There are so many types of therapy available and a good number of counselors, myself included, like to participate in a few of them if not all. The reason for this? No one is built the same. We must be able to pull on different theories and types of practice to help you with different aspects of yourself and your environment. Here are just a few types of therapy that are the most common and what they provide.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) – probably the most known. Self help books, information and practitioners everywhere love this theory. It relies heavily on identifying negative thought patterns, what we call cognitive distortions – like fortune telling, generalization, and all or nothing thinking. CBT helps you identify and change those distortions and find heathier patterns or thinking to change behavior. Based on knowing that our thoughts create emotions and those emotion influence behavior. Take control of your thoughts, and you can change your behavior.
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) – taking CBT and mindfulness/skill building and you have DBT. I like to use with teenagers. It helps to build in the moment thinking, relaxation through mindfulness, distress tolerance and emotional regulation. It also helps build the therapeutic relationship with my clients though use of the DBT house (soon to be available in our shop).
Group therapy – self explanatory but helpful for those seeking support in a community with people struggling with the same thing you are. Most commonly you’ll see support groups for those grieving, recovering from addiction, or surviving a traumatic situation.
Art therapy – this helps expression emotions and process trauma through art. Not only is it helpful with children who have a hard time articulating their feelings, this has worked well with adults and couples!
Psychodynamic – focuses on unconscious thoughts and emotions that might be affecting us or diving our behavior. Based upon Sigmund Freud’s work. This is helpful for those times you might behavior consistently in a particular way but can’t quite figure out why. I tend to use this sometimes when I am completing individuals with a couple to see what childhood patterns might have become subconscious and coming into the current relationship.
Interpersonal therapy – this focuses on how your relationships are with those around you. Unless you really love to live as a hermit, no judgement – it has it’s benefits I’m sure lol – most of us do have to and choose to relate to others – families, friends, co-workers, even strangers! Sometimes those external relationships affect how we think and feel causing psychological symptoms. This type of therapy helps to works to improve those relationships and social functioning.
EMDR – this has become a more talked about therapy – I can’t tell you the number of clients coming in asking for this. While we have a basic understanding of it, it is very important that you find someone who is certified in this. This is a specialty. EMDR stands for eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. It is an interactive form of psychotherapy used to relieve stress from trauma in where you move your eyes in a specific way as you process a traumatic event. There are articles out there that talk about the possibilities of doing this on yourself, it is not recommended. With any trauma related condition, seeking professional assistance is always recommended.
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