Therapists are licensed medical practitioners who specialise in helping people who face mental and emotional challenges to provide them with treatment and rehabilitation. They are trained, certified professionals who have undergone courses related to mental health, and are able to use different theories and psychotherapeutic techniques to help clients improve their cognitive and emotional states.

While the word “therapist” is most commonly used interchangeably with “psychologist”, it could also include social workers, counsellors, and life coaches.

A therapist’s job consists of being able to effectively understand a client’s problem and develop a treatment plan collaboratively. This requires them to be resourceful and flexible in treating their patients in an individualised way based on the client’s needs or abilities.

Indeed, therapists work wonders not just in the lives of their patients but those of their families and communities as well.

A good therapist will explain the treatment process step-by-step, along with their preferred method of therapy. Broadly, therapists are trained to achieve the following:

• help clients reflect on their issues and achieve positive change;
• liaise with others, if needed, to help make change happen;
• set up a contract to establish what will be covered in sessions;
• keep confidential records; and
• refer clients to other therapists and treatment options if necessary.

Types of therapists

While most therapists are trained to help individuals holistically with their issues, there are those who specialise in specific areas.

• Marriage and family therapists are involved in helping families and couples identify and address the issues they face.
• Substance abuse therapists help those whose lives are affected by alcohol and drug addiction, by providing patients with techniques for achieving self control.
• Grief and loss therapists help patients cope with the passing of a loved one, or in the event of a long battle with illness.
• Child and adolescent therapists provide support and counselling to children and teens, often with their families. They help those with behavioural issues, learning disabilities, family problems, or issues at school.
• Divorce therapists assist couples who are unable to overcome their interpersonal issues and have decided to end their marriage.
• Group therapists deal with groups of individuals who face similar issues, or issues specific to their commonality such as age, gender, religious beliefs, and so on.
• Clinical social work therapists provide services to different populations in urban and remote areas. They often help in the community with families who need intervention.

Skills of a good therapist

In order to carry out his or her work effectively, a therapist must possess the following:

• Interpersonal skills: therapists must be able relate well to those from different walks of life.
• Communication skills: in a role that requires talking and listening to clients, therapists must have excellent verbal communication and active listening skills.
• Patience: treatment and recovery take time; therefore, a good therapist must be able to support their client all the way to the end of their treatment plan.
• Trustworthiness: therapists are expected to keep all information and discussions confidential.
• Empathy: they must have the ability to understand and consider their patients’ experiences from objective perspectives to help them understand their emotions.
• Critical thinking skills: therapists must be able to determine an accurate diagnosis and develop a proper treatment plan.

In conclusion, therapists help individuals, couples and groups to explore and understand their complex emotions as a result of their experiences. Through the expertise of these mental health professionals, people are able to better understand themselves and the community in which they belong, so they may live more freely and happily.

Read more articles by Dennis Relojo-Howell here.

Dennis Relojo-Howell is the managing director of Psychreg and host of ‘The DRH Show’. Connect with him on X (Twitter) at @dennisr_howell.