Cognitive and behavioural therapies offer techniques to change certain behaviours and ways of thinking that are causing problems. They don’t tend to look back at past experiences and focus more on problem solving in the here and now. Cognitive and behavioural therapy is goal driven and a therapist will often set tasks to be worked on before the next session. By its nature, this type of therapy isn’t usually as long as the others because it doesn’t tend to analyse the past; it is often given in six-week blocks. Some therapists will combine other therapies in order to give a more rounded experience i.e. they will implement techniques to change behaviours and ways of thinking whilst at the same time trying to discover why such behaviours exists in the first place. By looking more in-depth into their past this then becomes a lengthier experience. Some examples of cognitive and behavioural therapies are;

• Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
• Behavioural therapy
• Cognitive analytic therapy (CAT)
• Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
• Cognitive therapy
• Dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT)
• Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR)
• Psychosexual therapy

A relationship therapist will work with couples and families to explore different aspects of the relationship and it is intended that those involved will gain insight into the issues that are causing problems. The type of therapy on offer will depend on the type of training the therapist has undergone, as there is more than one person involved there will often be emphasis on building communication and listening skills. You can ask your therapist to clarify the type of therapy they offer and what that specifically entails. Your therapist may also suggest some individual sessions if they think it is going to enhance the therapeutic experience. Examples of different types of relationship therapies include;

• Couples therapy
• Marriage therapy
• Family/group therapy

These alternative therapies are getting more and more popular with many people turning to them as they offer a different form of expression when compared to the more conventional methods. It is thought that the process of creating or watching others create different types of art helps people connect with their emotions and boosts self-esteem. These therapies will always be carried out under the guidance of a trained professional and individuals will be encouraged to explore what is going on for them and try to develop self-awareness. Creative therapies are often carried out in groups as they lend themselves to this type of work which helps people build social skills. However, one-to-one therapist may use some of the techniques found in these therapies in their work as well, if this is something you would like to explore you can ask your therapist if they can incorporate it into your sessions. Some examples of the creative therapies include;

• Art therapy
• Drama therapy
• Music therapy

Humanistic therapy is centred on the individual and works on the basis that we are all different and therefore our uniqueness has a direct impact on how we perceive situations. The humanistic approach believes that everyone inherently knows what is best for them and how they can be the best version of themselves. A humanistic therapist will support you and give you a safe space to explore yourself, with the intention that in doing so you will realise your own potential and experience emotional growth. Some examples of humanistic therapies are;

• Body psychotherapy
• Existential therapy
• Gestalt therapy
• Human Givens psychotherapy
• Mindfulness
• Person-centred therapy
• Psychosynthesis
• Reality therapy
• Solution-focused therapy
• Transactional analysis
• Transpersonal psychology

Integrative therapists use a variety of different techniques and theories depending on the client and their issue.  An integrative therapist will have experience in a number of different practices and will understand which ones work well in particular circumstances.  Integrative therapists believe that there isn’t one particular therapy that works for all and will tailor their approach to each individual client.  They will usually use a mixture of the following therapies;

• Cognitive and behavioural therapies
• Humanistic therapies
• Psychodynamic therapies

An example of when integrative therapy may be useful would be if a person has been displaying unhelpful or destructive behaviour.  Initially the therapist would use cognitive and behavioural techniques to help them manage the behaviour causing the immediate problem.  Once those techniques have enabled the desired change, a more psychodynamic approach might be adopted to understand what the root cause of the unwanted behaviour was, exploring past experiences and childhood.  Integrative therapists believe that this approach helps build self-awareness which enables the client to understand and move away from destructive patterns. Integrative therapy is a flexible way of exploring different therapeutic practices.