Types of therapy
Clinicians can choose from many therapeutic modalities to treat a variety of presenting issues. This is a short, non-exhaustive list:
BEHAVIORAL THERAPY: Shown to be helpful in disruptive behavioral disorders such as ADHD and ODD. Classroom interventions and parent trainings target specific disruptive behaviors while encouraging more desired behaviors. Parents and teachers learn to provide effective communication, problem solve, set limits, and use rewards and punishments. Most psychologists are well trained in this form of therapy.
COGNITIVE THERAPY (CT):
A structured interactive and problem-oriented form of psychotherapy shown to be helpful in treating mood and anxiety disorders. CT focuses on identifying and changing the beliefs and attitudes that lead to negative feelings and unwanted behaviors. CT strategies include challenging maladaptive beliefs and negative expectations, improving problem solving, enhancing social skills, using stress reduction techniques, and increasing participation in social and other activities such as exercise. Most talk therapists and some psychiatrists are well trained in this form of therapy. There are a number of cognitive therapy models, each offering unique perspectives and techniques for addressing various mental health concerns, including (but not limited to): Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT), Rational Living Therapy (RLT), Exposure Therapy, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), Solution-Focused Cognitive Therapy (SFCT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Narrative Cognitive Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP), and Motivational Interviewing (MI).
DIALECTICAL BEHAVIORAL THERAPY (DBT):
A treatment that addresses the problematic actions clients use to deal with extremely intense emotions. Group and individual sessions focus on increasing understanding of what leads to problematic behaviors.
Understanding and regulating feelings increasing interpersonal skills and developing more adaptive coping strategies are DBT’s goals. DBT has been used to treat clients with eating disorders substance use problems borderline personality disorder, self mutilating behaviors, and chronic suicidal thoughts. Parents of adolescents are often encouraged to learn DBT skills so they can better support and encourage their teens.
INTERPERSONAL THERAPY (IPT)
A treatment that focuses on relationship issues such as interpersonal conflict, role transitions, or grief that may contribute to the development or continuation of mental health problems or symptoms. IPT was developed to treat depression and has been shown to be useful in treating bulimia and post-traumatic stress disorder.
MULTISYSTEMIC THERAPY (MST):
A family-oriented, home and community-based program for adolescents who engage in criminal activity truancy and or substance use. MST promotes responsible behavior by targeting specific problem behaviors and acknowledging client’s strengths. MST recognizes that youth are affected by family, peer, school, and community factors, and it is often necessary to intervene in more than one of these systems. MST is likely to include individual, family, and couples therapy along with community based services.
PSYCHODYNAMIC THERAPY:
Based on the theory that current symptoms are related to past events and unconscious feelings and thoughts. By revealing these unconscious influences, therapy allows for self-awareness, change and recovery.
