Four Common Types Of Psychotherapy And How To Make The Most Of Your Sessions

Common Counseling Methods

Just as there are various treatment methods for physical ailments, there are diverse approaches for addressing mental disorders and emotional distress. These treatment methods, often called talk therapy or supportive therapy, can help individuals cope with mental illnesses like depression, panic disorder, and other mental disorders. Mental health professionals, such as psychiatric nurses and social workers, provide care alongside other mental health professionals who may prescribe medications or offer alternative interventions like animal assisted therapy or psychodynamic psychotherapy.

Some of these types of therapy—for example, psychodynamic therapy—have been around for a while and are still in common use. Other types of therapy, such as neurofeedback therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), have developed more recently. There are also types of counseling such as marriage, family, guidance, mental health counseling, and more.

There are different types of counselors or therapists. Some therapists may specialize in family therapy or working with children, while others may specialize in working with adults or with couples. 

Having some familiarity with different types of therapy for depression, eating disorders, PTSD and other mental health conditions may help you decide which type might be the best option for you. Below, we’ll explore a few common methods therapists use today.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) typically focus on changing patterns of negative thoughts and introducing new, healthier ways of thinking, allowing the person receiving treatment to improve their mental health. CBT also often involves using these new thought patterns to change specific behaviors. During a session, the therapist might discuss the validity or realism of the patient's negative or unhelpful thoughts, then provide skills to reframe those thought patterns. While this intensive form of therapy can be done over a short period and may be challenging, it has proven effective in treating various types of mental illness.

Interpersonal Psychotherapy

The primary aim of interpersonal psychotherapy is to help individuals improve their relationships with others. Interpersonal psychotherapy is intended to focus on the patient's ability to create and maintain healthy relationships with the people around them; the focus is really on relationship patterns, rather than other symptoms or concerns. Situations in which interpersonal psychotherapy might be helpful include the treatment of unresolved grief, distress following a divorce, or conflicts within families or in the workplace.

Family Systems Therapy

As the name suggests, family systems therapy is a type of therapy that focuses on the family as a unit and aims to help individuals resolve any problems within that context. In this approach, a key idea is that when something happens to one individual in the family, the whole family is affected; a primary goal here is to help families develop healthier relationships. This type of therapy can be used for families experiencing conflict, as well as eating disorders, depression, anxiety, substance use disorder, and more.

Group Therapy

Group therapy is a form of treatment for groups of individuals who are all experiencing the same type of mental health condition, for example, issues with substance use, PTSD, depression, or anger management. This type of therapy brings people together in a group setting moderated by a therapist who offers therapeutic support to the participants and helps make sure the session runs smoothly. There are many types of group therapy to choose from depending on the area that needs to be addressed.

Group therapy also provides an opportunity for the participants to listen to and learn from the other people in the group. 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 a particular situation may give the other participants ideas about how they might approach a similar problem in their own lives. If you think group therapy is not for you, opt for individual therapy. There are a ton of resources online that answers the "What is individual therapy?" about.