Comprehensive treatment plans for individuals with mental disorders.
- Jaithra Kakarla
- Jul 4, 2020
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 2, 2020
Since there were many inquiries regarding the general treatment plans for individuals suffering from mental disorders and where equine therapy fits in, the following article focuses on that topic.
Psychiatric hospitalization
Psychiatric hospitalization treatment typically consists of stabilization, close monitoring, medication, administration of fluids and nutrition, and other necessary emergency care.
Psychiatric hospitalization occurs when a person is admitted to a:
Private psychiatric hospital.
Medical hospital with a psychiatric floor.
State psychiatric hospital
People may be voluntarily or involuntarily hospitalized. A person may be involuntarily hospitalized when they either are gravely disabled or are a danger to themselves or others. A person is a candidate for psychiatric hospitalization when they have:
Severe mental health symptoms.
Hallucinations or delusions.
Suicidal or homicidal ideation.
Not slept or eaten for days.
Lost the ability to care for themselves due to mental health symptoms.
2. Inpatient Mental Health treatment
Inpatient treatment, also referred to as residential mental health treatment, takes place in a residential facility on a 24/7 basis. This level of care is best suited for those who need constant medical supervision as well as those with relatively severe, long-term symptoms who have not shown significant progress after outpatient mental health intervention. Types of treatment in an inpatient facility:
Individual psychotherapy/counseling
Group therapy
Medication
Medical supervision
Recreational therapies
Complementary therapies (e.g., yoga or meditation)
3. Outpatient Mental Health treatment
Outpatient mental health treatment does not require participants to live at the treatment center. Instead, participants visit the treatment center or therapist’s office on certain days of the week. Outpatient mental illness treatment is best suited for those with:
Mild to moderate symptoms
A solid support system
The ability to function outside of the treatment environment
Many different types of mental health treatment options are offered on an outpatient basis. These include:
Individual therapy
Group therapy
Family therapy
Support groups
Intensive outpatient care
Partial hospitalization
Psychiatric medications and outpatient medical management
4. Dual Diagnosis Treatment
Dual diagnosis treatment offers comprehensive mental health services for those struggling with both a mental health condition and an addiction or substance use disorder. Dual diagnosis treatment addresses and treats both conditions simultaneously.
Both disorders need to be simultaneously treated to maximize the chances of a full recovery. For example, if an addicted person has a co-occurring anxiety disorder, they may relapse to self-medicate the unmanaged anxiety. Treating the underlying mental health conditions and traumas that contribute to the addiction can help prevent relapse and maintain sobriety in the long-term.
5. Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy (talk therapy) has effectively treated a wide range of mental health conditions and is offered in both inpatient and outpatient settings. During talk therapy, a person or group discusses their issues with a therapist who can help them process their feelings and learn new coping skills. There are many different types of psychotherapy available, such as:
Individual therapy: Individual therapy is a form of talk therapy where an individual works one on one with a therapist to address unresolved feelings, traumas, and mental health problems using a variety of different strategies and approaches.
Group therapy: Group therapy is typically led by a therapist and consists of a various number of participants. Group therapy is usually focused on specific topics that everyone in the group is working on. For example, a therapist may lead a group therapy session on anger management, postpartum depression, or suicide.
Family therapy: Family therapy is a form of psychotherapy where family members meet with a therapist to resolve issues. Family therapy is often conducted by a licensed marriage and family therapist (MFT) who specializes in family therapy.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): Cognitive behavioral therapy is the most common psychotherapeutic approach. It can be used on the individual, group, or family level. CBT therapists help clients address unhealthy thoughts and behaviors by replacing them with realistic self-talk and constructive behaviors.
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT): Dialectical behavior therapy is most commonly used to treat individuals suffering from a borderline personality disorder (BPD). But it has effectively treated other disorders. DBT emphasizes accepting and validating unhealthy thoughts, emotions, and behaviors and learning to find a balance between acceptance and change.
Interpersonal therapy: Interpersonal therapy helps people address problems in relationships and teaches new interpersonal and communication skills to improve the quality of relationships. This form of therapy may be used in couples counseling or with those with depression who have difficulty relating to others.
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR): EMDR is a form of therapy used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). During EMDR, the brain is stimulated with back-and-forth eye movements that help stimulate memories of traumatic events in order for them to be resolved.
6. Medication
Medications can be used to treat the symptoms of mental illness. Medications are often used in combination with psychotherapy and are offered in both inpatient and outpatient mental health settings. Medications used for mental health treatment include:
Antidepressants
Anti-anxiety medications
Mood stabilizers
Antipsychotics
7. Complementary and Alternative Treatments
Complementary and alternative mental health treatment options may be used in addition to traditional forms of treatment such as therapy and medication. Some of the most common types of complementary treatments include:
Yoga
Meditation
Nutrition
Exercise
Equine therapy
8. 12-Step Programs and Support Groups
In addition to psychotherapy and medications, there are many other types of mental health treatment options people may want to consider. Support groups and 12-step programs may be good complementary therapies for people who are undergoing psychotherapy and/or taking medication. These groups are available for people dealing with a wide range of mental or behavioral health and substance abuse problems, including:
Alcohol abuse
Drug abuse
Gambling, shopping, video gaming, and other behavioral addictions
Anxiety and depression
Eating disorders
Though support groups and 12-step programs are free and beneficial, they do not provide medical supervision or offer professional therapy.
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DISCLAIMER
This information is solely for those individuals who have requested for more general information about how equine therapy is related to the treatment plans for mental disorders and /or anybody else that might be looking for a comprehensive outlook at all the treatment plans available. Please understand that this blog post was not initially planned as part of the project since this site focuses solely on providing information about equine therapy. If you have any issues with the content, please give your feedback.
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