Therapy is a general term for a variety of interventions that can help people improve their mental, emotional, and behavioral health. There are several types of mental health professionals who provide psychotherapy, including psychologists (who have doctorate degrees), and masters-level providers like Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs) or Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs). Psychotherapy can be beneficial for people of all ages, including older adults. Therapy can be a valuable resource for older adults who are facing challenges in their lives, or who want to explore patterns, deal with emotions, or improve relationships.
Common Reasons Older Adults Seek Therapy
Older adults face a few unique challenges that can lead them to consider therapy. Some of these include:
Coping with physical and mental health changes. As we age, our bodies and minds change in many ways. These changes can sometimes lead to problems, such as chronic pain, depression, anxiety, and dementia. Therapy can help older adults cope with these changes and improve their quality of life.
Dealing with life transitions. Older adults often face a number of major life transitions, such as retirement, the death of a spouse, downsizing from a larger home, becoming a caregiver to a partner, financial stress, or moving to a care facility. These transitions can be difficult to adjust to, and therapy can help older adults cope with the emotional and practical challenges of these changes.
Improving relationships. As we age, our relationships with our family, friends, and loved ones can change. Therapy can help older adults improve their communication skills, resolve conflict, and build stronger relationships.
Promoting self-care. As we age, it's important to take care of our physical and mental health. Therapy can help older adults develop healthy coping strategies, identify needs, and make changes to improve overall well-being.
WHAT YOU CAN GAIN FROM PSYCHOTHERAPY
There can be a wide array of helpful things that result from therapy with the right therapist. Psychotherapy can help older adults:
Reduce stress and anxiety
Improve sleep quality
Increase self-esteem
Enhance cognitive function
Build social support
Find meaning and purpose in life
If you are an older adult who is struggling with any of the issues mentioned above, therapy may be a helpful option for you. There are many different types of therapy available, and many mental health providers, so you can find the person and approach that is right for you. Therapy can be a valuable tool for exploring behavior patterns, processing emotions, and navigating changes with support from a psychologist along the way.
TIPS FOR OLDER ADULTS CONSIDERING PSYCHOTHERAPY
If you are an older adult who is considering therapy, there are a few things you should keep in mind.
First, it's important to find a psychologist or other mental health provider who is experienced in working with older adults. Just like not all psychologists specialize in working with kids, not everyone is well-versed in aging or the unique challenges that older adults may face. A geropsychologist, like Dr. Reger, is someone with specialty training in aging and age-related concerns.
You should feel comfortable with your therapist and be able to talk to them openly and honestly. There is nothing more important than fit when it comes to how successful therapy is, so don’t be afraid to take advantage of a free brief consultation with a potential therapist, to get a feel for the match.
Finally, try to be patient with the process of therapy. It takes time to see results because change is difficult. Often in therapy, we are exploring and changing patterns we’ve been in for decades, and that can’t happen overnight. Therapy can be painful, joyful, funny, frustrating, and bring up many emotions along the way, so try to embrace the process as you go!
Begin Counseling for Older Adults in Los Angeles, CA
If you are ready to receive the support you deserve, I would be happy to offer support. As a Los Angeles Psychologist, I would be honored to help provide the insight to help you better address the concerns affecting you most. You can learn more about what you can expect from counseling for older adults with Dr. Reger by doing the following:
Reach out for a free consultation.
Schedule your counseling appointment with Dr. Reger.
Start receiving the support you deserve!
Other Therapy and Testing Services Offered in Los Angeles, CA
I understand you may need more support in addition to counseling for older adults. This is why I’m happy to offer several types of assessments and services around Southern California. I also offer psychological evaluations for workers’ comp, preoperative assessments, individual therapy and neuropsychological testing. Visit my blog for more helpful information today!