Types of Therapy Approaches- Explained

Since my last post aimed to help you decide which type of therapist, counselor or provider would best suit your needs, this one was written to demystify and explain the "psychobabble"---- that of the therapist’s or counselor’s theoretical approach.

Therapy and treatment options are confusing.

When you’re searching for a therapist to help you, you’ll often find a list of their specialties and their treatment approaches- how they help. If you aren't already familiar with the terminology, it can be difficult to understand.

Don't panic- just like finding your best fit by "shopping" for the kind of professional you need, psychotherapists work with clients using a variety of therapeutic approaches that they use to guide their treatment.

Ways Therapists and Counselors Help

I've created another "Cheat Sheet" of some commonly used approaches psychotherapists use in practice. The following is a "Cliff Notes" version, and in no way includes all approaches endorsed by mental health clinicians (That would probably take me years to do).

Below is a list of common therapy approaches used by counselors.

Humanistic Therapy Approach-

A Humanistic orientation and/or Person-Centered Therapy makes the assumption that human beings strive for personal growth and want a fulfilling life. In the therapy setting, a counselor treats the entire/"whole" person and views each individual as unique.

Person-Centered Therapists focus on the person and how that person views the world.

Behavioral Therapy-

This approach assumes that all behavior is either learned from the environment, such as through association, or by reinforcement (i.e. rewards) and punishment.

Therapy focuses on current problems and attempts to remove behavior the client finds upsetting.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)-

The Beck Institute (the CBT gurus), describes CBT "as a time-sensitive, structured, present-oriented psychotherapy directed toward solving current problems and teaching clients skills to modify dysfunctional thinking and behavior".

The basic assumption is that an individual's thinking directly affects how they feel.

Psychodynamic Approach-

Similar to Psychoanalysis, the basic assumption is that unconscious thoughts, feelings, and motivations play a role in mental illness and dysfunctional behavior.

Psychotherapy aims in part to help an individual understand how early childhood experiences and repressed memories play a role in a person's current life circumstances.

Gestalt Therapy-

A Gestalt and/or an Insight-Oriented approach, focuses on the process (i.e. what is actually happening) instead of the content (i.e. what is being talked about). During therapy, a client learns how to become aware of what they're doing, thinking, and feeling in the present moment.

The basic assumption is that this increased awareness will help people free themselves from dysfunctional behavioral patterns and relationships, and pursue personal growth within a fulfilling, satisfying life.

Narrative Therapy-

This form of psychotherapy focuses on viewing problems "externally" or separately from the client ("The person is not the problem. The problem is the problem"). Thus, the individual's identity is a central theme. The basic assumption is that stories ("narratives") help create a person's identity.

During counseling, the therapist collaborates with the client to re-evaluate the client's personal story.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)-

A Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) treatment focuses on helping people develop a "life worth living" by learning to use new skills/strategies (i.e. Mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness).

The central concept of "Dialectic" refers to learning how to find balance between seemingly opposite things. The most common being that of acceptance in oneself and the need to change.

The Gottman Method-

An approach named for its founders, Drs. John and Julie Gottman, used in couple's therapy. Straight from their website, "Interventions are designed to help couples strengthen their relationships in three primary areas: friendship, conflict management, and creation of shared meaning".

They use "interventions designed to increase closeness and intimacy, which are used to improve friendship, deepen emotional connection, and create changes which enhances the couples shared goals".

Family Systems Perspective-

Within this framework, a family is viewed as a whole unit, versus its individual members. In other words, a systems approach focuses on understanding problems within the context of the family unit or "system".

During counseling, therapists assist family members to gain a better understanding of familial behavioral patterns, and how each person's behavior affects the entire family "system".

Eclectic Approach-

When counselors use an "eclectic" framework, they are essentially integrating various therapeutic techniques/strategies and theoretical principles in treatment. This approach is the most commonly utilized treatment preference among counselors.

While I only scratched the surface with this summary of commonly used treatment approaches I've seen, my hope is that it gives you a general understanding of potential approaches used in counseling and therapy settings.

A Philadelphia DBT Therapist

As a therapist and counselor in private practice, I specialize in the treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder using Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), therapy for anxiety, and trauma counseling. If you’re looking for therapy in Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Lancaster, York, or Lebanon, reach out today. If you’d like to know more about how I help, check out my page here.

Even if you’re looking for a therapist and still feel stuck with all of the options out there, give me a call at 717-685-5074. We'll chat and I'll help point you in the direction which is right for you. You can also book your own counseling consultation here.