Therapy Approaches
Choosing the right type of counselling or therapy for you can be a crucial step in personal growth and healing. When seeking support it's important to understand the different types of professionals available. They have varying qualifications, roles, and approaches to treatment. Consider your specific needs and preferences, such as the type of therapeutic approaches that might be most beneficial for you. We encourage you to share with your therapist what it is you are looking for from them.
Approaches
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Aims to enhance employee well-being. This type of counselling offers professionals a confidential space to discuss work-related stress, interpersonal conflicts, or career transitions. It can include stress management techniques, conflict resolution strategies, and support for mental health issues. By addressing these challenges it can improve employee morale, reduce absenteeism, increase productivity, and create a healthier work environment. It ultimately benefits both employees and the organisation.
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Couples counselling can take various forms, each tailored to address the specific needs and dynamics of the relationship. Selecting the right type often involves assessing what issues need to be addressed and what approach resonates with both partners.
-Traditional Couples Therapy: This approach typically involves a licensed therapist who helps couples identify and work through their issues. It often focuses on communication skills, conflict resolution, and emotional connection.
-Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT): EFT is based on attachment theory and aims to strengthen the emotional bond between partners. It helps couples express their needs and feelings, fostering a deeper understanding and intimacy.
-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): This method focuses on changing negative thought patterns and behaviours that contribute to relationship problems. Couples learn to identify and alter destructive habits, and develop healthier communication.
-Imago Relationship Therapy: This approach emphasizes understanding the unconscious factors that influence relationship dynamics. Couples explore their childhood experiences and how they shape their interactions, aiming to create empathy and deeper connection.
-The Systems Approach: The systems approach to couples counselling views relationships as part of a larger interconnected system. This perspective emphasizes that individual behaviour cannot be fully understood in isolation but rather within the context of the relationship dynamics and external influences. It encourages couples to explore their interactions, behaviours, and external influences in a supportive and constructive manner.
-Gottman Method: Based on extensive research, this method uses specific tools and techniques to improve relationship health. It focuses on building friendships, managing conflict, and creating shared meaning.
-Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT): This approach is goal-oriented and concentrates on finding solutions rather than delving into problems. Couples identify their goals and work collaboratively to achieve them.
-Narrative Therapy: This type involves understanding the stories couples tell about their relationship. By re-authoring these narratives, partners can change their perspectives and improve their interactions.
-Behavioral Couples Therapy (BCT): This approach focuses on changing specific behaviours within the relationship, using reinforcement strategies to encourage positive changes.
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A goal-oriented therapeutic approach focusing on the harmful thoughts and behaviours that underlie mental health. It is often used for stress, anxiety, and depression. The main goal of CBT is to promote long-term emotional regulation and resilience by giving clients the skills they need to identify and control unpleasant thoughts and feelings. CBT focuses on identifying and changing negative thought patterns and behaviours. Sessions typically involve structured exercises and goal setting.
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Providing therapy for individuals dealing with emotional, psychological, or relational issues. Psychotherapists may come from various backgrounds, including psychology, social work, or counselling. They use a variety of therapeutic modalities—such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), psychodynamic therapy, or humanistic approaches—to help clients explore their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. The goal of psychotherapy is to foster self-awareness, emotional healing, and improved mental health.
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An approach designed to educate individuals with knowledge and skills to better understand their mental health. This approach empowers clients to better understand challenges, and to create mechanisms by combining therapeutic support with psychological education. The main goal of psychoeducational therapy is to promote increased emotional resilience, and to help individuals manage symptoms to feel less distressed.
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Adopts a respectful, non-judgmental approach to counselling where the individuals are the experts in their own lives. It encourages individuals to view themselves as not defined by their problems, instead creating new empowering narratives that highlight their strengths, skills, values, and potential. Individuals are guided to “externalise” their problems, treating them as separate from the person. The main goal of Narrative Therapy is to assist individuals to regain a sense of control and authority over their own lives.
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Emphasises personal growth and self-actualisation. It encourages individuals to focus on their experiences in the present moment. Approaches like Gestalt therapy and Person-Centred therapy fall under this category.
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A forward-looking process designed to help individuals achieve personal and professional goals. Unlike traditional therapy, which often focuses on past issues and emotional healing, it emphasizes action and personal development. Coaches work with clients to clarify their goals, identify obstacles, and create actionable plans. Life coaching can cover various areas, including career planning, relationship building, time management, fostering motivation and accountability. It empowers clients to make meaningful changes in their lives.
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Concentrates on finding solutions in the present and exploring hope for the future rather than delving deeply into past issues. It’s often short-term and goal oriented.
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This approach incorporates mindfulness practices, such as meditation, to help individuals become more aware of their thoughts and feelings. It’s often used for stress reduction and emotional regulation.
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This type recognizes the impact of trauma on mental health and incorporates strategies to create a safe and supportive environment. It’s suitable for individuals who have experienced significant trauma.
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Explores unconscious processes and past experiences, particularly childhood influences, to understand current behaviour. It’s suitable for those interested in deeper self-exploration and insight into emotional struggles.
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The Rogerian Therapy approach is also known as person-centred or client-centred therapy. It’s a non-directive therapeutic approach which offers a supportive and comforting environment for the client to feel as an equal partner. The therapist remains non-directive, and does not pass judgment. The Rogerian therapy approach is centred on three core principles; congruence, accurate empathy, and unconditional positive regard.
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A form of cognitive-behavioral therapy designed for individuals with intense emotions. It incorporates mindfulness and teaches coping strategies for managing emotional dysregulation. Often used for personality disorders.
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Combines techniques from different therapeutic approaches tailored to the individual’s needs. It allows for flexibility and personalization in treatment.
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These therapies use creative expression to help individuals process emotions and experiences. They’re particularly useful for those who find it hard to articulate their feelings verbally.
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A multidimensional counselling intended to assist people and couples to deal with and resolve sexual issues, increase closeness and boost sexual satisfaction. Sex therapy combines psychological, emotional and physical approaches to overall promote healthy sexual relationships.