Psychotherapy

Psychodynamic1

Works with unconscious processes; psychoanalysis is the oldest and most intensive form. See Psychodynamic psychotherapy.

Behavioural and cognitive1

Changes behaviour and thought patterns; the two strands combined into Cognitive behavioral therapy in the 1970s.

Humanistic and experiential1

Focuses on subjective meaning and growth rather than pathology; includes Person-centered therapy and Gestalt therapy.

Systemic1

Works on relationships and group dynamics, as in family and couples therapy.

Integrative1

In practice many therapists combine approaches rather than following one school.

Psychodynamic1

For example, a client says whatever comes to mind and reports dreams, and the therapist interprets the patterns, including how the client relates to the therapist (Freud's free association, dream interpretation and transference).

Behavioural1

In exposure and response prevention for OCD, a client confronts feared situations and holds back from their rituals, and gradually feels less distress and less urge to perform them.

Cognitive1

For example, a client who thinks "I always fail" is helped to examine that thought and replace it with a more accurate one.

Third wave1

Meditation and mindfulness are built into mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy and dialectical behavior therapy.

Humanistic1

The human givens approach identifies emotional needs such as security, autonomy and social connection, and helps people meet them more fully.

Systemic1

For example, instead of seeing a teenager alone, a family therapist sees the whole family and works on the pattern of how their arguments unfold.

With children1

Therapists use sand, toys, crayons, clay, puppets or board games, since children often cannot put thoughts and feelings into words.

Expressive1

Art, drama, music, dance and writing therapies work through creative expression, then process what it brings up.

It works, modestly1

Therapy shows general efficacy across many conditions, but how well varies by person and condition.

Effects last1

Psychotherapy tends to have longer-lasting effects than medication and can improve medication outcomes.

Different therapies, similar results1

This finding, the Dodo bird verdict, led to Common factors theory: shared elements like the relationship may do much of the work.

Open problems1

Mechanisms of change are poorly understood, therapy can have adverse effects, and some types have been called pseudoscience.