When seeking help with mental health issues, exploring a range of therapies is common. What you ultimately decide will rely on your particular circumstances and objectives.
Here are some of the most common types of therapy: cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), psychodynamic therapy, interpersonal therapy, and group therapy.
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Behavioral-Based Therapy
Behavioral therapy uses learning techniques like reinforcement, punishment, shaping, and modeling to help individuals modify unwanted behaviors. This approach is typically convenient and produces results within a relatively short period.
During this therapy, therapists encourage patients to discuss troubling experiences and symptoms, such as fears, phobias, or troublesome behaviors. The therapist may also ask questions about the meaning of these events or experiences and how they impact a person’s feelings.
Therapists often use different behavior modification techniques, including systematic desensitization and extinction strategies, to treat phobias and compulsions. They also employ token economies, a system in which certain behaviors are rewarded with privileges that increase over time.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which combines behavior therapy with talk therapy, is the most common form of behavioral treatment. CBT educates patients that negative thoughts and feelings can exacerbate mental health issues like anxiety or depression. However, unlike psychoanalysis, it is focused on addressing current difficulties rather than root causes of distress.
Humanistic/Experiential Therapy
Rather than trying to solve problems, experiential therapy works to help people become more aware of their feelings. It also encourages people to explore their experiences and beliefs and find meaning in life. It’s a holistic approach that focuses on humanistic psychology, which believes people have free will and are motivated to reach their potential through self-actualization.
A basic overview of therapy options uses activities to help clients re-experience and let go of negative emotions from the past. It can be used to treat a range of mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression. It may also be beneficial for addressing relationship difficulties and substance abuse.
While there are many benefits to this type of therapy, it has its limitations. For example, it can be difficult for therapists to empathize with their client’s feelings and beliefs. This can lead to boundary issues and the therapist imposing their values on the client. It’s also not ideal for individuals in crisis or with severe mental illnesses. Instead, this therapy is recommended for individuals struggling with life challenges and looking to improve their lives.
Interpersonal Therapy
Interpersonal therapy (IPT) is a brief therapy that tackles the symptoms of mental illness by enhancing interpersonal connections and functioning. The underlying belief behind IPT is that depression, anxiety, and other symptoms can be linked to difficulties interacting with others. During sessions that usually last 12 to 16 weeks, the therapist works with the client to identify and address problems such as role conflicts, conflict resolution strategies, and recurrent sources of distress.
During the first few sessions, the therapist assesses the presenting problem by asking questions and reviewing the patient’s history of mood disorders. They will also ask about the patient’s relationship and social support networks. They will also discuss the underlying thoughts and beliefs contributing to the patient’s symptomatology.
The therapist will then use various techniques, such as role-playing, to help patients develop skills to interact flexibly with their family, friends, and colleagues. IPT also involves developing a plan to address problems such as role disputes, complicated grief or loss of a loved one, and unsatisfactory personal relationships.
Group Therapy
Group therapy is a type of psychotherapy in a group setting with people experiencing the same problem. The benefits of this type of treatment include learning from the experiences of others and discovering that you are not alone in your struggle. Additionally, group therapy can help you find different coping methods that may work for you.
Another benefit of group therapy is that it provides examples of real-life success stories. This can inspire and encourage you to believe you can overcome your challenges.
There are many types of group therapy, including support groups, skill training groups (such as anger management or mindfulness), and psychoeducational groups. A therapist facilitates some groups while others are not. It is essential to consult your therapist for suggestions on the best group therapy options. It is also important to note that people in crisis or suicidal may not be good candidates for group therapy. The therapist will review specific exclusion criteria with you at the beginning of the process.
Psychoanalysis
Psychoanalysis is often considered old-fashioned, but it didn’t fall out of favor because it wasn’t practical. A growing body of research shows that psychoanalysis can be just as practical as other types of therapy, including cognitive and behavioral approaches.
The main goal of psychoanalysis is to bring unconscious elements to the surface and examine how they may influence your behavior. This is accomplished through free association and dream analysis, along with analyzing your resistance and defense mechanisms. Psychoanalytic therapists also help you thoroughly explore your personal history and childhood experiences. They might ask you to talk about something that happened at work or school, for example, and then interpret your inadvertent response.
Freud believed unconscious conflicts caused anxiety, moodiness, phobias, eating disorders, and troubling personality traits like paranoia. This is why psychoanalysis tends to be a long-term treatment. Unlike other techniques, it doesn’t rely on adjusting unhelpful thoughts at the moment but focuses instead on understanding why those unhelpful thoughts have been formed in the first place.
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