When mental health struggles begin to interfere with your daily life, it’s a sign that professional treatment is needed. Mental health conditions like depression and anxiety, for example, tend to get worse when left unaddressed. However, with professional support, it’s estimated between 70 and 90 percent of individuals see improvements in their mental health and quality of life.
Psychotherapy and medication are the most common forms of mental health treatment today. Psychotherapy is more commonly known as “talk therapy,” in which a person speaks with a licensed therapist to explore and cope with negative feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. Medications are prescribed to regulate emotions and reduce symptoms, but are typically recommended in combination with other types of therapy.
Because everyone’s experiences and conditions are unique, treatment plans are always personalized to meet their individual needs. However, there are common types of therapy, backed by evidence, that are often included in a mental health treatment plan. We explore these more below.
Behavioral Therapies for Mental Health:
Behavioral therapy is a type of psychotherapy that helps people change and control the unhelpful behaviors that are prompted by mental health struggles. This therapy helps people understand the connection between their thoughts, feelings, and actions, and perhaps most importantly, develop coping skills to manage negative emotions as they arise.
There are different approaches to behavioral therapy, including:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, commonly known as CBT, is one of the most widely recommended types of therapy for mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and PTSD. Evidence shows that people who complete CBT show notable changes in brain activity and functioning.
CBT is aimed at helping people identify, understand, and change negative thoughts and behaviors. Clients learn about the root of their unhealthy thought patterns or emotions, how they’re influencing other aspects of their lives, and how to restructure them into more positive or constructive attitudes.
Clients receiving CBT are highly engaged in their therapy—In addition to completing one-on-one sessions with their therapist, they also participate in skills exercises, complete homework assignments, and maintain a journal of their experience and progress.
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) is another type of cognitive-behavioral approach that is especially beneficial for individuals with extreme emotional dysregulation, suicidal thoughts, and borderline personality disorder (BPD).
DBT is a lot like CBT, but with one big differentiator—DBT emphasizes acceptance and validation of one’s negative thoughts, feelings, and behaviors (versus struggling with and changing them outwardly). This approach encourages clients to come to terms with their struggles first, so that change feels more attainable.
Only when a client accepts what is troubling them, can they then begin to create change: developing new skills, coping strategies, mindfulness techniques, etc. to improve their state of being.
Research shows that Dialectical Behavioral Therapy is very effective at decreasing the severity and frequency of dangerous behaviors like self-harm. It also has been shown to positively reinforce and motivate change, in turn improving clients’ quality of life.
- Exposure Therapy
Exposure therapy is an evidence-based treatment method that commonly is used to help people with phobias, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). It’s designed to reduce fear and anxiety responses by gradually exposing a person to their trigger (a feared situation or object), in a safe and controlled environment. The goal is to help individuals become less sensitive to these triggers over time, and learn strategies to cope.
There is also a type of therapy called Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy, which is often recommended for individuals with PTSD. PE is trauma-focused, gradually and systemically exposing clients to trauma-related memories and emotions over a period of time (up to 12, 90-minute sessions) to help them practice coping strategies and overcome what’s burdening them.
- Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is used in a similar nature to Prolonged Exposure Therapy, in that it’s also a trauma-informed approach. CPT is often used to help people with PTSD better understand and change their destructive thought patterns and beliefs. Like CBT, CPT also relies on written worksheets, homework assignments, and talk therapy methods to help clients who are struggling.
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
EMDR is a type of therapy that evidence shows is helpful in healing from traumatic experiences. It uses bilateral stimulation (commonly guided eye movements) to help clients recover from disturbing events from their past. Essentially, EMDR taps into a natural healing process in our brains that allows a person to recall traumatic memories and reprocess them. Through this adaptive reprocessing, EMDR is meant to reduce and shift the emotional and physical distress that’s historically been connected to a memory.
Relationship-Focused Therapies for Mental Health:
The different types of therapy often vary in approach, as shown above, but they can also differ in their setting and participants. The following therapies are largely based on interpersonal relationships, helping heal multiple people in a therapy session.
- Group therapy
Group therapy is a type of talk therapy that brings several people, from very similar experiences or walks of life, together to work on challenges with the support of a trained therapist. For example, at Turnbridge, group therapy sessions involve a number of teens (of the same age/gender) who are struggling with depression or anxiety. Group therapy provides a safe space where people can share their experiences, learn new skills, and most importantly, connect with or hear from others who understand what they’re going through. Many people find a sense of community and support from group therapy.
- Family therapy
Family therapy, as its name implies, involves multiple family members in the treatment process. It helps to improve communication, resolve conflicts, and strengthen bonds between family members. For example, at Turnbridge, family therapy often involves the teen in treatment as well as their parent(s). The therapy is facilitated by a licensed therapist, who looks at the family as an entire system and helps everyone understand each other’s needs. It looks at problems and solutions holistically, rather than blaming one person, which can be especially effective for teens and young adults.
- Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)
While not conducted in a group setting, Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) is a type of therapy that focuses specifically on relationships. Conducted in a 1:1 setting with a therapist, IPT helps clients improve their communication, resolve conflicts, unpack grief, navigate major life changes, and generally improve how they relate to and interact with others. This, in turn, can help improve symptoms of anxiety and depression for individuals who struggle socially. Clients learn how to evaluate their social interactions, recognize negative patterns (like social isolation or aggression), and make changes to improve.
Other Types of Therapy for Mental Health:
- Psychodynamic Therapy
Psychodynamic therapy is designed to help people better understand their unconscious thought patterns, past experiences, and the deep beliefs that influence their daily life. By exploring these themes with a therapist, clients can gain insight into why they feel and react the way they do. This awareness can lead to long-lasting emotional and behavioral changes.
- Mentalization-Based Therapy (MBT)
Mentalization-Based Therapy (MBT) is a type of therapy that helps people better understand what’s going on in their own mind, especially during emotional moments. It’s useful for people who struggle with intense relationships or difficulty regulating emotions. MBT teaches people how to slow down, reflect, and respond thoughtfully rather than automatically.
- Mindfulness-Based Therapy
Mindfulness-based therapies are aimed at teaching people how to stay present and observe their thoughts and feelings without judgment. Learning these skills can reduce anxiety, stress, and negative thought patterns. These are various types of mindfulness therapies, including Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), which blend meditation with practical coping strategies.
- Wilderness Therapy
Wilderness therapy is an approach that enables people with mental health struggles to get outdoors and use nature as their healing mechanism. It involves interactive, group activities that help to build confidence, awareness, and relationships. Specifically effective for teenagers and youth, wilderness therapy also helps clients develop coping skills and regulate emotions. It separates them from the stresses of daily life and creates a natural and safe space for reflection and growth.
- Motivational Interviewing (MI)
Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a therapeutic approach that helps strengthen a person’s internal motivation for change. It is collaborative, with the therapist using open-ended questions, reflective listening tactics, and affirmations to help clients uncover their goals and reasons for growth. Motivational Interviewing is commonly used to treat substance use disorders and other behavioral issues where motivation is lacking. Studies show it’s especially effective in engaging clients in their recovery, reducing substance abuse, and promoting lifestyle changes in combination with other types of therapy.
Developing the Right Treatment Plan for You
If you or someone you love is struggling with mental health symptoms, finding the right type of therapy might be your immediate reaction. However, it’s not just about choosing one type of therapy – it’s about finding a treatment plan that meets all of your needs, preferences, goals, and challenges you’re facing. Therapy is not one-size-fits-all.
While it’s great to know the various forms of psychotherapy out there, we highly recommend speaking with a clinical professional about your options. Many people benefit from a combination of therapies. Discussing your symptoms and concerns with a professional will give you insight into what’s next.
If you’re unsure where to start, talking with a mental health professional, primary care provider, or trusted support system can help you explore your choices. Reaching out is the first step, and Turnbridge is just a call away. We’re a recognized mental health treatment provider for teens and young adults. Call 877-581-1793 to learn about our programs or to get advice from a treatment specialist.