Let’s Talk About Styles and Specialties of Individual Therapy

As you research therapy, you may begin to notice that therapists mention different specialities and styles of therapy. You might see things like CBT, EMDR, DBT, or EFT. That’s a lot of letters! 

But what do these types of therapy actually mean for you as a client? And how can you know which style of therapy is right for you? (Related Article: Learning How to Cope in Individual Therapy)

Today, you will learn about why different styles of therapy exist. Next, you will learn why this information can help you find the best therapy for your needs. Then, we will talk about how you can get started.  

Therapy Origins

First, let’s start by learning why different therapy styles exist. When you think of therapy, you might picture classic talk therapy. Maybe you picture a scene from a TV show or movie. The main character lays on a couch and stares at the ceiling. The therapist writes lots of notes on a clipboard. Meanwhile, the client cries about their mother.

Many of these therapy portrayals in the media use an image of psychoanalytic therapies. Psychoanalysis was one of the earliest forms of talk therapy. It was developed by Sigmund Freud, a psychologist. (Source) This style of therapy focused on the subconscious. The therapist tried to understand how your childhood and parents influenced your way of thinking and problem solving. Psychoanalytic therapies still exist today. And now, many other therapy styles have developed. (Related Article: Individual Counseling)

Therapy has changed a lot since the late 1800s, when psychodynamic therapy was developed. In the 50s, therapists began to adjust their approaches. This became what we now call humanistic therapy. Humanistic therapies are person focused. That means that modern therapy will help you discover and take advantage of your strengths and talents to improve your situation. Other styles of therapy exist as well, including cognitive therapies, which focus on thought processes. (Source)

Therapy Specialties and Styles

Next, let’s talk about what therapy looks like today. 

Different therapy specialties will address different issues, concerns, and frustrations that you may be facing. These styles will have different approaches to help you problem solve. You will work through things with your therapist as your guide. (Related article: Counseling for Individuals) Today, there are many different types of counseling that you can explore.

You may have heard of some of the following therapy styles and specialties:

–Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

-Psychodynamic Therapy

-Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

-Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)

-Play Therapy 

-Gestalt Therapy

-And More!

This list is not a complete list of every therapy specialty and style. And each style has it’s own approach and strategy. 

Some styles of therapy are more structured (for instance, CBT or DBT). They may involve worksheets or charts. These will help you learn how to apply the things you learn with your therapist. Others may involve additional mental exercises. EMDR is a great example. And others may be more abstract. The might include activities that involve things like playing, art, or writing (play therapy, art therapy, gestalt therapy). 

Luckily, your therapist will most likely use a combination of these different styles in your appointments. Your therapist’s focus is to tailor the therapy experience to you. Your needs, background, preferences, and goals will be central. (Related Article: Counseling- What it is and What it isn’t). 

Individual Therapy and You

You might read this article and think to yourself “how am I supposed to know where to start”? (Related article: What Happens in Therapy?). Our office can help you explore different types of therapy and find the best therapist for you. Contact us today for answers to your questions and to start individual therapy in Orem, South Jordan, or Spanish Fork. 

Written by Lauren Adkins