The field of psychology has seen more growth in the last few decades than ever before. Though we can trace back the discipline’s origins to great thinkers such as Aristotle and Socrates, most people accept Freud as the father of modern psychology. Post 90’s, the mental health revolution gained speed and never stopped. We live in a time where talking about mental health and related issues is no longer taboo, and people are praised for opening up about their feelings.
Counseling and talk therapy come in various shapes and forms, from Marriage Therapy to Art Therapy and classic CBT. This article will look at the most widely used approaches in modern times and the role of each therapeutic intervention. Read till the end to gain a holistic understanding of therapy and counseling and which to seek and when.
Here are five counseling types that you may want to consider in the future.
Marriage counseling
Domestic family issues are some of the most common reasons people visit therapists. Naturally, with two people bringing a clash of ideas, there are bound to be differences in opinions, and spouses may occasionally get into fights. At times these fights are due to prevailing circumstances in a couple’s life. However, if a family member or spouse shows signs of a mental health disorder, they might need personal counseling. Thus, we need to address the difference between mental health counseling vs. marriage and family therapy.
If you feel your marriage is falling apart and both of you might be responsible, finding a licensed family counselor would be best. Marriage counselors have specialized expertise in their area and know how to deal with these issues. Mental health counselors may be better equipped to deal with the person rather than the couple.
Though most individuals would rather keep their marriage-related matters to themselves, when things take a turn for the worst, many of them seek the assistance of a marriage counselor. To save their relationships, people will go to any lengths and talk about what matters.
CBT
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is perhaps the most widely used counseling practice in the world. Not only does it deal with run-of-the-mill and advanced issues, but it also tackles specific issues in extremely relatable yet, digestible ways.
CBT puts the patient in the driver’s seat of their own cognitions and helps them address negative automatic thoughts. In the behavioral schools of thought, there is a perception that thoughts and behaviors affect an individual’s mental health. With CBT, the counselor helps people find maladjustments in their thoughts and behaviors and encourages the client to address them. The client usually walks away from the process as a new person by developing better cognitive awareness, behavioral modification, and insight.
We often forget how important our thoughts and actions are in shaping our personalities, moods, and overall mental health. CBT counselors remind us that patterns leave impacts, and we need to address issues before they fester.
Psychoanalysis
Though traditional Freudian psychoanalysis is rarely used these days, the principles remain the same, and therapists practice them in various counseling practices. Even CBT can use principles of Psychoanalysis through the therapeutic experience.
This school of thought looks at the person’s unconscious mind and helps bring latent content to the surface. One of the most common issues that clients have is not being able to address what is bothering them. Therefore, they don’t know what to speak about. Through techniques like free association, dream analysis, and monitoring Freudian slips, counselors have learned to read the patterns in the client’s speech and help find relief.
Another counseling technique that a clinician may use could be projective testing. The famous inkblot test shows abstract images and encourages clients to talk about what they see. The diversity of their answers may suggest themes that the counselor could pick up on and address through follow-up sessions.
REBT
Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy is fairly similar to CBT but slightly more aggressive. Much like CBT, it encourages the client to delve into their cognitions and behaviors and understand the reasons behind them.
However, in REBT, the counselor will usually adopt a rather direct role and encourage questions such as why the client behaves the way they do. In some instances, it may feel like the therapist is being rude and putting the client on the spot; however, the end goal is the client’s wellbeing.
Aggressively attacking the cognitions helps the clients realize how maladjusted they might be and how to overcome the issues. Putting the client on the spot is sometimes the best way to deal with such issues and ensure negative thoughts and behaviors don’t resurface in the future.
Person-Centered Therapy
This is perhaps one of the fastest growing and most appreciated types of counseling in modern times. Founded by Carl Rogers, the style gives the client to power to set the pace of the session. The therapist’s job is to create a warm, comfortable and judgment-free space for the client to voice their opinions and receive the utmost empathy.
This is one of the warmest forms of therapy and is usually used for people suffering from trauma. Empathy and positive regard are two of the most important factors that a counselor can demonstrate with conducting themselves.
Rogers believed that making the person comfortable and giving them the space to be open and talk about whatever they want is extremely important. Many people argue that this counseling style does not hold the clients accountable for their actions. However, studies show that humanistic therapy (person-centered therapy) is one of the faster-growing styles, and thousands of therapists worldwide are using the method.
Conclusion
This article is the mere tip of a very vast iceberg in psychology and counseling. There is so much depth to the topic that one article could not do justice. We have gone over several types of counseling and the uses and benefits of each of them. These are some of the most widely used and sought-after forms of therapy.
Whether you agree with them or not, there is no denying that counseling, in general, has helped millions of people around the world. Whether it’s anxiety, trauma, or depression, visiting a counselor can help clear your mind and help bring you back to reality.
It’s truly remarkable to see how far the field has come and how society has welcomed the change with open arms. We hope that the mental health movement breaks other taboos in the future.
