And What Are The Solutions?
The mental health delivery system in the U.S. is complex, with various systemic factors that impact care. While these complexities deserve attention, today, I want to focus on a different issue: why many well-intentioned individuals struggle to make meaningful changes in their lives despite investing in mental health treatment.
Even when using therapy, medication, or a combination of both, some people find themselves stuck in patterns they desperately want to change. There are several reasons for this, including:
Gaps in emotional regulation skill training during therapy
Ineffective use of medication and lack of follow-up care
Limited coordination between therapy and medication treatment
Provider skill set and experience
Let’s break down these contributing factors and explore how they impact outcomes.
The Gaps In Therapy: Why “Talking” Isn’t Always Enough
Therapy is often designed to provide individuals with a safe space to explore their feelings and thoughts. While this is valuable, many people still say: “I understand it logically, but when I’m in the moment, I still do the same thing.”
This repeated frustration can lead to feelings of inadequacy—thinking they’re not “good enough” or “trying hard enough.” However, the issue is not the individual; it’s the therapy itself.
Emotional Regulation Skills Are Essential
For therapy to be effective, it must include training in emotional regulation skills. This involves teaching individuals how to:
Identify when they’re becoming emotionally escalated.
Use specific techniques to self-soothe in the moment.
Without these skills, therapy often falls short. Why? Because when someone is “triggered,” their thinking brain—the part responsible for logic and reasoning—shuts down. Most traditional therapy focuses on engaging the thinking brain, making it inaccessible during moments of emotional overwhelm.
The Solution
Incorporating emotional regulation techniques into therapy ensures individuals can navigate real-world challenges effectively, rather than feeling powerless when faced with triggers.
Medication As A Tool: Addressing Emotional Dysregulation
Medication can play a powerful role in supporting behavior change, but only if used effectively.
What Medication Should Target
For medication to complement therapy, it must:
1.Help reduce emotional dysregulation.
2.Provide relief from overwhelming emotions triggered in daily life.
This creates a “window of opportunity” for individuals to learn and practice emotional regulation skills taught in therapy.
Building New Pathways In The Brain
When individuals have the emotional stability to practice new skills, they begin to form new neural pathways that support healthier behaviors. At the same time, old, unhelpful pathways gradually weaken.
With the right combination of effective medication and therapy, individuals can achieve lasting behavior changes within 18 months to 3 years.
The Importance Of Provider Skill Set
The expertise and experience of your provider significantly influence the success of your mental health treatment.
Why Provider Skills Matter
It’s difficult for a provider to guide you through challenges they haven’t successfully navigated themselves. While empathy and care are valuable traits, they’re not enough if the provider lacks the practical skills you need to cultivate.
An effective provider should act as both a coach and mentor—someone who already possesses the skills you’re striving to develop.
Finding The Right Approach For You
If you’re feeling frustrated with your mental health treatment because you haven’t achieved the changes you desire, it may be time to consider a more specialized approach.
Key Components Of Effective Treatment
Skill-Based Therapy: Focused on teaching emotional regulation and self-soothing techniques.
Targeted Medication Use: Designed to create stability and space for practicing new behaviors.
Experienced Providers: Equipped to guide you through transformational growth.
And another component is to analyze the underlining behavioral patterns and habits that dictate your behavior, in which you can read in our article Why We Repeat Problematic Behaviors Long-Term.
Final Thoughts
Investing in yourself through a tailored mental health treatment approach can yield life-changing results. By combining education, skill-building, and targeted medication (when necessary), you can achieve meaningful, lasting transformation in as little as 18 months to 3 years.
Don’t give up on your journey to wellness. With the right support, the change you’re seeking is within reach.
