Therapy Facts & Worksheets

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Therapy pertains to treatments that focus on helping a person relieve or treat a disorder. Its benefits may include improving mental, emotional, physical, behavioral, and relationship-related issues.

See the fact file below for more information on Therapy, or you can download our 29-page Therapy worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

BRIEF HISTORY OF THERAPY

• The exact date of the beginning of therapy as a practice is unknown. 
• As a nature, humans have been helping each other for centuries through talk, wellness practices, and meditation. 
• However, many believe that therapeutic-like methods existed since ancient Greece. 
• The term psychotherapy officially became a term in the early 1800s.
• Psychotherapy, the formal word for mental health therapy, officially became a term during the early 1800s.
• Before the popularization of psychotherapy, mental health conditions were often considered hysteria, curses, and possessions.
• Before the 1800s, people with mental health symptoms or those considered different from the norm were labeled witches.
• When Sigmund Freud, an Austrian psychoanalyst, entered clinical psychology, talk therapy was recognized and accepted. 
• He created psychoanalysis which involved a therapist and a patient who talks one-on-one, while the former analyzes the thought patterns, actions, and of the latter. 
• Sigmund Freud’s work led to the development of psychodynamic therapy, which delves into the unconscious and conscious aspects of the human mind. 
• In 1752, the first mental health hospital in the U.S. was established. Today its practices are considered inhumane. 
• Among these practices were bloodletting, purging, and isolation.
• Most patients were also declared insane and prevented from connecting with society.
• Moreover, people and towns near the hospital watched the patients for their entertainment.
• In the past, psychotherapy was also often associated religiously, specifically with the Christian faith.
• It was also mainly available to the wealthy and the white.
• In 1896, Lightner Witmer opened the first psychological clinic, and professionals started to diagnose mental health conditions.
• In 1952 the first Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) was published to help psychologists diagnose their patients for clinical purposes.
• As the years went on, there were advancements in the different therapy methods.
• In the 1900s, behaviorism started to become popular as a form of therapy. 
• Behavioral therapists also began to practice talk therapy which led to the development of cognitive-behavioral therapy.
• Other branches of therapy, such as body psychotherapy, humanistic therapy, cognitive therapy, and somatic therapy, were developed.

TYPES OF THERAPY

• In the 1800s, when psychotherapy became an official practice, the most common types of therapy were psychoanalysis and Jungian analysis therapy.
• Mesmerism and phrenology were also some of the therapies included.
• Today, there are various kinds of therapy offered, and some of these are:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

• In this type of therapy, therapists teach children how thoughts cause feelings that affect behaviors. 
• Therapists help the child identify distorted and harmful thinking patterns and replace them with more appropriate thoughts to improve the mood and behavior of a child. 
• One specialized form of CBT is -focused CBT which helps children to cope with their traumatic experiences. 
• In 2021, a clinical trial showed that CBT is effective in treating a prolonged grief disorder in children and teenagers.

Behavior Therapy

• The approach in this therapy is to view all behaviors as learned behavior and that they are changeable. 
• This therapeutic approach states that when an undesirable behavior, whether actions or thoughts are rewarded, actions become reinforced, and this becomes a habit. 
• With these analytics, the behavior therapist creates a reward and encourages the child to make and develop a new, healthier behavior while aiming to reduce the poor behavior.

Humanistic Therapy

• It is also known as person-centered therapy. 
• The therapist believes that the child knows themselves better than anyone else, so the role of the therapist is to be more supportive. 
• In this approach, the child therapist offers an emotionally and psychologically safe environment for the child to process their own experiences and reflect on their past, present, and future.

Play Therapy

• This approach is highly-popular for younger children between 3-12 years old. 
• The play therapist uses playrooms as a safe space where the child can process their feelings through symbols and play. 
• The child therapist helps the child to explore and discover issues with play therapy through the use of toys and a physically and mentally engaging play environment which then assists the child in leading them through their age-appropriate healing process.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

• DBT is a form of therapy that works particularly well for teenagers struggling with depression, self-harm, and aggressive behavior. 
• The approach can be in both individual and group sessions.
• This therapy helps and teaches teens to develop the coping strategies they need for handling their conflict and extreme emotions. 
• DBT aims to teach interpersonal effectiveness, mindfulness, distress tolerance skills, and emotional regulation skills.

Family Therapy

• Family therapy helps the relatives recognize and understand the child’s interactions and communication patterns. 
• It supports and educates families and helps siblings and parents to meet the needs of children who find coping with emotional distress challenging or children who are neurodivergent.

Parent-child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)

• PCIT helps parents interact with their children and help them manage both of their behaviors. 
• In parent-child therapy, the parents usually interact with their child in a separate room and receive coaching from a child therapist through an earpiece or by meeting them before and after the sessions. 
• This approach allows the relationship between the parent and the child to improve.

Physical Therapy

• This type of therapy focuses on improving a patient’s mobility, movement, and function.
• It can also be both preventive and corrective treatment.
• A physical therapist can assess a patient’s condition and movements, which helps them develop a proper treatment plan to make the person feel better.
• Physical therapy focuses on movement and strength restoration, a decrease of pain, prevention from worsening of a condition, and teaching to maintain a person’s fitness and functionality.

Pediatric Physical Therapy

• A therapy that diagnoses and treats conditions related to infants, children, and adolescents is called Pediatric Physical Therapy.
• Pediatric therapists work closely with the child and families or caregivers to improve the ability of a patient to function alone and be active at home or school.

Occupational Therapy

• This kind of therapy focuses on helping a patient perform specific daily activities. 
• This therapy aids in dealing with fine motor skills, cognitive skills, visual-perceptual skills, and sensory-processing problems.
• An occupational therapist can help make the home or school environment suitable for everyday life.
• A stroke patient can recover by relearning, through occupational therapy, how to perform daily tasks.

Speech Therapy

• People who experience speech problems and disorders, language disorders, or even stammering can undergo speech therapy.
• This therapy focuses on improving pronunciation, muscle strengthening for speech, and learning to speak correctly.

THE ADVANTAGES OF THERAPY

• Children are sensitive to significant changes in their life. 
• Child therapy teaches them how to cope with changes by shifting their focus from the negatives to the positives.
• Children may sometimes suffer from low esteem, which can then lead to depression, anxiety, and other behavioral disorder. Counseling helps and teaches the children to see their value and develop more positive thought patterns.
• Understanding mental health conditions is significant as it sometimes comes with harmful symptoms that are difficult for anyone to comprehend. 
• With counselors and therapists helping them understand the diagnosis, it can help the child and the parents cope with the effects that come with it.
• Child therapists can help children cope with trauma when they experience a traumatic event, be it abuse or a natural disaster.
• The child will think it is okay and helpful to talk about their traumatic experience, as it also allows them to discover some coping mechanisms.
• Therapy can also be beneficial physically.
• It reduces pain to the injuries, can develop better sleep, less stress, improves communication, and can help regain the functionality of some affected body parts.
• Therapists can help keep patients fit and stay on track through healthy methods.

COMMON CONDITIONS THAT REQUIRE THERAPY

• Therapy is a helpful treatment for many diseases and disorders.
• For example, some conditions that require speech therapy are speech, swallowing, and voice disorders.
• It can also be helpful to hearing impairment patients, developmental delays, autism spectrum disorder, cleft lift or cleft palate, articulation patients, patients with motor planning problems, chronic hoarseness, or those with weak oral muscles.
• Therapies are also necessary for people who experience depression, schizophrenia, trauma-related disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, phobias, anxiety, bipolar, and eating disorders. 
• The most common therapy available is physical therapy.
• Physical therapists help treat a variety of conditions depending on their specialty. 
• Some conditions might include stroke, cardiopulmonary problems, hand problems such as carpal tunnel syndrome, musculoskeletal disorders, pediatric conditions, sports-related disorders, and even skin injuries like burns.

THERAPY EXERCISES

• The following types of therapy exercises help improve a child’s functional ability, strength, range of motion, and gross or fine motor skills. 
• They can also be recommended for those diagnosed with conditions like cerebral palsy, down syndrome, developmental delays, and muscle weakness.
• It may be best to do physical therapy exercises 3 to 5 times a week to make sure that the child is getting the most benefit from the exercises and achieving the goal. 

Three Main Categories

Core Strengthening Exercises

• These exercises improve the child’s trunk control, stability, balance, and coordination. It will help the child to prepare his body for sitting, standing, and walking. Prone plank, side plank, and superman are some examples.

Motor Skills Exercises

• These exercises help improve the child’s coordination and sequencing in doing some tasks such as writing, drawing, building blocks, cutting with scissors, buttoning the shirt, and tying shoelaces.

Sensory Process Exercise 

• These exercises aim to improve the ability to take in information from the environment and make sense of it. 
• Activities include auditory, visual, and tactile processing.

Therapy Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about Therapy across 29 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching students about Therapy. Therapy pertains to treatments that focus on helping a person relieve or treat a disorder. Its benefits may include improving mental, emotional, physical, behavioral, and relationship-related issues.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

1. Therapy Facts
2. Take Me Back
3. Therapy Types
4. The Help I Need
5. Positivity
6. Cloud Thought
7. The Five Senses
8. Stretch That
9. Tongue Twisters
10. Tangrams
11. Trace Them All

Frequently Asked Questions

What is therapy?

Therapy, also known as psychotherapy or counseling, is a process where a trained mental health professional helps individuals, couples, or groups address and manage their emotional, psychological, and behavioral challenges. The goal of therapy is to provide support, guidance, and tools to cope with life’s difficulties, improve mental well-being, and facilitate personal growth.

What types of therapy are there?

1. There are various types of therapy, each with its unique approach and techniques. Some common types include:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Focuses on changing negative thought patterns and behaviors.
• Psychodynamic Therapy: Explores unconscious thoughts and past experiences to understand present emotions and behaviors.
• Humanistic Therapy: Emphasizes personal growth, self-awareness, and self-acceptance.
• Family Therapy: Involves multiple family members to address relationship and communication issues.
• Group Therapy: Involves a therapist guiding a group of individuals who share similar concerns or challenges.

When should someone consider therapy?

Individuals may consider therapy when they experience difficulties that impact their daily functioning, relationships, or overall well-being. Some common reasons include anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship problems, grief, stress, self-esteem issues, or major life changes. Therapy can be beneficial for anyone seeking support in dealing with emotional or psychological challenges.

How does therapy work?

Therapy typically involves regular sessions with a trained therapist. In these sessions, the therapist actively listens, provides a safe and non-judgmental space, and offers insights and guidance. The therapist may use various techniques and approaches based on the individual’s needs and the chosen therapy type. The client and therapist work together to identify goals and develop coping strategies to address specific challenges.

Is therapy effective?

Yes, therapy can be highly effective for many people. Numerous research studies have shown that therapy can lead to significant improvements in mental health, emotional well-being, and quality of life. The effectiveness of therapy depends on various factors, such as the individual’s commitment, the quality of the therapeutic relationship, the expertise of the therapist, and the appropriateness of the chosen therapy approach for the individual’s needs. It’s essential to find a therapist with whom you feel comfortable and confident in working towards your goals.

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Link will appear as Therapy Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, August 30, 2023