Behavioral therapy helps people cope with chronic illnesses or recurring medical problems.
It views illness with an all-encompassing perspective. Behavioral therapy often involves the cooperation of others, especially family and close friends, to reinforce a desired behavior. The kind of medication a psychiatrist prescribes varies with the disorder and the individual being treated. For example, some people who suffer from anxiety, bipolar disorder, major depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorders, and schizophrenia find their symptoms improve dramatically through careful monitoring of appropriate medication. Chemical dependency counselors conduct group education and therapy sessions and often individually counsel patients with a chemical dependency to help them understand and recovery from their addiction.