While most people don't think twice about going to the doctor for an injury or physical ailment, many people overlook their mental health and well-being. Talking to a mental health professional such as a counselor or psychotherapist can help you gain the tools needed to deal with conditions such as depression, social anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. Therapy can last anywhere from one or two sessions to several months or years, depending on your personal needs. Here are four conditions that therapy can help manage.

1. Anxiety

Severe anxiety can be defined as an ongoing, persistent fear that something bad is going to happen, with the fear impacting the daily life of the person with this condition. Some types of anxiety include generalized anxiety, social anxiety and phobias. Therapy can help with these by helping to identify the underlying causes of anxiety and providing healthy coping mechanisms. Some of these coping mechanisms might include:

• Grounding techniques, which involve observing and experiencing the world around you to bring you back into the present moment
• Meditation, which can include anything from breathing exercises and muscle relaxation techniques to simply sitting by yourself in a quiet room
• Observing and changing negative self-talk, for example stopping yourself from thinking things such as "I always fail"

Whether you do in-person or online therapy, a qualified mental health counselor can help with identifying and changing the emotions and thoughts associated with anxiety. 

2. Depression

Depression is one of the most common mental health conditions and may involve symptoms such as an ongoing loss of interest in activities and feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness. Therapists can help clients manage depression by helping them identify possible causes of their depression and develop skills to manage negative thoughts and behaviors. Like many other mental health conditions, a therapist helping a patient with depression might recommend a combination of talk therapy and a medication regimen. 

3. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Obsessions are intrusive and persistent negative thoughts, while compulsions are repeated actions that an individual feels compelled to do even when they don't necessarily want to do them. Those affected by obsessive-compulsive disorder often engage in compulsions to help them deal with the obsessive thoughts. A mental health counselor can help identify possible sources of obsessive thoughts and explore healthier ways to deal with them besides engaging in compulsions. 

4. Relationship Issues

Depending on what a therapist specializes in, many therapists welcome sessions with a parent and child or with couples. A mental health counselor is trained to be objective and not take sides and can help improve communication and understanding between two parties. A counselor dealing with couples will ensure that both people are able to express their opinions and that one person does not interrupt the other. Family therapists work with parents and children and can discuss such issues as divorce, behavioral problems, death in the family and interpersonal conflict. 

Consider seeking therapy if you or a loved one is experiencing any of these four issues. Mental health is just as important as physical health.