Finding Therapy
You’ve finally made the decision to get help for your self or your relationship, but the process feels daunting and overwhelming. If you are contemplating therapy but confused by your many options, you might find the following article from The The Huffington Post helpful. While it is not a complete offering of the many types of therapies and schools of thought offered, it certainly gives a snapshot of the major types of therapy such as: Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, CBT, Group Therapy, Family Therapy and DBT Therapy. The article also describes the types of therapy that are a good fit for the concerns you bring to counseling. For instance, if you are a couple in experiencing relationship distress, you will want to work with a couple that has relationship training. If you find yourself engaging in self-destructive, self-sabotaging behaviors, psychoanalytic therapy can help you gain insight into your unconscious that drives some of these behaviors. Websites such as Psychology Today lists many local therapists who offer brief, free consultations to help you decide and determine if the therapist is a good “fit” for your particular needs. Sometimes a paid consultation with a licensed psychotherapist or psychologist can help steer you in the right direction towards the kind of therapist and style of psychotherapy that would be the most useful for your individual needs. Ultimately, finding a therapist with whom you can develop a relationship that fosters trust and openness and is a good overall “fit” for you and your needs will yield the best therapeutic results. As you explore, please know that some of these therapy styles are grounded in research and are evidence-based, while others are theoretical; additionally, many are controversial, some cutting-edge and others are more popularly accepted, time-tested and anecdotal.