What is talk therapy?
Also known as counselling, psychotherapy and therapy.
This is typically a conversation between a mental health professional and a client or patient. Generally speaking, talk therapy aims to discuss your reason for therapy, create goals and to plan a way for you to achieve results. Many mental health professionals train in different types of talk therapy and so the conversations, known as sessions or appointments, may differ in what is covered and how it is structured.
Talk therapy can be provided by a number of mental health professionals. This can include psychologists, psychiatrists, counsellors, mental health first aiders, psychotherapists and wellbeing practitioners. The key thing is to make sure that your talk therapist is qualified and insured.
Here are the most common types of talk therapy, these are also referred to as modalities:
CBT, also known as cognitive behavioural therapy, is a talk therapy which focuses on changing the way you think and behave in order to find practical solutions for your problems. It helps to identify cycles and break the pattern so you can feel better now. The key part is challenging negative thoughts and behaviours to move forward in a positive way.
Systemic therapy is a talk therapy which focuses on relationships within a group of people, for example couples or families. It can benefit any group of people where the system has become dysfunctional. By system, this means the connection or relationship. This can be in a professional context like a team or workplace, as well as personal.
Psychodynamic therapy is a talk therapy which focuses on your past experiences and your unconscious process. This is helpful in identifying and understanding how your current behaviours and feelings may have been shaped. It can help to understand expectations and where you may be redirecting past feelings onto others. This is known as transference and is a key part of this talk therapy.
Gestalt therapy is a talking therapy which focuses on the here and now- being in the moment as a whole person, with your current thoughts and feelings. This can help you better understand how you relate to others and to find new angles on a current problem. A key part may be acting out scenarios, dream recall or empty chair work.
Integrative therapy is a talking therapy which focuses on you as a whole person with mental, physical and emotional needs.Techniques and tools are adapted from the other types of therapies and tailored towards your individual needs. The key part is to increase your overall self-awareness and understanding of yourself so you can move towards change. The relationship you have with your therapist is also key.
There are many more than the talk therapies mentioned here, each one has strengths in working with a particular issue.
What issues can talk therapy support with?
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Self-harm
- Suicidal thoughts
- Panic attacks
- Disorders
- Addictions
- Insomnia
Some professionals may specialise in working with a particular issue or with a particular group of people. Talk therapy is recommended by the NHS for many mental health conditions, and it can also be helpful to those without.
There are different ways to access talk therapy. You may find this post helpful: 8 tips for choosing a therapist here.
It can be helpful to make notes of any questions or concerns to share in your first session. Some professionals may ask you to complete a form or a questionnaire to get some information about you and your experience.
Are you interested in talk therapy?
Contact Karin Young today, she’d love to hear from you.
To book a consultation you can:
visit our website www.karinyoungcounselling.co.uk
call us at 07588771704
send us an email at info@karinyoungcounselling.co.uk
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