New Year, New Me: 5 Types of Therapy to Try in the New Year

New Year, New Me: 5 Types of Therapy to Try in the New Year

It’s true that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) reduces depression symptoms. However, there are other types of therapy to consider.

CBT is the most common form of therapy. Depending on your needs, another form of therapy might enhance your mental health.

Here are 5 different types of therapy you can try.

1. Types of Therapy: Marriage Counseling

Marriage counseling is one of the more popular types of psychotherapy. It’s also known as couples therapy.

During these sessions, a couple learns how to recognize and resolve problems in their relationship. Couples therapy also helps couples improve their relationships in general.

Licensed marriage and family counselors perform couples therapy. Sessions can either be one-on-one or with both members of the couple present. Either way, couples therapy can still show positive results.

Discover more about marriage counseling. It’s the best relationship advice you’ll ever get.

2. Animal-Assisted Therapy

Animal-assisted therapy is traditional therapy with a twist. Unlike other forms of therapy, animal-assisted therapy incorporates animals into one’s treatment plan. It’s used to complement and enhance other forms of therapy.

In animal-assisted therapy sessions, clients connect with animals. This includes cats, dogs, horses, pigs, and other animals. Clients usually pet the animals or take care of them.

Interacting with animals helps people manage stress and mental illness symptoms. This is why support animals are so popular. Plus, bonding with animals also releases feel-good neurotransmitters in your brain.

3. Feminist Therapy

Feminist therapy is psychotherapy with an integrative feminist approach. It focuses on gender and the unique challenges women face. Sessions include discussions of discrimination, patriarchy, and oppression.

Feminist therapy helps clients understand the social factors that influence mental health status. This form of therapy also helps clients improve self-esteem and reclaim their identity.

The client-therapist relationship must be authentic and positive for feminist therapy to work.

Many feminist therapists are LGBTQ+ friendly. However, sessions aren’t designed with LGBTQ+ needs in mind. Affirmative psychotherapy is more about accepting sexual orientation and authenticity.

4. Reality Therapy

Reality therapy focuses on present issues and avoids discussions of the past. Its aim is to improve the client’s circumstances and relationships. Reality therapists help clients change their behavior to improve their mental health.

According to reality therapy, people experience distress unless they have the following: freedom, fun, power, love/belonging, and survival.

The goal of reality therapy is to help people take control of their own lives. Reality therapists also help clients learn how to make better decisions with reality therapy techniques.

5. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy

EMDR is an integrative psychotherapy approach for treating trauma. The client is asked to recall distressing images and memories. Then the therapist performs specific bilateral movements like tapping or hand movements for the client to focus on.

While doing this, the EDMR therapist tracks the client’s eye movements in response.

This type of treatment is especially effective for people who struggle with talking about their trauma.

Commit To Healing

According to the World Health Organization, over 300 million people are depressed in the world. Many types of therapy out there can drastically improve your mental health.

Less than 50% of people with depression worldwide seek treatment. No matter what mental illness you have, therapy can help you live a better life.

Invest in your healing and learn more about mental health. It’ll make you a healthier person.