Types of Psychotherapy Techniques & Methods
Multiple specialists, such as Frank (1961), point out that the significance of psychotherapy techniques is attributed to the capability of therapists to revise the expectations of patients at will. That is, if a patient gives credibility and validity to this type of therapy, greater changes may be seen in the patient.
Due to this direct interaction of the therapist on the patient’s attitude, it is considered that, in psychotherapy techniques, it is much more complicated to create a separation between the professional and the technique itself.
For this reason, at Psychologyorg we are going to present you with a list of types of Psychotherapy Techniques, as well as an explanation of their methodology and objectives.
Table of Contents
How many types of psychotherapy are there?
There are many types of Psychotherapy Techniques depending on the perspective and the methodology used to work. What are the different types of psychotherapy? Below we list the main types of psychological therapy.
- cognitive psychotherapy
- psychoanalytic therapy
- psychodynamic therapy
- dialectical behavior therapy
- cognitive behavioral therapy
- rational emotive psychotherapy
- Gestalt therapy
- Brief Dynamic Psychotherapy or Strategic Brief Therapy
- Meditation, full attention, or mindfulness
- Acceptance and commitment therapy
- Logotherapy or Experiential Psychotherapy
- systemic family therapy
- hypnotic therapy
- reminiscence therapy
- Focal and Integrative Psychotherapy
- Reciprocal inhibition psychotherapy
1. Cognitive therapy
To carry out this technique, professionals start from the base of cognitive restructuring since it was identified that many patients with psychological disorders have negative thoughts and unrealistic beliefs. This therapy developed by Beck, has the objective that patients develop, thanks to the help provided by the therapist, the necessary skills to identify and replace this type of thought. Here you can see in-depth what Aaron Beck’s cognitive therapy is and what it consists of.
2. Psychoanalytic therapy
This technique was developed by the famous psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud, with the aim of achieving the resolution of the psychological problems of patients, based on their most repressed fantasies, thoughts, and emotions, that is, the inner world that they hide in themselves. same. For the therapists who follow this practice, a person’s unconscious is of vital importance to determine what are the causes that give rise to the psychological problem.
3. Psychodynamic therapy
It is a technique that shares its base with psychoanalysis therapy, however, it presents a series of differences as far as its realization is concerned. These are much shorter in the interventions, as well as being characteristic of having a lower intensity in the intrusion of thought. On the other hand, the focus of the treatment on which the therapist must focus increases. It could be said that this type of therapy tries to readapt the therapy of psychoanalysis to the present.
4. Cognitive-behavioral therapy
It is about making the patient understand his way of thinking towards himself, towards other people, and towards the world around him. It has the objective of helping to modify certain thoughts as well as the actions or behaviors that have derived from them. This therapy focuses on the here and now that the patient is living at that moment in his life. Here you can see what it is and what techniques cognitive-behavioral therapy uses.
5. Dialectical behavior therapy
This was born as an alternative to cognitive-behavioral therapy for those patients who present multiple diagnoses in the personality axis, for which their behavior is very difficult to control and treat. It uses techniques such as training in social skills, behavioral tasks, as well as behavior analysis, but adds acceptance strategies to all of them with the objective that the patient incorporates the idea that there are certain behaviors that are accepted by the rest of the population. society and therefore there are others who are not.
6. Rational Emotive Psychotherapy
Developed by Albert Ellis, this brief psychotherapy aims to achieve a deep and intense change in patients, especially as far as the emotional level is concerned. Part of the base of helping the subject to recognize the self-destructive processes that he possesses and to tune, through the use of reason and rationality, more appropriate emotions. Great importance is attached to emotions, and a misidentification of these can lead to psychological problems.
7. Gestalt therapy
Part of the idea is that the things experienced by each individual are formulated individually. In other words, despite experiencing the same event, two people can give it a completely different mental meaning. For this reason, it focuses more on analyzing and modifying the way in which things are experienced and not so much on the event that is experienced.
8. Brief dynamic psychotherapy or strategic brief therapy
Part of the intention to know which are the factors that give rise to the maladaptive behavior of the patient to later determine the most appropriate therapeutic mechanisms for its resolution. It is characterized by a short session time since it only tries to reduce the patient’s symptoms, not to produce a deep and stable change in him.
9. Meditation, full attention, or mindfulness
This technique is used as a method to increase the awareness that people have about everything that surrounds them so that in this way they can respond more skillfully to all those mental processes that can contribute to the development of psychological and behavioral disorders. Here you will find what it is and how to practice mindfulness.
10. Acceptance and commitment therapy
This therapy, unlike many others, is not based on changing or reducing annoying thoughts and sensations that can interfere with a subject’s life but rather tries to alter their function and generate in them flexibility when it comes to regulating their behavior. It seeks to generate in the patient a development of full awareness of him, which allows him to act in a valuable way.
11. Logotherapy or experiential psychotherapy
Logotherapy, developed by Frankl, focuses all its attention on the meaning of human existence, starting from the search for an integral vision of the human being, which is considered a unique being. It is an existential therapy where the individual’s problems are caused by the existential emptiness that he feels.
12. Systemic family therapy
People are considered as parts of a family system where the psychological problems of individuals are caused by problems in the relationships between the members of said systems. With this technique, it is intended to reformulate the way in which the individual is perceived within the said system to identify what are the causes of her problems.
13. Hypnotic therapy
It is intended to induce in the patient a state of trance or partial sleep (nowadays known by all professionals as a state of high suggestibility) so that they connect more intensely with their most emotional and primitive thoughts.
14. Reminiscence therapy
Created to be carried out with patients with dementia, this therapy consists of talking about one’s own life experience with the aim of sharing memories and reflecting on the past. Its objective is to stimulate autobiographical episodic memory in adults in order to reduce brain deterioration.
15. Focal and integrative psychotherapy
Again we find psychotherapy which is based on psychoanalysis, however, it has a focus on which the therapist will focus all his attention when helping the patient. This focus is considered to be the basis of the patient’s conflict, which has led to the development of the anxious and psychological symptoms that he presents.
16. Reciprocal inhibition psychotherapy
In this type of psychotherapy, the therapist helps the patient to develop appropriate responses to stimuli that cause unwanted attitudes or responses in him. To do this, use is made of the application of incompatible responses which make it impossible for the subject to perform the non-adaptive behavior that he usually performs.
What kind of therapy do I need?
At this point, it is normal for you to wonder what type of therapy is better or what type of psychotherapy is the one you need. Each person is completely different, as is each disorder, so from here, we cannot venture to determine what type of therapy would suit each person.
In expansion, it must be carried into a narrative that many of these psychotherapies do not have real scientific proof, so their validity and reliability can be largely impacted. Which can be essential when choosing one type of therapy or another.
For this reason, our recommendation is that you go to a specialized professional and discuss your problem since he or she will be able to develop a treatment plan according to your needs.
If you want to read more articles similar to Types of Psychotherapy Techniques and Methods, we recommend that you enter our Psychology category.
Read Also: 14 Common Types of Psychological Disorders Psychologyorg
Q: Are these psychotherapy techniques only for individuals with diagnosed mental health conditions?
A: Psychotherapy techniques can benefit individuals with diagnosed mental health conditions, as well as those who may be experiencing distress or seeking personal growth. Therapy can provide support, guidance, and insight into various life challenges, even if a formal diagnosis is not present.
Q: Can psychotherapy techniques be used alongside medication?
A: Yes, psychotherapy techniques can be used alongside medication. In fact, a combination of therapy and medication is often recommended for certain mental health conditions, as it can provide a more comprehensive approach to treatment. It’s crucial to discuss any medication you are taking or considering with both your therapist and prescribing healthcare provider to ensure proper coordination of care.
Q: Are these psychotherapy techniques effective for all mental health conditions?
A: Psychotherapy techniques have been found to be effective for a wide range of mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, trauma-related disorders, substance abuse, and personality disorders. However, the effectiveness may vary depending on individual circumstances, and it’s important to consult with a mental health professional to determine the most appropriate treatment approach for your specific condition.
