Different Therapeutic Approaches: A Guide for Clients
By Nicole Houck
The world of psychology and therapy is filled with lots of different names and abbreviations for theories, treatments, and more. But, it doesn’t have to be confusing! There is not one “right way” to do therapy, and different therapists utilize different approaches depending on what aligns with them and their client population of interest. In this blog post, we’ll learn more about psychodynamic therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and humanistic therapy. This way, the next time you see these words or wonder what approach a counselor might use, you’ll have some basic understanding to help you navigate it all.
Psychodynamic Therapy
When you think about the basic, stereotyped version of therapy (think someone laying on a couch while their therapist analyses the dream they had last night), you’re likely picturing some caricatured version of psychodynamic therapy. This theory suggests that our conscious struggles and issues stem from our past experiences and ways of thinking that are “hidden” in our unconscious minds.
Psychodynamic therapy comes with a set of techniques that the counselor might utilize in order to help their client better understand themselves, relate to their past experiences, and process their feelings. The Cleveland Clinic listed some examples of psychodynamic techniques here, including:
Connecting themes across the present to the past
Talking through difficult situations from the past
Discussing the content of dreams
Identifying defense mechanisms that might be causing negative symptoms or limiting the client’s ability to grow
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
This therapeutic modality is technically a combination of two other kinds of therapy: cognitive therapy and behavioral therapy. Cognitive-behavioral therapy, often referred to as CBT, investigates how both cognitions and behaviors impact the presenting concern. Additionally, CBT is educational, both about psychological topics as well as various tools/tips that the client can use.
According to the Mayo Clinic, different CBT techniques include:
Talking about stressors, concerns, traumas, and symptoms
Learning about any diagnoses that might be present
Considering how you think about things and why that is impactful
Assigning homework outside of therapy sessions to challenge harmful cognitions or change behaviors
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) aims at reframing how clients approach, understand, and work through negative thoughts and feelings. In other words, sometimes a negative feeling is a natural response to a certain situation. What matters is how we understand the feeling, respond to it, and what we do after we feel it. ACT helps clients reframe how they respond to their emotions and set goals that align with their personal values.
If you’d like to read more about ACT, visit this Cleveland Clinic site. It mentions the 6 core beliefs of ACT:
Accepting your range of thoughts and feelings, even some of the negative ones
Detaching yourself from negative thoughts and beliefs
Being present in the here-and-now
Seeing your whole self as more than your thoughts and feelings
Understanding and aligning yourself with your values
Committing to goals that will help you make positive change
Humanistic Therapy
The final kind of therapy we will discuss here is humanistic therapy. Different versions of this therapy take on different names, including client-centered or person-centered therapy. The main difference between this approach and other approaches is that it is much more undirected, allowing the client to take the lead. Humanistic therapists acknowledge that, while they are knowledgeable about various mental health and psychological topics, the client is the expert on their own life.
Many of the techniques used in this therapy are more open than others, and emphasize a focus on the here-and-now rather than exploration of the past. Here are some different techniques a humanistic therapist might use, according to the Cleveland Clinic:
Examining the client’s existential values and beliefs
Asking questions about the here-and-now
Providing a space for unconditional positive regard
Utilizing guided questions to lead the client to new discoveries
While these are certainly not the only therapeutic modalities that exist, I hope this has been a helpful moment of exploration and new understanding. Now, whether you’re looking for a new therapist or you’ve been attending therapy sessions for years, you can better understand these theories and their associated assumptions.
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