Types of talk therapy

From psychoanalysis to behavioral therapy, there are many different approaches therapists use to treat patients.

Talk therapy, or psychotherapy, involves working with a trained therapist to address mental distress or mental disorders.

Most of us refer to this as just “therapy” and it can take place in an individual or group setting. There’s also couples therapy and family therapy.

Therapy may be used to treat stress, mental disorders like anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), addictions, and more. Sometimes it’s paired with medication such as antidepressants.

Therapy can be beneficial for many reasons. It’s a nonjudgmental environment where you can talk about your life, your feelings, and your inner thoughts. Talking with a professional can help you better understand your behaviors and thoughts, work through difficult life events, and develop healthy coping mechanisms and responses to stress.

When looking for a therapist, there are many factors to consider, including their approach to therapy.

Here are some of the approaches a therapist may use:

Psychoanalysis and psychodynamic therapies

This type of therapy involves uncovering the meaning of unconscious thoughts and motivations in order to understand present behaviors.

It’s a way to change problematic behaviors by figuring out where they stem from. This type of therapy is based on the belief that emotional problems can come from unresolved conflicts, sometimes from childhood.

The nature of this therapy requires patients to work closely with their therapist over a long period of time, over months or even years. The therapist can help a patient understand their feelings, thoughts, and behaviors in order to address issues.

Behavioral therapy

This type of therapy involves shaping and changing behaviors over time in order to address problems and face fears. Several types of therapy fall into this category.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT focuses on identifying and changing problematic thoughts. Sometimes inaccurate perceptions about ourselves and the world around us can influence how we behave. The idea is that changing dysfunctional thoughts can change dysfunctional behaviors.

This type of therapy often targets specific thoughts and problems in order to address them. It can be used to treat depression, anxiety, or interpersonal problems.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

This is a type of CBT which is used to change unhealthy behaviors that can lead to self-injury. It is often used to treat patients who might be suicidal or struggle with self-harm or substance abuse.

DBT focuses on helping people identify and manage intense emotions then finding a healthy response to that emotion that doesn’t involve impulsive or hurtful behaviors.

With DBT, the concepts of acceptance and change are applied together. Therapists help patients feel acceptance while finding strategies to change unhelpful behaviors.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

ACT also stems from behavioral therapy. An ACT approach involves accepting negative feelings and thoughts while committing to healthy behavior change.

Trying to control or avoid difficult emotions can be even more stressful. Instead of fighting, avoiding, or denying these emotions, accepting them can help you move forward in a difficult situation.

ACT can be used to treat anxiety, depression, or situations like workplace stress. It involves changing behaviors instead of changing the emotional response itself.

Humanistic Therapy

This type of therapy emphasizes people’s positive traits and their ability to find fulfillment within themselves.

Instead of focusing on people’s flaws or dysfunctional behaviors, this type of therapy focuses on the good that each person is capable of. It’s based on the belief that people have the power in themselves to fulfill their needs and intuitively know what is good for them.

Within humanistic approaches, there are subtypes like client-centered therapy which centers the client and their concerns, gestalt therapy which involves focusing on the present instead of past experiences, and existential therapy which focuses on free will and the search for meaning.

Integrative or Holistic Therapies

This involves blending different approaches to suit the patient. Therapists may pull elements from different approaches to find what works best.

There are many other therapy approaches such as supportive therapy in which a therapist helps people manage their own unhelpful thoughts, animal-assisted therapy involving comfort animals like dogs or horses, or art and music therapy which involves expressing and processing feelings through art.

For a full A to Z list of the different types of therapy, check out this article by Psychology Today.

The approach to therapy is just one of the factors that someone might consider when starting therapy or looking for a therapist.

It’s important to find a good fit and someone that you’re comfortable working with. If you’re new to therapy or beginning to search for options, you might want to consider which therapists are covered under your insurance, the therapist’s location, areas of expertise, costs, and the types of appointments they offer.

You can interview with different therapists until you find the right fit. After that, you can get the most out of therapy by attending your sessions consistently, being open and honest, and remembering that results don’t happen right away.

At Alpha, we partner with BetterHelp to provide one free month of weekly therapy sessions through the Alpha Mental Health Service. Through the Alpha Mental Health Service, our providers can also prescribe medication or provide self care tips for anxiety, depression, or mental health issues connected to sleep.

To learn more about Alpha Mental Health Service and treatment options for medical conditions, check out our website.