April is Counseling Awareness Month: Spotlighting the Power of Psychotherapy and Innovative Mental Health Treatments

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Apr 08, 2025, 12:01 ET

When Therapy Alone Isn't Enough, Options Like TMS and SPRAVATO^® Provide Additional Relief

OAK BROOK, Ill., April 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As we honor Counseling Awareness Month, Relief Mental Health recognizes the critical role that therapy plays in helping individuals navigate mental health challenges and build a life worth living. This month is a time to elevate the importance of psychotherapy, reduce stigma, and educate the public on how comprehensive mental health care can truly transform lives.

Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, is a cornerstone of mental health treatment. At Relief Mental Health, clinicians use evidence-based modalities like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and exposure and response prevention (ERP), to help clients work through anxiety, depression, trauma, OCD, and more. These therapies help people identify unhelpful patterns, build coping strategies, and improve emotional regulation.

"Therapy provides a safe space for people to explore their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, while learning new ways to respond to life's stressors," says Callie Oetking, LCSW, clinical director at Relief Mental Health. "But for some individuals, therapy alone may not be enough. That's why it's so important we offer a full spectrum of treatment options."

For those who need additional support, Relief Mental Health offers psychiatric medication management, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), SPRAVATO^® (esketamine), and ketamine infusions:

Psychiatric medication can help rebalance brain chemistry and reduce symptoms of mood, anxiety, and thought disorders. However, studies show that approximately 30 percent of individuals with depression either do not respond to antidepressant medications or cannot tolerate their side effects.

For those patients, alternative treatments can make a life-changing difference. That's why Relief offers innovative options like TMS, SPRAVATO^®, and IV ketamine—nontraditional approaches proven to help when other treatments fall short.

TMS therapy is a non-invasive, drug-free treatment that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate areas of the brain associated with mood regulation. It's FDA-cleared for depression, OCD, and other diagnoses, and patients remain awake and alert throughout each session.

SPRAVATO^®, a nasal spray form of ketamine, is FDA-approved for treatment-resistant depression or major depression with suicidal thoughts or behaviors. Administered under medical supervision, it offers fast-acting symptom relief for those who haven't found success with traditional antidepressants.

IV ketamine provides rapid symptom relief for PTSD, anxiety, bipolar depression, and more, and is often life-changing for those in crisis.

"While each treatment has its own benefits, the real magic happens when these approaches are combined with psychotherapy," adds Oetking. "We see the most meaningful and lasting improvements when patients engage in therapy alongside medication, TMS, or ketamine-based treatments. It's a whole-person approach that promotes both healing and growth."

For more information about Relief Mental Health or to schedule a consultation for any of its services, individuals can call 855.205.4764, email [email protected] or visit reliefmh.com.

About Relief Mental Health

Relief Mental Health is an award-winning outpatient provider of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), psychedelics (SPRAVATO^® esketamine and IV ketamine), psychiatry, and therapy, for the treatment of depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety and other diagnoses. Founded in January 2020 and dedicated to delivering expedited care, Relief has 11 facilities in three states. In Illinois, clinics are located in Chicago (Lakeview and West Loop), Oak Brook, Orland Park, Northbrook, Rockford, and St. Charles. Relief's other clinics are in Warren and Red Bank, New Jersey, and Middleton and West Allis, Wisconsin. Relief aims to create a new standard for mental health care, offering a continuum of innovative therapeutic interventions and responding to evolving patient needs. For more information, visit www.reliefmh.com.