4 Different Types Of Therapy And How To Find The Best Fit For Yourself

The concept of therapy has come a long way in Asian countries. Especially in India, where people have diverse mindsets, believe in various traditions, cultures, and superstitions, the progress has been phenomenal. In the past, however, therapy was definitely not one of them. There are people who hesitate to seek professional help, mainly due to a lack of understanding about how therapy actually works. Many dismiss it as counseling which supposedly any parent can do. But it is far from reality.

Admitting that you need therapy is the first step towards helping yourself feel better. You might be a bit scared if it is your first time meeting a therapist since therapy is considered a taboo subject in many societies. However, times have changed, and seeking therapy is nothing you should feel embarrassed about. It may take some time, but you will find the perfect therapist to help and understand your conditions with some research. So if you are not sure about what to expect from therapy, we’re here to tell you what to expect and what kind of options you have. So here’s a look at the most common types of therapy and how you can choose which is the best option for you:

1. Psychodynamic Therapy

Psychodynamic therapy is developed from something called psychoanalysis. Psychoanalysis is a more long-term approach to mental health-related treatment. In this form of therapy, you are expected to speak about things on your mind that can help uncover specific patterns of behavior and thoughts that could be contributing to your distress. The therapist will quiz you about your childhood and past, as well as recurring fantasies or dreams you may be having. This sort of therapy is perfect for those who are dealing with conditions like anorexia, and other eating disorders, depression, somatic symptoms, anxiety, substance use disorders, and a few others.

2. Behavioural Therapy

If you are looking for a more action-oriented and focused approach to mental health treatment, behavioral therapy is the perfect kind for you. Certain types of behaviors are developed due to things you may have learned in your past. And some of these behaviors may cause you distress or affect your life negatively. In this form of therapy, you will not spend too much time talking about any unconscious reasons for your behavior. You will be focusing on ways to change behavioral reactions and other patterns that may be causing distress. This kind of therapy can help those who deal with certain phobias (arachnophobia, fear of heights, fear of animals, etc.); it can help those dealing with substance abuse issues and those who may have been abused by their partner or loved ones. The subtypes of behavioral therapy include:

• Systematic Desensitization: This combines relaxation exercises and gradually exposes you to something you may fear. It can help you get used to replacing feelings of anxiety and fear.
• Aversion Therapy: In this form of therapy, you will learn to associate behavior that you want to change with something you find unpleasant in some way.
• Flooding: This is similar to systematic desensitization. However, it involves facing your fears head-on rather than gradually.

3. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Cognitive-behavioral therapy can be a short-term approach for those seeking mental health treatments. Although it is similar to behavioral therapy, it also helps address unhelpful thoughts and patterns. The idea behind CBT is that certain beliefs and feelings you have about yourself or certain occurrences in your life can cause you distress. This, in turn, can contribute to mental health issues or develop as a complication to other mental health issues. During these sessions, it focuses on addressing any existing symptoms and making changes. CBT involves practice outside the therapy session and doing your homework. There are many different subtypes of CBT, these include:

• Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT): DBT prioritizes emotional regulation and acceptance. You can be expected to develop certain skills to cope with and deal with challenging or distressing situations. You will also learn how to deal with and accept challenging emotions.
• Rational emotive therapy: This kind of approach will help you understand how to challenge any irrational beliefs you may have that could be contributing to your distress. This idea behind rational emotive therapy is that you should replace irrational thoughts with more rationals.

4. Humanistic Therapy

Humanistic therapy is a different kind of approach that focuses on how your worldview affects the choices you’re making. Especially choices that cause you distress. This is based on the belief that you’re the only person who understands your needs and experiences. Humanistic therapists work by helping you better understand what you are experiencing, and offer support and guidance. Your therapist can also help you in working towards a goal to live your most fulfilling life and help enable you to be your true self. You will spend more time exploiting ways to increase self-acceptance along with discussing other issues you’re dealing with. Humanistic therapy is beneficial when it comes to coping with negative judgment (real or perceived) from others. The humanistic approach involved:

• Person-centered therapy: This works from the belief that emotional distress stems from criticism and disapproval from others. Therapists will offer you empathy, guidance, and acceptance as you work on positive change and personal growth.
• Existential therapy: This is the philosophical approach to treatment, and it will help you understand the concepts of taking responsibility for your choices and freedom to make your own choices.
• Gestalt therapy: With this approach, you will look at unresolved issues, such as family and relationship conflicts, and consider their effect on your emotional well-being. Gestalt therapy focuses on the present moment and often involves acting out specific scenarios or visualizing them.

Having analyzed the true meaning of going through therapy or picking one that is ideal for you, the choice is truly yours. Remember not to be intimidated by the words and are only meant for your healing. Drop all the inhibitions of therapy that you have learned from non-professionals and find the right source to get your answer. You should also keep in mind that many therapists will use a combination of techniques from different kinds of therapy. It is also totally normal to experiment with your approaches and try to find one that works best for you. Do let us know if you found this article helpful in the comment section below!

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Niharika NayakBA (Media & Communication)

 

Niharika has a passion for all things art, music, and travel and has over 4 years of experience in writing for social media. During her spare time, she likes experimenting in the kitchen, playing video games, and hanging out with stray animals.

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