7 Different Types of Therapy and Who They May Benefit
When we think of psychotherapy, we may think of someone resting on a couch while the therapist sits with their notebook in hand. However, there are many different kinds of therapy. These different modalities offer different techniques, provide different benefits, and act in different ways. Before starting therapy or looking for a therapist, it’s helpful to learn about the different types of therapy.
Somatic Experiencing
Somatic Experiencing, or SE for short, is a therapeutic modality originally developed to treat stress disorders such as PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder). In somatic therapy, the clinician guides the client through the body in order to process emotions and thought patterns. This form of therapy stands out as a unique perspective using the body.
The emphasis in somatic experiencing is on the connection between the mind and body. The foundational idea is that traumatic experiences can be held in the nervous system throughout the body, and by including physical awareness during therapy sessions individuals may be better able to process trauma. Therapists may offer mindfulness-based practices in the body, movements to try, and somatic exercises for anxiety or stress like the ones at https://www.threeriverstherapies.com/blog/somatic-exercises-anxiety.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, is considered a short-term therapeutic tool. In CBT, the individual works on thoughts and behaviors in order to address the difficult emotions. It is especially helpful for people with mood disorders and substance use disorders, although there is growing evidence it may help with sleep and anxiety disorders as well.
During a CBT therapy session, the counselor guides the person into helpful thinking and actions to work with the way they feel. Rather than simply focusing on the emotional experience, the therapist takes the feelings and uses them as a jumping off point to build healthier habits of mind and body.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
DBT, or Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, is a relatively recent therapy. It’s foundation is in the mindfulness movement, and therapists who practice DBT will help you to build new skills to meet life’s difficulties. It is especially effective for individuals struggling with personality disorders, although adapted versions have been found to be helpful with substance use disorder, PTSD, ADHD, and various other mood disorders.
There are many skills a DBT therapist may offer you. These include things like mindfulness, building distress tolerance, learning emotional regulation, and finding interpersonal effectiveness. The idea is that you can use these newfound skills to meet the difficulties in your life with a new perspective.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
EMDR, or Eye Movement Deensitization and Reprocessing, is another relatively new therapy. Originally designed to treat individuals with PTSD, it is now used to help treat a variety of mental health disorders. However, the research is still strongest for its efficacy in treating PTSD. There is growing research to also suggest it may be helpful with depression and anxiety.
There are 8 stages of EMDR therapy that a therapist will take you through. The first few sessions will be assessments and preparation before jumping into the actual desensitization and reprocessing. During these stages, the therapist will use bilateral stimulation, a technique that has been found to help individuals better process trauma.
Motivational Interviewing
Once again, this is a form of therapy that has popped up in the last few decades. Motivational Interviewing, or MI, focuses on motivation (as the name suggests). It is used for a variety of disorders, but the research has found it to be most effective with substance use disorders and addiction.
During motivational interviewing sessions, a therapist will work to insert more positive self-image. By giving a person some sense of internal motivation, they are able to work with difficult emotions and behaviors. Individuals will be encouraged to set commitments to change out loud, which has been found to improve one’s ability to make the changes. It’s a bit of a short-term or incomplete therapy, and is often couples with other forms of therapy.
Mindfulness-Based Counseling
Mindfulness is at the core of other types of therapy, such as DBT. But there are also specifically mindfulness-based therapists. Sometimes called MBCT, or mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, it is largely used to treat depression. Some research suggests it to be useful with anxiety disorders as well.
During a mindfulness counseling session, the therapist will use techniques of present-moment awareness, meditation, breathing exercises, and other mindfulness-based activities. Like MI, this may be coupled with other forms of therapy. Mindfulness counselors will also often offer practices outside therapy, such as building a daily meditation practice, mindfulness activities to do as a couple, and breathing exercises in moments of anxiety.
Psychodynamic Therapy
Psychodynamic therapy is actually a really old type of therapy! Originating in Freudian psychoanalysis, this is the one type of therapy on the list that isn’t explicitly solution-oriented. It may be coupled with more solution-oriented therapies, but the goal of this therapy is to understand patterns of thought, emotion, and behaviors more clearly.
During a psychodynamic therapy session, your therapist will guide you through recounting your experiences, past and present. With the help of a trained clinician, the intention is to be able to break it down to see it a little more clearly. Psychodynamic therapy can be thought of as a way to really dig in and see the issue at hand. Once the issue is uncovered and seen clearly, another type of therapy may help you make the change you wish to make.
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