Different Types of Therapy & Why They Are Important

By: Tess Lampe

The definition of therapy says that it is “treatment intended to relieve or heal a disorder; the treatment of mental or psychological disorders by psychological means.” Even though therapy is a great source for treating mental illness, those who don’t struggle from mental illness and are just going through some hardships also tend to go to therapy. Therapy, coming from the words “therapeuein” and “therapeia” meaning “minister treatment medically; healing” has become a very important part of many lives in today’s day, even though the word has been used since the 1950s.

People usually think of “normal” therapy and physical therapy, but there are many more specific types than that. Behavior therapy, for example, is a form of therapy that is focused on learning and understanding one’s normal and abnormal behaviors. Cognitive therapy focuses on what people think rather than what they do, aka emphasising thoughts over actions. Integrative/holistic therapy is where a therapist tailors or changes their approaches and treatment based on the needs of their client. Humanistic therapy focuses on one’s ability to make rational or logical decisions and develops one’s “maximum potential.”

Under humanistic therapy, there’s client-centered, gestalt, and existential therapy. Client-centered, similar to integrative, is when the treatment a therapist uses requires the client to actively involve themselves in it without the therapist being “non-directive and supportive.” Gestalt therapy essentially focuses on the significance of being in the present & accepting responsibility. Finally, existential therapy emphasizes self-determination, the search for meaning, and one’s free will. Psychotherapy basically encompasses all of these, being the discovery of one’s condition, their moods, feelings, thoughts, behaviors, etc.

This all holds such significance because therapy is a safe place for one to explore themselves and their mental state. It offers people a greater understanding of their emotions, feelings, etc. and allows them more confidence, which is why anybody and everybody possible should at the very least consider therapy as an option.

https://www.goodtherapy.org/benefits-of-therapy.html
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/psychotherapy/about/pac-20384616
https://study.com/academy/lesson/client-centered-therapy-by-rogers-techniques-definition-quiz.html
https://www.apa.org/topics/therapy/psychotherapy-approaches