In 2014, 33.7 million Americans experienced some sort of mental health problem, and of that number 6.7 million received some sort of therapy or treatment. Therapy can help you improve your mental health and overall quality of life. However, not every type of therapy is alike.
Knowing how the different types of therapy compare can help you choose the one that you think will serve you best.
Client-Focused Therapy
Client-Focused Therapy (CCT) is known by many names, including Humanistic or Rogerian Therapy. A therapist providing CCT won’t act as an authority or give you direction, but rather encourage reflection and ask questions to get you to an answer.
This means that your therapist will focus on empathizing with you and provide analysis instead of direct advice or strategies.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy
Cognitive Behavior Therapy, or CBT, is a type of therapy that focuses on correcting thinking and behavior patterns. By teaching you coping skills and becoming aware of destructive or unproductive thought patterns, CBT seeks to make you happier.
At the very least, CBT should make it easier for you to identify sources of stress or trauma in your life or past. This makes it easier for you to address them. CBT will encourage you to face your fears and prepare for difficult situations you know you will face in the future.
Ketamine Therapy
Ketamine therapy is being used to treat a number of mental conditions, including PTSD and depression. Services like Ketamine Tree offer drug treatments that are combined with other forms of therapy to help people work past trauma.
Ketamine therapy is a new type of therapy, however, and is not widely available. Ketamine is a controlled substance, so you may not be able to access treatment without a referral from a doctor.
Gestalt Therapy
Gestalt therapy is client-focused like CCT but focuses on problem-solving in the present instead of revisiting the past. Gestalt therapy seeks to get you in touch with your emotions and provides a holistic approach to become aware of yourself, your needs, and your responsibilities to others.
As a result, this type of therapy focuses heavily on expressing what you’re feeling at the moment. The goal is to develop healthy strategies to articulate your feelings, while also being mindful of others.
With All These Different Types of Therapy, Personal Fit Matters The Most
While the above distinctions are important, you should keep in mind that most therapists will borrow from each school. A therapist may borrow both CCT and CBT techniques and strategies.
The most important thing to remember is that you should feel comfortable with your therapist. You want to be able to open up and address your feelings directly. This can’t happen if you don’t have a connection with your therapist or find them judgmental.
Don’t feel discouraged if you have to meet with several people before you find the right one. Therapy is about improving yourself – you don’t want to settle.
For more information about improving your mental health, check out the rest of our site.