Psychotherapy can be a powerful vehicle for personal transformation. By speaking with a trained therapist in a safe and confidential environment, a person can explore their inner world and understand their behaviors.
Research has now shown that individual psychotherapy can improve the symptoms of various mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and OCD. It can also be beneficial for families, couples, and groups.
More and more people are embracing the potential of psychotherapy in their life, but many are confused about which is the right type for them. The following are some of the most common types of psychotherapy to give you a better idea of your options:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most used modalities in therapy. CBT is effective because it examines the relationship between an individual’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It is a very empowering form of psychotherapy and works on various issues such as depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, and schizophrenia.
Eye Movement Desensitization And Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR)
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR) has been used successfully for decades to treat PTSD. EMDR works by reducing the emotional distress that has been stored away in the brain from past traumas.
In each EMDR session, a trained therapist assists their client in performing a series of back-and-forth repetitive eye movements that essentially find the lingering traumatic emotions and disarm them.
Interpersonal Therapy
Interpersonal therapy focuses on improving the relationships an individual has with others. In these sessions, the trained therapist helps their client evaluate their social interactions to recognize any negative patterns. Patterns can include social isolation and aggression. The goal is for the person to learn strategies for interacting positively with others.
This is by no means an exhaustive list of types of psychotherapy. But if you want to learn more about psychotherapy and would like to explore treatment options, we would be happy to speak with you. Please feel free to give our office a call.
SOURCES:
https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Treatments/Psychotherapy