Types of therapy
When deciding on an appropriate counsellor or therapist, it can be useful to understand the different therapies they may use. While all can be effective, you may find one approach more appealing than another, or find that some approaches are better for a certain area of counselling than others.
There is no fix-all approach, it will depend on you, your situation and the therapist.
Psychological therapies generally fall into the following categories: behavioural therapies, which focus on cognitions and behaviours, psychoanalytical and psychodynamic therapies, which focus on the unconscious relationship patterns that evolved from childhood, humanistic therapies, which focus on self-development in the 'here and now', arts therapies, which use creative arts within the therapeutic process and couples counselling, which looks to resolve issues experienced by couples.
This is a generalisation, and counsellors will typically overlap some of these techniques. Some counsellors or therapists practice a form of 'integrative' counselling, which means they draw on and blend specific types of techniques. Other practitioners work in an 'eclectic' way, which means they take elements of several different models and combine them when working with clients. There are also a number of other therapies that may be used.
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Below is a breakdown of some of the different therapies available.
Relationship counselling
Relationship counselling (also known as couples counselling) is a type of therapy that looks to aid communication and facilitate change within an intimate relationship. Typically, the term couples counselling is applied when the therapy is specifically designed for two people within a relationship. With this in mind, counsellors who offer this form of therapy should have the relevant training to help them work with the dynamics of a couple.
Cognitive and behavioural therapies
Behavioural therapies are based on the way you think (cognitive) and/or the way you behave. These therapies recognise that it is possible to change, or recondition, our thoughts or behaviour to overcome specific problems.
- Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
- Behavioural therapy
- Cognitive analytic therapy (CAT)
- Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
- Cognitive therapy
- Dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT)
- Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR)
Psychoanalytical and psychodynamic therapies
Psychoanalytical and psychodynamic therapies are based on an individual's unconscious thoughts and perceptions that have developed throughout their childhood, and how these affect their current behaviour and thoughts.
- Dynamic interpersonal therapy
- Jungian therapy
- Psychoanalysis
- Psychoanalytic therapy
- Psychodynamic therapy
Humanistic therapies
Humanistic therapies focus on self-development, growth and responsibilities. They seek to help individuals recognise their strengths, creativity and choice in the 'here and now'.
- Existential therapy
- Gestalt therapy
- Human Givens psychotherapy
- Person-centred therapy (also known as "client-centred" counselling)
- Psychosynthesis
- Reality therapy
- Solution-focused therapy
- Transactional analysis
- Transpersonal psychology
Arts therapies
Arts therapies involve the use of creative arts such as music, art, drama and dance - in a therapeutic environment.
Intercultural therapy
Intercultural therapy (also known as multicultural therapy) is a type of talking therapy that is particularly sensitive to and addresses the importance of culturally diverse backgrounds within a therapy setting. This type of counselling focuses on working therapeutically with the individual experience of patients who feel marginalised by the majority culture, due to their individual constructs within social settings.
Intercultural therapy places the importance of cultural experience at the forefront of therapy, and hopes to help individuals from culturally diverse and minority backgrounds to develop a healthy ethnic and cultural identity, possessing self-acceptance and self-esteem.
Ecotherapy
Ecotherapy is an umbrella term for a type of therapeutic treatment that focuses on participating in loosely structured activities that take place in nature. Tapping into the calming properties of the natural world and nurturing this connection is central in the approach to healing.
Ecotherapy works on a holistic basis, and focuses on the activity rather than an individual's health. Activities include conservation, gardening, stargazing, hiking and farming and are led by therapists and counsellors or trained professionals.
Walk and talk therapy
Walk and talk therapy is best described as taking the ‘traditional method of counselling outside.’ It’s a form of talking therapy in which a counsellor and their client will walk together along a local route such as a coastline, public footpath or park whilst conducting the counselling session.
This form of therapy can be particularly helpful for people who find the traditional counselling room claustrophobic, who struggle to find time to get outside and can help shift current perceptions and feelings of being ‘stuck’. Walk and talk therapy can also be helpful for people who struggle to discuss their feelings, and can use nature as a metaphorical expression of emotions.
Internal family systems therapy
Internal family systems therapy, or IFS therapy, is an approach that recognises the different ‘parts’ within us and a core inner Self. It’s thought that our core Self is calm, connected and compassionate, but our access to it can be hindered by other parts which can become extreme in nature due to life experiences. This can lead to unhelpful behaviours, including addiction, perfectionism and self-criticism.
The aim of IFS therapy is to help you acknowledge and communicate with your different parts, understanding them and reconnecting with your core Self. The hope is that the Self will take charge and help the parts work harmoniously together.
Somatic therapy
The premise behind somatic therapy is that our bodies can hold onto emotion, making it imperative that we work with both body and mind to release stress and trauma. Somatic therapy utilises body-focused techniques such as grounding, self-regulation and movement to help us process both physically and mentally.
Other therapies
Although psychological therapies generally fall into the categories above, there are also a number of other specific therapies too.
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