A counselor sitting on a chair speaking to a patient.
A counselor sitting on a chair speaking to a patient.

Therapeutic Interventions for PMHNPs

by Walsh University Online

Therapeutic intervention can be defined as an action or a set of actions taken to improve a situation, particularly as it applies to a physical or mental health condition. Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) rely on planned, safe therapeutic interventions to positively impact individuals in distress, with the goal of improving their overall well-being. 

Completing a PMHNP program, including a master’s, doctorate or post-master’s certificate program, provides a foundational understanding of therapeutic interventions used by PMHNPs. This empowers them to help others — even those who can’t or won’t ask for help. 

What Are Therapeutic Interventions?

In the psychiatric and mental health field, a therapeutic intervention is a proactive effort to render aid to someone who either declines treatment or isn’t in a position to seek support. These interventions are most commonly used to address substance use, eating disorders, suicide risk and medication nonadherence, particularly when the medication is potentially lifesaving. 

PMHNPS who learn more about therapeutic interventions and how they’re implemented play a critical role in serving their patients and can contribute to the growth of their PMHNP colleagues. Efforts such as these can play a role in building strong nursing teams in mental health care facilities across the country

Modalities for the Implementation of Therapeutic Nursing Interventions

Modalities are the different techniques used for implementing therapeutic nursing interventions. They’ve been developed over decades, and with the decreasing stigma surrounding mental health care in general, more people than ever before seek therapy, even when they continue to resist intervention. 

For example, in 2022, nearly 33% of adults in the United States experienced both a mental health condition and a substance use disorder — two of the most common driving factors behind the implementation of therapeutic intervention. 

The ability to discern the proper intervention is one of many defining nursing qualities. According to the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) and The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, there are several therapeutic intervention modalities used by PMHNPs today. They include the following:

1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a short-term intervention focused on modifying thought patterns and behaviors that can lead to self-destructive behavior. It challenges irrational thoughts and beliefs, replacing them with healthy alternatives that empower patients to make better decisions for their physical and mental health. 

Techniques involve developing stress reduction and relaxation techniques, monitoring emotions and thoughts and conducting experiments to test beliefs and behaviors. 

2. Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is very diverse, and it relies on the development of a close, trusting relationship between patients and their mental health providers. Psychotherapy focuses on modifying behavior through insights and improved well-being, and techniques involve talk therapy, skill building and, in some cases, role-play. 

3. Humanistic Therapy

Helping clients become self-aware and self-actualized is at the heart of humanistic therapy. This therapeutic intervention focuses on the belief that everyone has the potential to change for the better, using empathy, positive regard and receptive conversation as the basis for that change. 

4. Psychodynamic Therapy

Psychodynamic therapy is rooted in the belief that many people experience distress due to unresolved conflicts from childhood. This modality helps patients learn more about their conflicts while developing better, healthier coping mechanisms. The three key components are as follows:

  • Exploring Early Life: PMHNPs can explore events and relationships from early in the client’s life to identify harmful patterns. 
  • Improving Defense Mechanisms: PMHNPs help clients identify the unhealthy defense mechanisms they developed as a result of conflict during early life, helping them develop healthier coping strategies. 
  • Transference and Countertransference: Transference and countertransference involve the projection of feelings and expectations between the provider and the client. 

5. Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Dialectical behavior therapy treats a wide range of mental health conditions featuring emotional dysregulation and poor distress management. It consists of the following four modules:

  • Mindfulness: Mindfulness involves helping clients remain aware of their surroundings and emotions in the present, reducing worry and reactivity. 
  • Distress Tolerance: Distress tolerance helps clients learn to manage intense emotions without making self-destructive decisions. 
  • Regulation: Emotional regulation, or emotion regulation, helps clients identify the emotions they feel and manage them effectively. 
  • Interpersonal Effectiveness: Interpersonal effectiveness helps clients communicate and set boundaries in relationships. 

Executing Interventions: Tips for PMHNPs

PMHNPs rely on therapeutic nursing interventions to help clients overcome emotional dysregulation that can lead to less-than-desirable lifestyles. The tips below can help PMHNPs choose the right modality and implement it in the best and safest way possible for their clients. 

Create a Realistic Treatment Plan

A treatment plan is a course of action that outlines how the proposed treatment can help resolve clients’ underlying issues and/or provide therapeutic value. A treatment plan should include the client’s diagnosis, the strategies being proposed to intervene and a timeline for achieving goals. Set up a clear, tangible treatment plan that can be adjusted as needed. 

Establish and Work to Meet Treatment Goals

Treatment goals are specific and measurable, and they should guide the therapy process and the modalities used to deliver therapeutic interventions. Ensuring that goals are clearly stated is important for the client, and giving each goal a deadline can keep progress on track. 

Monitor Clients’ Progress, and Adjust Treatment as Needed

Constant monitoring ensures that the treatment plan and goals align and that the chosen therapeutic nursing intervention has the desired effect. Questionnaires, regular appointments and even rehabilitation can be effective tools for monitoring progress. 

Use Therapeutic Interventions to Improve Mental Health and Wellbeing 

Therapeutic interventions span numerous modalities, giving PMHNPs access to a host of treatment options that can be tailored to each client’s needs. 

If you are interested in pursuing a career which provides mental and behavioral health care to individuals, families and groups throughout the lifespan in a variety of settings,Walsh University Online offers three PMHNP education paths designed to help aspiring mental health practitioners reach their goals. Our Master of Science in Nursing – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (MSN-PMHNP), Bachelor of Science in Nursing to Doctor of Nursing Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (BSN-DNP PMHNP) and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Post-Master’s Certificate (PMHNP PMC) programs offer affordable, flexible curricula that can prepare you to work in advanced nursing in mental health care settings nationwide. 

Discover how you can improve mental health and well-being with therapeutic nursing interventions.
 

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