it is important that more people are made aware of this distinction. 

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