The Power of Problem-Solving Therapy

As the practice of mental healthcare has grown, many types of therapies have begun to develop. Of them, problem-solving therapy has the potential to help many patients struggling to get through daily life. Focusing on short-term strategies, problem-solving therapy empowers people with the tools to handle any situation and sets them up for success.

If you struggle to cope with the day-to-day stresses of your life, then problem-solving therapy could be for you. In this post, we’ll discuss the basics of problem-solving therapy and how it works. Read on to find out if it’s the right choice for you.

What is Problem-Solving Therapy?

Problem-Solving Therapy (PST) is a well-established, evidence-based treatment that incorporates a step-by-step approach to problem-solving, addressing a patient’s problems in the here and now. Helping people deal with the stress and difficulty of daily life, PST teaches effective coping strategies.

PST is developed from cognitive-behavioral-therapy. It provides training in adaptive problem-solving skills to better cope with stressful situations or problems. Patients will learn to make effective decisions, develop creative solutions to problems, and accurately identify the barriers to their goals.

The Main Types of PST

In general, there are three types of problem-solving therapy.

In the first, social PST, a person’s therapist helps them identify solutions to everyday problems in social settings. Instead of relying on a single coping strategy, the patient learns to adapt to the situation.

The second, self-examination PST, encourages patients to consider their life goals. They will learn to assess barriers to these goals and apply problem-solving strategies to achieve them. Plus, PST encourages a patient to learn to accept uncontrollable situations.

Finally, physicians in primary care settings often employ PST to help their patients.

How does PST Work?

PST helps people by teaching them important skills for managing their mental health. A patient undergoing PST will learn to understand their negative emotions. By connecting stressors to these emotions, a PST patient learns to manage them. 

PST also helps people become confident in their problem-solving abilities, teaching systematic approaches to addressing stressful problems rather than avoiding them or trying a simple band-aid solution. 

For example, a PST therapist will teach a patient a step-by-step problem-solving process. First, they will instruct the patient on identifying problems and developing several realistic solutions. Of these solutions, the patient will select the most promising and develop and implement an action plan. After the fact, the patient will learn to assess the effectiveness of that problem-solving attempt. 

PST gives a patient the tools to accept and cope with the existence of unsolvable problems. That way, they will be ready to respond to any scenario, no matter how stressful.

In order to teach these skills, PST incorporates interactive problem-solving training exercises, practice opportunities, and homework assignments. It also includes psychoeducation, a technique in which therapy is combined with education about a mental health problem to help patients and their families work with mental health professionals.

What can PST Treat? 

PST can treat many mental health issues, such as:

• Anxiety
• Chronic stress from small, accumulating problems
• Complications from traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Depression
• Emotional Distress
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Problems associated with cancer, heart disease, and other chronic illnesses
• Self-harm
• Feelings of hopelessness
• Substance use
• Suicide ideation

PST also gives a person the tools to deal with more specific life problems. For example, PST could benefit a patient struggling to cope with the death of a loved one, unhappiness at work, the loss of a job, divorce, conflicts in relationships, family problems, financial difficulties, and any other stressors of daily life.

Face Forward with SoberMind Recovery

While PST may not be for everyone, it can help people struggling to find solutions to concrete problems. Through problem-solving therapy, patients can take the reigns of their lives and learn to cope with their difficulties. With a toolbox of strategies and more effective decision-making, a person who has undergone PST will be ready to face the future.

When a person is struggling, there is no shame in reaching out for more help. If you or a loved one is suffering from mental health issues, SoberMind Recovery offers the necessary tools for recovery. With LGBTQIA+ Sober Living and Dual Diagnosis Treatment, our Los Angeles treatment center might be the right destination for you. Call our toll-free number, 818-835-9268, today to find out if SoberMind Recovery is the next stop on your journey.