What Is Therapy? Who Can Benefit from It?

Therapy is a collaborative treatment process between a psychologist and a client that helps people make sense of their mental processes and emotions (American Psychological Association, 2020). In the therapy process, the individual is called a "client." Therapy helps resolve difficulties related to mental health and helps the client understand future challenges and past experiences. In this way, by receiving support for the difficulties they face, clients can maintain their daily functioning in a healthy way. In this process, therapy support can be provided in different forms, such as family, couples, group or individual therapy, depending on individuals' needs. Individual therapy consists of one-on-one, goal-oriented, structured sessions between the client and the therapist, based on a relationship of trust. Group therapy allows clients with similar experiences to come together and provides an opportunity to explore interpersonal experiences. Sharing emphasizes both the experience of belonging to a group and the feeling of not being alone. Couples therapy makes it possible to look at problems from both partners' perspectives and resolve them for a healthier relationship. Family therapy provides an opportunity to improve functioning for each individual in the family.