Types of Therapy

According to many definitions therapy is interpersonal treatment for problems in living. It involves talking with a trained professional about conditions ranging from depression and anxiety to relationship conflicts and career frustrations. Therapy provides ways to express feelings, understand patterns of thinking, gain perspective on past events and current relationships, set goals, and clarify dreams for the future. Therapy can both alleviate pain and suffering and add meaning and richness to life. Therapists employ a range of techniques and methods, some suited to particular mental health issues and some that can be applied to clients dealing with a variety of issues. All therapists seek to increase their clients’ mental health and to act as a confidential and careful listener.

There are several types of therapy which are often used by psychologists and psychiatrists to treat depression. The following are some commonly used treatments techniques performed in one on one sessions, with families or groups. The two most common practiced are Cognitive Behavioral and Interpersonal Therapy.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive behavioral therapy helps identify and change negative thoughts and behavior patterns that contribute to depression. It teaches us how to identify and challenge the negative thoughts that come with depression. Thoughts often precede moods and the false beliefs which lead to negative emotions. Cognitive therapy helps to recognize the causes of depression and reassess the patterns of negative thinking. The objective is to replace negative thoughts and behaviors with positive thoughts and behaviors.

Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)

Interpersonal therapy is a type of therapy that focuses on past and present social roles and interpersonal interactions. During treatment, the therapist generally chooses one or two problem areas in the patient's current life to focus on. Examples of areas covered are disputes with friends, family or co-workers, grief and loss and role transitions, such as retirement or divorce.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Dialectical behavior therapy is a type of cognitive-behavioral therapy. It is a therapeutic methodology developed to treat persons with borderline personality disorder or BPD. DBT combines standard cognitive behavioral techniques for emotion regulation and reality-testing with concepts of mindful awareness, distress tolerance, and acceptance largely derived from Buddist meditative practice. DBT is the first therapy that has been experimentally demonstrated to be effective for treating BPD

Psychodynamic Therapy

Psychodynamic therapy is based upon the assumption that depression occurs because of unresolved usually unconscious conflicts often originating from childhood. The goal of this type of therapy is for the patient to understand and better cope with these feelings by talking about the experiences which led to them.