An Introduction to 6 Common Therapy Modalities
Therapy isn’t a one size fits all kind of deal.
Mental health is vast, and there are different approaches that therapists take to support their clients in the therapeutic process. When therapists are in school, they are taught about many different approaches, or modalities, to therapy that they can use with clients. Some therapy modalities are based on a theoretical perspective that informs their approach, like Psychodynamic Therapy. Other modalities describe the treatment itself, like EMDR.
All therapists are required to continue their education and complete training each year to keep their licensing. Many therapists train more extensively on the therapy modalities they frequently draw on as a part of this continuing education so they can offer even more support to their clients. Some therapists have further certifications in their preferred modalities to demonstrate their ability to successfully utilize these therapeutic approaches. Most therapists list their certifications and specialty areas in their bios on their website so you can learn more about how they approach therapy and what kinds of clients they typically work with.
Why do therapists use different modalities?
By utilizing different therapy modalities, therapists can tailor their treatment to their individual client. Different modalities might also be a natural fit at different points in a person’s therapeutic journey. Someone might come into therapy for one issue, and then move to working on something different once the first issue is under control. Being able to draw on multiple modalities allows therapists to explore what fits with each client’s goals and needs.
Here’s an introduction to 6 common therapy modalities that we utilize at Anchor Counseling NYC:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, is a type of talk therapy that is used for a wide variety of mental health problems. CBT can help with depression, anxiety, substance use, relationships, eating disorders, PTSD, and more. CBT is based on the idea that mental health problems can stem from patterns of thinking that are unhelpful or untrue. Lots of times, we don’t even realize that these patterns of thinking are impacting us. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy teaches you how to recognize unhelpful or faulty patterns of thinking and how to use more supportive coping skills to improve your mental health.
An important idea behind CBT is that thoughts are not facts. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps you learn how your thoughts (cognitions) impact your actions (behaviors). Just because you think something, doesn’t mean that it’s true or based in reality. CBT can teach you how to spot cognitive distortions, or faulty ways of thinking that often impact how we act.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is often combined with other treatments based on what the client needs support with. CBT has been studied extensively and has been shown to be effective, which is part of why it’s used so commonly. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is typically used over a shorter period than other therapy modalities.
Psychodynamic Therapy (PDT)
Psychodynamic Therapy is a style of talk therapy that’s based on Psychodynamic Theory (the work of Sigmund Freud - yes, that Freud). When you think of therapy, you’re likely thinking about the style of therapy that Freud popularized. The theory behind psychodynamic therapy is that our past experiences can affect our present lives. Our experiences impact us, consciously and unconsciously, in ways we don’t always understand. Processing these experiences with a therapist can help provide insight into what’s going on.
Psychodynamic therapy can be used to treat many mental health issues, like depression, anxiety, panic, eating disorders, and relationship problems.
Sometimes PDT is a shorter term therapy, but it can also last for years at a time. The goal of Psychodynamic therapy is to teach self-awareness and insight as a way to manage mental health. This type of self reflection can be painful, so sometimes it takes many sessions to uncover.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing and is a style of therapy that’s primarily aimed at treating trauma. In addition to trauma, EMDR can treat anxiety, depression, dissociative disorders, eating disorders, OCD, personality disorders, and more.
The basis of EMDR is the idea that our minds are capable of healing from trauma and injuries much like our bodies are. When distressing or traumatic events happen, they need to be processed or they will continue to cause distress.
EMDR uses bilateral stimulation (often through eye movements or shoulder tapping) to help reprocess trauma that has been “stuck” and causing distress. These bilateral movements can help lessen the intensity of the distress and emotion that the distressing memories bring up. EMDR helps facilitate the processing of traumatic memories and allows you to build new, more positive associations that lessen your feelings of distress.
EMDR is a blend of a somatic approach (using the body) and talk therapy. An EMDR therapist will first go through your history to learn more about what brings you therapy, and then will work with you to provide resources and coping skills that you can use throughout the EMDR process. EMDR is appealing to many because you don’t have to talk in detail about memories that are traumatic or distressing. Additionally, EMDR can help process trauma much faster than traditional talk therapy, which is very appealing to many.
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Internal Family Systems is a popular style of talk therapy that can be helpful with depression, anxiety, trauma, phobias, panic, substance use, physical pain, and more. IFS is not always appropriate for patients with severe mental illness, like psychosis or schizophrenia.
The theory behind IFS is that our minds are made up of different sub-personalities, or parts. The creator of Internal Family Systems theorized that the mind is like a family, with different parts playing different roles. The three common categories of parts are firefighters (parts that are activated by difficult emotions), managers (protective parts that help you navigate day to day life), and exiles (parts that carry difficult emotions and memories).
IFS therapy can help you define the different parts that make up your internal system. You can learn how to manage conflict among different parts, process and release feelings, befriend your parts, and manage the fears of each part. Internal Family Systems can help provide a better understanding of yourself and promote self compassion for all the different parts that make you you. Internal Family Systems therapy can be used with individuals, couples, and families.
Somatic Therapy
Somatic therapy is a type of therapy that involves using the body in the healing process. It’s a holistic modality that is focused on the connection of the mind and the body. In addition to using talk therapy, somatic therapists often incorporate physical techniques that facilitate healing. The body is seen as a resource for healing that goes beyond talking. Somatic therapy aims to promote a more mindful awareness of the body and how thoughts and emotions connect to body sensations.
Some of the physical techniques that might be used in a somatic therapy session are yoga, dance, breathwork, grounding, massage, or other bodywork. Somatic therapists teach their clients how thoughts, emotions, and sensations are connected. Somatic therapy can help treat a number of issues like trauma, stress, grief, depression, anxiety, substance use, chronic pain, and more. Somatic therapy techniques can be incorporated into many types of therapy
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, or DBT, is a variation of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), so it’s focused on the way our thoughts impact behavior. DBT was developed as a way to treat Borderline Personality Disorder, a disorder that is characterized by unstable moods, emotions, and behaviors, but has been shown to help with self harm, PTSD, substance use, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and more.
DBT has 4 main goals: Mindfulness (being present in the moment), Distress Tolerance (being able to handle upsetting situations), Emotion Regulation (being able to manage your feelings), and Interpersonal Effectiveness (maintaining relationships with self-respect). Dialectical Behavioral Therapy teaches concrete skills to meet these goals. DBT skills have names (often acronyms) that describe what they do so you know which skill to use when.
Classic DBT is a blend of individual therapy and group therapy, but you don’t always need to utilize both to benefit from the skills of DBT. Many therapists teach their clients DBT skills to help them cope and to use as a resource when things are difficult.
As you can see, there are many different ways a therapist can approach their treatment for each client. Having an understanding of different therapy modalities and what they’re used for can help you find a therapist who is a good fit for your needs. All of the therapists at Anchor Counseling New York utilize a blend of therapy modalities to meet you where you are and customize treatment to each individual. Contact us today to learn more about scheduling an appointment with one of our therapists!
Blog authors all hold positions at Anchor Counseling. For more information about our therapists and services please contact us.
