Types Of Psychological Therapy

When people struggle with mental health challenges, they may turn to therapy to learn different types of coping mechanisms and receive support from a therapist. There are many potential benefits of therapy, and there are a variety of types available to help individuals understand and address their concerns. Different types of therapy offered by mental health professionals, such as licensed professional counselors and family therapists, help individuals understand their concerns and find ways to address them.

Types of therapy

Four of the more common types of psychotherapy used by therapists to treat people include the following:

• cognitive behavioral therapy 
• interpersonal therapy
• family systems therapy
• group therapy

Regardless of the type of therapy, there are always different types of strategies your therapist can implement to maximize the effectiveness of your therapy treatment plan.

Different types of counselors or therapists focus on different areas. Some therapists may specialize in family therapy or working with children, while other therapists may specialize in working with adults or couples. Familiarity with different types of therapy for depression, eating disorders, PTSD, and other mental health conditions may help you decide which one might be the best therapy option for you.

Cognitive behavioral therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy, CBT, is a type of behavior therapy that typically focuses on changing negative thoughts or thought patterns and introducing new, healthier thought patterns. This type of therapy can also involve using these new thought patterns to develop self-awareness and change specific behaviors.

During a therapy session, the therapist might discuss the validity or realism of the patient's negative or unhelpful thoughts and then provide skills to reframe those thought patterns in the unconscious mind. While this intensive type of therapy can be done over a short period and may be challenging, it has been proven effective in treating different types of mental illnesses.

Psychodynamic therapy

Psychodynamic therapy is a type of therapy that traces its roots to Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory. This therapeutic method delves into the unconscious mind to explore and understand how past experiences, particularly those from early childhood, influence an individual's current thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Through open-ended discussions and free association with a therapist, clients are encouraged to explore their thoughts and emotions, gaining insight into the unconscious processes that may be affecting their lives. 

The therapeutic relationship in psychodynamic therapy is central, as it serves as a microcosm of the client's interpersonal experiences. Transference and countertransference, where the client unconsciously projects feelings onto the therapist and vice versa, are key concepts in psychodynamic therapy. The goal of psychodynamic therapy is not only symptom relief but also the development of insight and self-awareness, leading to long-term changes in the client's emotional and relational functioning. 

Interpersonal therapy

The primary aim of interpersonal psychotherapy is to help individuals improve their relationships with others. Interpersonal psychotherapy focuses on the patient's ability to create and maintain healthy relationships with the people around them.

Situations in which interpersonal psychotherapy might be helpful include treating unresolved grief, distress following a divorce, or conflicts within families or in the workplace.

Family systems therapy

As the name suggests, family systems therapy (FST) is a type of psychological therapy that focuses on the family as a unit and aims to help individuals resolve any problems within that context. A foundational tenet of this therapeutic approach is that when something happens to one individual in the family, the whole family is affected. 

The primary goal of this type of therapy is to help families develop healthier relationships. This type of approach can be used for families experiencing conflict, as well as families where individual members are living with eating disorders, depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, and more.

Group therapy

Group therapy is a psychological type of treatment for groups of individuals who are all experiencing the same kind of mental health condition. This therapeutic approach brings people together in a group setting moderated by a therapist who offers support to the participants and helps make sure the session runs smoothly.

There are many types of group therapy available. 

Group therapy also allows the participants to listen to and learn from the other group members. Hearing about someone else's challenges can help the participants know that they are not alone in their feelings, and hearing how another person handled their particular situation may give the other participants ideas about how they might approach a similar problem in their own lives. 

Other types of therapy

With so many different types of talk therapy and psychological treatments available, patients have different types of options when it comes to improving mental health. Some other types of psychological therapies include: 

• Client-centered Therapy 
• Humanistic Therapy
• Holistic Therapy
• Gestalt Therapy
• Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy

Finding a therapist or psychologist with a specific type of specialization may be beneficial as they will have experience working with patients using that method. However, if you are unsure of where to start, finding a generalized type of therapist with a broad range of skills may be appropriate. 

Maximizing your therapy sessions

Regardless of the type of psychological therapy you engage with, there are always ways to get the most from your therapy sessions. While a psychological therapist can guide you, your participation level can affect how beneficial the therapy sessions are.

Below are a few techniques you might try to get the most from your talking therapy sessions:

Speak honestly

Talking about certain experiences or issues with a therapist can be challenging. However, when you are working with a therapist, it is usually best to be transparent when discussing your feelings or the events in your life. Being open and honest can help your therapist learn about who you are as an individual, give you guidance and feedback, and discuss which next steps might be the most beneficial to you. 

Create goals for yourself

Deciding what you hope to gain from your therapy sessions with a therapist can be an important step in your journey toward better mental health. You don’t have to have everything figured out in advance, but having a general idea of areas that you would like therapists to work on in your therapy sessions and how you want to improve your mental health can be helpful.

At the beginning, your therapist may ask what you're hoping to gain from your therapy sessions or which areas you want to work on or need the most improvement. Goals that you set in collaboration with your therapist can help both you and your therapist track how you’re doing.

Be patient

Sometimes, people may go into different psychotherapy approaches hoping for a quick fix, but counseling with a counselor or therapist can take time and patience. As you embark on this journey, try to remember that the therapeutic process may be a long road, but if you stick with it, it can be very beneficial.

It can take time for your therapist to get to know you and to understand your situation and what brought you to counseling. It can take time for you to see any improvements in your mental health based on your therapy sessions with your therapist. Remaining patient, open-minded, and receptive as you go through this journey may make it a more positive experience.

Engage in online therapy

If you are interested in trying therapy with a therapist but feel overwhelmed trying to sort through the different types of therapy out there, online therapy may be a good fit. With online therapy through BetterHelp, you can match with a therapist based on your particular needs, and you can find a licensed professional therapist who has experience working with individuals with similar concerns or using your preferred approach—without having to leave your home.

Mental health treatment with online cognitive behavioral therapy 

Continually growing evidence has demonstrated the effectiveness of online counseling with a licensed therapist for a range of concerns. In fact, research has shown online therapy to be just as effective as in-person sessions for certain conditions: for example, a literature review found that internet-delivered CBT for anxiety or to treat depression used by some therapists resulted in reductions in symptoms “equivalent to or better than in-person CBT.”