7 Types of Therapy and Their Benefits for You
Starting therapy is a big and personal decision that focuses on your mental health and well-being. If you’re thinking about trying therapy, you might have seen that there are many kinds to choose from. This article will give you a summary of the different types of therapy available.
Psychodynamic Therapy
If you prefer face-to-face, talk therapy over any other type of therapy, then maybe psychodynamic therapy could be perfect for you. In these sessions, you discuss your life history with the help of your therapist to know what led to the current situation. This can be useful in conditions such as depression, anxiety, and eating disorders. It really helps one to get in touch with their life story and identify things that are holding them back from improving themselves.
This approach of therapy is founded on uncovering basic drives and emotions in an effort to enhance one’s psychological condition and quality of life.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
In CBT, the practitioner examines how our cognition and behavior are connected. They assist individuals in identifying distorted patterns of thinking, which lead to negative behaviors and beliefs. They learn new patterns of behavior, not only thinking in a positive way but also being able to change it in some way. Moreover, as stated by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), CBT is beneficial in a variety of disorders such as anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, schizophrenia, eating disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Exposure Therapy
One type of CBT is Exposure therapy – this therapy can cure anxiety disorders including OCD, PTSD, and phobias. Counselors assist patients with what makes them anxious and assist them in learning methods of dealing with avoidance behaviors or anxiety responses. In sessions, the clients are exposed to these triggers in a controlled manner and use skills that help reduce fear and discomfort in gradual steps. This method tries to establish confidence when handling and addressing situations that lead to anxiety.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy
CBT is like DBT. However, it’s more directed at controlling emotions, practicing mindfulness, and accepting thoughts that cannot be changed. DBT is a kind of therapy where therapists encourage patients to learn new skills that assist them in making positive changes in their lives while at the same time accepting things that they are unable to change.
Initially, DBT was used in treating patients with Borderline Personality Disorder and suicidal ideation. But, today it is successfully applied for treating such disorders as eating disorders, substance abuse, PTSD, and mood disorders and has lasting effects.
Interpersonal Therapy
Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) is useful in cases where the patient has both mood and relationship problems. It was initially used in the treatment of depression and is a short-term treatment that also addresses issues within social relationships. You can overcome such tasks with your therapist, and that makes it easier to address issues such as changing roles or conflicts, which can enhance your relationships and mood. IPT normally takes several sessions per week, for approximately 12 to 16 weeks.
EMDR
EMDR or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is a therapeutic technique that helps individuals heal from trauma. Eye movements or taps are used by therapists in order to assist the client in trauma processing. It also includes some features of cognitive-behavioral treatment.
Additionally, studies demonstrate that EMDR has the potential to develop new memories, and it effectively lessens the painful emotional experience and also facilitates functioning. It is especially beneficial in PTSD cases among veterans and other victims of trauma. However, it should be conducted by a professional since it involves sensitive information.
ABA Therapy
ABA stands for Applied Behavior Analysis and is an approach that focuses on how we learn and act. It assists us in explaining why specific behaviors occur and how they might be shaped by the environment. ABA utilizes this knowledge in order to increase the occurrence of beneficial behavior and reduce the occurrence of undesirable behavior. This is done to enhance skills such as communication, and social interaction and at the same time minimize problematic behaviors. ABA can be individualized and can be implemented in homes, schools, and even communities.
In Summary
There are several kinds of therapy that can be used to treat people with certain problems. Some therapies work better for certain conditions than others. It’s important to remember that what works well for one person may not work as well for someone else, so choosing the right therapy is a personal decision.