Choosing the right type of therapy can be challenging, but there are many resources available to help you make an informed decision. Here are some tips to help you decide what type of therapy is best for you:
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Understand what therapy is: Therapy is person-to-person treatment or management of mental health problems, disorders, and general mental health upkeep. Many people seek out a mental health professional for a specific mental health problem like anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, or addiction, but therapy can be a useful tool for anyone.
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Know the different types of therapy: There are over 100 types of therapies, including those that tap into your creativity, retrain your body, or involve being in nature. Some of the most common types of therapy include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR) .
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Consider your specific needs: Different types of therapy are better suited for different mental health concerns. For example, if you struggle with self-criticism and shame, you may benefit from compassion-focused therapy or holistic psychotherapy. If you have trouble managing stress or feel depressed or disinterested in life, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) may be a good fit for you.
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Ask questions: When looking for a therapist, ask questions to help make the best decision. Some questions to consider asking include: Are you licensed? Do you have experience treating people with similar problems? How do you think that I can get better? What kind of approaches do you use for problems like this? .
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Try different approaches: Its important to remember that therapy is a process, and it may take some time to find the right approach for you. Many mental health professionals use an integrative approach, meaning they are trained in a variety of therapies and will often use multiple approaches into their patient’s treatment.
Ultimately, the best way to figure out what type of therapy is best for you is to take advantage of resources like free matching services or to talk to a mental health professional directly.