What Kind of Therapist Do I Need?

Updated 9/22/2021.There are dozens of types oftherapists (or psychotherapists), each with a different method, specialty, or education. If you’re thinking about getting in-person oronline therapy, you first want to figure outwhat kind of therapist do I need?This guide offers all the information you need, so you can find the type of therapistwho’ll be best suited to your specific challenges, lifestyle, and preferences.

Updated 9/22/2021.

There are dozens of types oftherapists (or psychotherapists), each with a different method, specialty, or education. If you’re thinking about getting in-person oronline therapy, you first want to figure outwhat kind of therapist do I need?

This guide offers all the information you need, so you can find the type of therapistwho’ll be best suited to your specific challenges, lifestyle, and preferences.

Why Are You Seeking Therapy?There are dozens of reasons why you may be motivated to seek therapy. Identifying the underlying motivation, along with your goals for seeking treatment, can be instrumental in figuring out thetype of therapyand arrangement that may work best for you.Some common reasons people decide to seek therapy (and the types of therapy they find the most helpful) might include:Relationship issues for a couple:They may enter couples counseling.Grief over loss:You might begin grief therapy.Personal challenges, past issues, or mental health conditions:You may look for individual therapy (which is also the most common type).Addiction or substance abuse:You might find that group therapy is effective.

Why Are You Seeking Therapy?

There are dozens of reasons why you may be motivated to seek therapy. Identifying the underlying motivation, along with your goals for seeking treatment, can be instrumental in figuring out thetype of therapyand arrangement that may work best for you.

Some common reasons people decide to seek therapy (and the types of therapy they find the most helpful) might include:

Consider the Types of Therapy ArrangementsThere are many types of therapy arrangements to choose from when it comes to therapy. When answering the question ofwhat kind of therapist do I need, it’s important to look at a variety of therapy styles and arrangements. Which one will work best depends on your needs, your personality type, and your goals for your mental health care.Deciding on the most effective option requires you to really look at and understand what each of the styles or arrangements entails for mental health care.Individual therapy– The most common type, individual therapy, is exactly what you’re picturing. One-on-one therapy where you’ll meet individually with a licensed therapist at relatively regular intervals.Couples therapy–Couples therapyis, again, exactly what it sounds like. It’s therapy for couples who want to work on anything in their relationship. You can focus on communication, infidelity, parenting or trust issues, mood disorders, family issues, or anything else that’s interfering in or affecting a relationship.Family therapy– Family therapy is a type of psychotherapy that allows families to work together in a safe and neutral space. Areas of focus might include improving communication skills, resolving conflict, navigating substance abuse issues, or a variety of other issues.Group therapy– Group therapy can be a very effective format if you’re looking for support inaddictionrecovery. It’s also a great option if you’re hoping to find a support group to help you with grief, trauma, or physical or sexual abuse.Life events therapy– If you’re dealing with or expecting to go through a major life event now or in the near future, you may want to find a licensed therapist who can help you. Maybe you’re seeking guidance on how tomanage grief(expecting someone to pass away or you’ve recently lost someone). Maybe you’re nervous about the birth of a child. You might want help as you go through a divorce. Or, you might just be having difficulty accepting and dealing with something like infertility, chronic or serious medical issues, or a host of other life complications.In-person therapy– As the name would suggest, in-person therapy is when you physically meet face-to-face with a therapist or with a mental health counselor. This is the most traditional type of therapy arrangement.Online therapy– Online therapy allows you the convenience of seeking mental health help from anywhere. It’s also commonly referred to as distance therapy, e-therapy, internet therapy, teletherapy, and web therapy. Connecting with a mental health professional via the internet is safe, easy, and effective. By eliminating the additional time it takes to travel to and from appointments, it’s often the solution that many people have been looking for.

Consider the Types of Therapy Arrangements

There are many types of therapy arrangements to choose from when it comes to therapy. When answering the question ofwhat kind of therapist do I need, it’s important to look at a variety of therapy styles and arrangements. Which one will work best depends on your needs, your personality type, and your goals for your mental health care.

Deciding on the most effective option requires you to really look at and understand what each of the styles or arrangements entails for mental health care.

Choose a Type of TherapyWhen you first start wondering “what type of therapist should I see,” you may feel overwhelmed with all your options. How do you know what to try? How do you know what will work?Deciding which type of therapy you’ll start with largely depends on what you want to focus on regarding your mental health condition or current situation. Some therapy styles are better for certain work than others. Learn about some of the main types of therapy here.

Choose a Type of Therapy

When you first start wondering “what type of therapist should I see,” you may feel overwhelmed with all your options. How do you know what to try? How do you know what will work?

Deciding which type of therapy you’ll start with largely depends on what you want to focus on regarding your mental health condition or current situation. Some therapy styles are better for certain work than others. Learn about some of the main types of therapy here.

What Are the Different Types of Therapy?

Talk therapy

Talk therapyis also commonly referred to as psychotherapy. It can take many forms and be further broken down into several subcategories. Each is going to have specific nuances and styles that may be more effective for certain conditions. Some of the most common types of talk therapy include:

Talk therapy can be used to treat multiple conditions, including:

Other types of therapy

EMDR therapyis a form of therapy that helps people recover from symptoms that result after experiencing major trauma. It’s often used for those who havepost traumatic stress disorder(PTSD).

With EMDR, a therapist asks you to recall atraumatic eventor memory, and then they use what’s known as bilateral stimulation. This can be in the form of specific, intentional, rapid side-to-side eye movement, or through hand tapping.

Holistic therapy stems from blending different approaches and elements from a number of therapy styles. A good therapist may use this approach in order to create an almost custom-tailored treatment, according to your specific needs.

How to Choose the Right Therapist For Your NeedsAre you still asking yourself:what kind of therapist do I need? Great! That’s the first thing you should be thinking about if you’re serious about getting help. Therapy can be work, and it may even be exhausting at times, but putting in the effort pays off. Having the right mental health therapist in your corner is critical. That’s what will help you navigate the process so you can heal. It means you can go to every session confident that the effort you’re putting in toward improving your mental health is going to be rewarding.

How to Choose the Right Therapist For Your Needs

Are you still asking yourself:what kind of therapist do I need? Great! That’s the first thing you should be thinking about if you’re serious about getting help. Therapy can be work, and it may even be exhausting at times, but putting in the effort pays off. Having the right mental health therapist in your corner is critical. That’s what will help you navigate the process so you can heal. It means you can go to every session confident that the effort you’re putting in toward improving your mental health is going to be rewarding.

Sources Cited:Different Approaches To Psychotherapy. American Psychological Association.https://www.apa.org/topics/psychotherapy/approachesPublished 2009. Accessed 4 Sept 2021.What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?American Psychological Association.https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/patients-and-families/cognitive-behavioralPublished 2017. Accessed Sept 2021.

Sources Cited:

Our goal at Talkspace is to provide the most up-to-date, valuable, and objective information on mental health-related topics in order to help readers make informed decisions.

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