Some people feel embarrassed to visit a psychologist for therapy. Others feel frightened by the thought of telling a total stranger everything about their life while lying down on a couch. The truth is that there is nothing to feel ashamed of, and therapy can be totally different from what you expect it to be. It is a proven way to deal with emotions like depression and anxiety and could mean the start of a happier and healthier life. Consider therapy as an exercise session for the mind, and get rid of your fears to visit a psychologist. Here are the most commonly used types of therapy and in what cases they could be useful. Psychodynamic therapy What is it? This ‘talk therapy' focuses on how life events, desires, and relationships affect your feelings and the choices you make. It concentrates on the subconscious as it attempts to bring up patterns of behavior that can then be addressed by the therapist. The most famous type of psychodynamic therapy is the psychoanalysis developed by Sigmund Freud, but this is not that often used anymore, as it is very time-consuming. The modern psychodynamic therapy has more limited goals. Sessions take place once or twice a week and are unstructured, allowing the patient to talk about whatever comes up. When could it be useful? People facing recurring problems could find the cause of their difficulties. It also benefits people suffering from depression, anxiety or panic-related disorders, or even from eating disorders. Overall, it can be interesting for anyone who wants to understand himself and his subconscious better. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) What is it? Short-term and goal-oriented, this is a much more structured type of therapy. The underlying thought is that you can change your feelings by changing (negative) thought patterns. By writing down your thoughts and reaction whenever you encounter a difficult situation you will learn to rationalize these thoughts and stop harmful thinking patterns like generalization. Sessions are usually held once a week and last for only a few months. Homework is part of the therapy. When could it be useful? People with patterns of distorted thinking (“I always do everything wrong!” or “Nobody likes me!”) and those suffering from low self-esteem can benefit enormously from this type of therapy. Diseases including depression, anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder, and eating disorders can be battled with CBT. Scientific study after study shows its effectiveness, and nowadays nearly all counselors use CBT in their therapy sessions in one way or another. Family therapy What is it? Sometimes a problem affects the whole family. This can be the case when one member is depressed or has an eating disorder, but also when there are problems among family members, including domestic violence or drug abuse. The therapist will see all members of the family together to analyze behavior and understand the exact problems, after which he will try to improve communication and relationships. Apart from treatment together members of the family may also see the therapist individually. When could it be useful? Substance abuse, domestic violence, divorce, mental illness, eating disorder, financial difficulties, child and adolescent behavioral problems are all examples in which family therapy could provide a solution. Couples therapy What is it? Problems among couples are usually caused and need to be solved by both partners. In case of such crises this type of therapy can be a marriage saver. The therapist will usually treat both together but may also meet the partners individually. He will help the couple understand the causes of the problem and how they can be solved, teaching useful skills such as how to solve discrepancies, give your partner what he needs and improve communication. When could it be useful? Couples in crisis due to extramarital relationships, mental illness of one of the partners, or any other factor that threatens the relationship can benefit from this type of therapy. Even if one of the partners is unwilling to see a therapy it can be still useful for the spouse to follow couples therapy. Art and play therapy What is it? This is a type of therapy that uses play and art to communicate with and help people, mainly children aged between 3 and 11. It can be used as a tool to diagnose disturbed behavior. In this case, the therapist will observe the child playing with toys and analyze the objects and patterns of play. On the other hand, play is often seen by psychologists as a tool for children to learn to communicate and work through their anxieties. Playing is then seen as the objective of the therapy, giving children the chance to play freely in a confidential and caring environment. Arts – painting, dancing, music, role play – can be used as a form of play. When could it be useful? For all children, being able to play freely is of utmost importance in their development. However, children with disturbed behavior, non-verbal or verbally-impaired children, as well as brain-injured children in particular can benefit from art and play therapy. Group therapy What is it? In group therapy, a small number of people with the same or similar problems meet together to discuss their issues, learn from each other as well as from the therapist, and often practice together to solve their problems. Usually, groups are anywhere from 5 to 12 people. Apart from talking about the problems, members may have to do role plays and make assignments. When could it be useful? A wide range of issues – from depression to eating disorders and from substance abuse to loss or trauma – can be treated in a group. People often find it comforting to meet others that go through a similar experience. Besides, each person in the group can learn from the experiences of the others and receive feedback. For people on a tight budget, the lower cost of group therapy can be an important factor as well.
