5 Types of Therapies
Many people all over the world are starting to open their eyes to some of the great advantages of giving therapy a try. It might still be an unpopular decision to many, but that’s mainly due to the negative stigma that’s been built up around it over the past few decades — don’t let that fool you!
There are hundreds of different types of therapy available today and they’re designed to help you become a better you. They bring out the best in your life and help you avoid the worst, which is something we all could use a bit more of — you just have to find the right type of therapy for you.
Of all the different types of therapy, there are several that have grown the most popular in the modern world today. With mental and emotional health more important than ever, it’s highly important that we all take a second to appreciate the good nature of these therapy initiatives.
So, what are the most common types of therapies?
Each type of therapy is designed to help your mind, body, and soul feel more in-tune with itself. They’re all unique in their own way. In fact, every therapist has their own approach and every session becomes more important than the next. In order for it to work, you have to stick with it.
If you’re thinking of giving therapy an opportunity to change your life for the better, there are five types of therapy that have grown popular in today’s society — behavioral therapy, cognitive therapy, humanistic therapy, holistic therapy, and psychoanalysis/psychodynamic therapy.
Let’s take a closer look at each of these types of therapies to determine if they’re the right type of therapy for you:
Behavioral Therapy
Behavioral therapy is one of the most commonly-used types of therapy today. It focuses on a person’s behavior and is used to treat a wide range of different mental health disorders. For example, it’s used with people that have anger issues, depression, anxiety, and panic disorders.
The main goal of behavioral therapy is to identify and eventually change unhealthy or destructive behaviors an individual experiences in their life. It’s based on the idea that all behavior is learned behavior and that those bad behaviors can be changed with the right approach through therapy.
Cognitive Therapy
Cognitive therapy is often confused with behavioral therapy — mainly due to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which we mentioned above. Believe it or not, these are two completely different types of therapy, though they are similar and are often used in conjunction with each other.
Cognitive therapy doesn’t necessarily focus on the behaviors of an individual, but rather the thoughts. It’s based on the idea that the way we think impacts our emotions and the way we feel. It largely focuses on present thoughts and communication, but not so much on the past.
Humanistic Therapy
Humanistic therapy is another type of therapy that is used to help improve an individual’s mental health. It largely focuses on helping the individual become more in-tune with themselves and the way they view the world, in order to gain a better sense of who they are and what they desire.
This type of therapy is based on the idea that we all see the world differently and this view of the world largely affects our thoughts, feelings, emotions, behaviors, decisions, and actions.
Holistic Therapy
Holistic therapy is a popular type of therapy that involves viewing each individual as a ‘whole’ person. It doesn’t treat an individual as sick, having psychological issues, or being disconnected from themselves. Instead, it addresses the individual based on their mind, body, and spirit.
It’s focused on helping the individual learn and accept the way the body (physical nature of who they are), mind (feelings, thoughts, and emotions), and spirit (a higher self that gives you purpose and meaning) are all connected with one another.
Some of the most popular techniques used in holistic therapy are breathing exercises, relaxation techniques, yoga, Tai Chi, therapeutic touch, massage, and Reiki — which is the transfer of energy through touch. Some techniques are backed by science, while others not quite yet.
Psychoanalysis & Psychodynamic Therapy
The terms psychoanalysis and psychodynamic therapy are often used interchangeably, but they do have some minor differences between each other. In fact, psychoanalysis therapy is often used to guide psychodynamic therapy, but this isn’t necessarily true in all regards.
Psychoanalysis therapy is both a form of talk therapy and a theory. It was first developed by Sigmund Freud and is based on the idea that psychiatric problems occur when there’s tension between the different parts of the mind — largely between the ID, the ego, and the superego.
While psychoanalysis therapy is still used today, most therapists have replaced it with psychodynamic therapy. The main difference between the two is that psychoanalysis therapy often takes a long-term approach, while psychodynamic therapy is much more short and quick.
Which Type of Therapy Are You Interested In?
Much like we mentioned above, there are a wide range of different types of therapy — not just the five explained above. For example, there are different types of therapy to improve your marriage, parent-child relationships, positive psychology, life coaching, and much more. Looking for cognitive therapy near you (or Googling “cognitive therapy near me”)? Click the link for more information!
While we aren’t all living with a serious mental illness or disorder, it doesn’t mean we can’t all learn something from a therapist. It’s not just designed to help treat mental sickness, but it’s also designed to help improve an individual’s overall well-being — even if you’re completely healthy!
If you’re interested in giving therapy a try and don’t know where to start, you should contact our good friends at BetterHelp. They help match individuals with local therapists every single day. They’d be happy to assist you in your journey to a better, brighter, happier, and more fulfilling life!
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