Finding the right type of therapy can feel overwhelming with so many options out there. Each therapy type offers unique benefits for different challenges from anxiety to relationships, and what works well for one person might not be the best choice for you. Learning the basics can help you find the right fit, ask better questions, and feel more confident when reaching out to a potential therapist.
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Understanding the Different Types of Therapy
Therapy comes in many forms, each designed to address different challenges and preferences. Understanding the differences between these therapies can help you choose the one that best fits your needs, providing you with the right tools and strategies to navigate life’s challenges.
Here are details on several common types of therapy:
1. Psychodynamic Therapy
Psychodynamic therapy focuses on exploring the unconscious mind and how past experiences, particularly childhood experiences, influence current behavior, emotions, and relationships. It aims to help you understand your deepest fears, defense mechanisms, and unresolved inner conflicts that influence your daily lives. It’s a talk-based therapy, where the back-and-forth conversation can help you become more aware of your emotions and why you think the way you do.1
Who Would Benefit
CBT has been shown to help with most mental health conditions and stressors, and has even been shown to be helpful in coping with some physical health conditions, such as chronic pain. People who are looking for structured therapy that focuses on improving a person’s ability to function in their day-to-day life are most likely to benefit from CBT.
Who May Not Be a Good Fit
CBT may not be a good fit for people who have multiple diagnoses or who have complex mental health concerns. People who are experiencing mental health issues due to being socially marginalized (such as due to racism, poverty, etc), also may not find relief through CBT.
Length of Treatment
CBT is considered one of the more short-term therapy modalities, with some clients finishing treatment in as little as 12-20 sessions.
2. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT is a type of talk therapy that focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful or negative thought patterns and behaviors. The core idea behind CBT is that your thoughts, feelings, and actions are interconnected. By changing how you think and behave, you can improve how you feel.2
Key elements of CBT include:
- Identifying negative thoughts: This involves noticing patterns in your thinking that aren’t helpful or true, often called cognitive distortions.
- Challenging and restructuring thoughts: This is the process of replacing negative thoughts with more realistic, helpful ones so you can take positive steps forward.
- Behavioral changes: Making small shifts in your actions can really change how you feel. This might mean breaking habits of avoiding difficult situations, finding better ways to cope with stress, or trying out new, healthier behaviors.
- Practical and goal-oriented: CBT is all about helping you improve things in your life as soon as possible. You’ll set clear goals from the start, and each session will focus on what you can do to get closer to those goals.
Who Would Benefit
CBT has been shown to help with most mental health conditions and stressors, and has even been shown to be helpful in coping with some physical health conditions, such as chronic pain. People who are looking for structured therapy that focuses on improving a person’s ability to function in their day-to-day life are most likely to benefit from CBT.
Who May Not Be a Good Fit
CBT may not be a good fit for people who have multiple diagnoses or who have complex mental health concerns. People who are experiencing mental health issues due to being socially marginalized (such as due to racism, poverty, etc), also may not find relief through CBT.
Length of Treatment
CBT is considered one of the more short-term therapy modalities, with some clients finishing treatment in as little as 12-20 sessions.
3. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
DBT is a type of therapy that combines cognitive-behavioral techniques with mindfulness principles to help you manage intense emotions, improve relationships, and develop healthier coping strategies. DBT typically involves both individual therapy and group skills training sessions.3
Key elements of DBT include:
- Mindfulness: Mindfulness in DBT is about staying fully present in the current moment without judging yourself or the situation. It’s the foundation for everything else in DBT.
- Distress tolerance: Distress tolerance helps you handle stressful emotions and tough situations without feeling totally overwhelmed. These skills are all about managing your feelings in the moment so that you can think things through more clearly later.
- Emotional regulation: Emotional regulation is about understanding your emotions so you can manage them in a healthy way. It involves identifying what you’re feeling and any urges that come with it, and then deciding if you want to act on those urges.
- Interpersonal effectiveness: Interpersonal effectiveness in DBT is focused on improving your relationships by learning to be more assertive, respectful, and better at strengthening your connections with others.
Who Would Benefit
Originally developed to treat individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD), DBT has since been adapted to help with other mental health conditions. It is particularly effective for individuals who struggle with intense emotions, self-harm, suicidal thoughts, or difficulties with relationships.
Who May Not Be a Good Fit
While DBT is a good fit for many people, it is typically not a good fit for people with intellectual disabilities or certain mental health conditions – such as uncontrolled schizophrenia, panic disorder, OCD, and some people with PTSD. Group sessions can also be difficult for people with social anxiety to tolerate.
Length of Treatment
DBT takes at least 6 months, but more often takes a year or longer to complete.
4. Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR)
EMDR is a type of therapy designed to help you process and heal from traumatic memories and the distress they cause. EMDR is unique because it does not rely on traditional talk therapy techniques. Instead, it works by stimulating the brain’s neural network using bilateral stimulation, which helps the brain reduce the strong negative feelings associated with a traumatic event.4
Who Would Benefit
EMDR is widely recognized as an evidence-based treatment for trauma, and it’s often recommended for individuals struggling with PTSD or unresolved traumatic experiences that continue to cause emotional distress. A significant benefit of EMDR is that the client doesn’t need to go into detail about the traumatic event, which can be helpful for people who find it hard to discuss painful memories.
Who May Not Be a Good Fit
Since EMDR primarily focuses on trauma, people who do not have a history of trauma will likely not see a benefit from EMDR treatment. People who have severely limited emotional regulation skills also may not be a good fit for EMDR treatment, such as people with substance use disorders, untreated bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia.
Length of Treatment
The length of EMDR treatment depends on the person’s trauma experience(s) and severity. Single incident traumas can be treated in as few as 8-12 sessions, while a more complex trauma background can take closer to 12-18 months to treat.
5. Humanistic Therapy
Humanistic Therapy (also known as person-centered therapy or client-centered therapy) is a form of talk therapy that focuses on your potential for growth and self-actualization. It emphasizes creating a supportive, non-judgmental environment where you can explore your feelings, thoughts, and behaviors openly. The goal is to help you develop a stronger sense of self, become more self-aware, and achieve personal growth.
Who Would Benefit
Humanistic therapy can benefit people with a broad spectrum of concerns in therapy, including most mental health conditions, relationship issues, self-esteem struggles, trauma, and grief. This approach works best for people who are motivated to change their situation and who are looking to do so in a supportive environment.
Who May Not Be a Good Fit
While humanistic therapy can be helpful for many people, there are some people that it may not benefit, including people with complex or specific mental health conditions that require specialized treatment or someone who struggles with self-insight and motivation. Some people may not benefit from the structure due to their own preferences, such as wanting a therapist who actively problem-solves in sessions or someone who is looking for short-term therapy.
Length of Treatment
The length of humanistic treatment heavily depends on the individual and their needs. Humanistic therapy can be completed in as little as 12 sessions for a single issue but often lends itself to long-term treatment of a year or more.
6. Exposure Therapy
Exposure therapy is a type of behavioral therapy designed to help you confront and reduce your fear or anxiety about specific situations, objects, thoughts, or memories. It is based on the principle that avoidance only increases anxiety and that gradually facing fears in a safe and controlled way will reduce the emotional distress associated with them over time.5
One specific subtype of exposure therapy called exposure and response prevention (ERP) has been shown to be particularly helpful for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). ERP works by repeatedly exposing people to their fears in a controlled way and having them practice resisting the things they usually do to calm their fears. By doing this, a person learns that they can handle stressful situations without actively managing the perceived threat that may be irrational and interrupting their functioning.
Who Would Benefit
People who struggle with fear and avoidance of all kinds can benefit from exposure therapy. Different kinds of fears and anxieties exposure therapy helps with can include phobias, social anxiety, OCD, panic disorder, and even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Who May Not Be a Good Fit
Exposure therapy is helpful for people to confront fears and anxiety, but may not be helpful for people who are not struggling with avoidance due to fear. Exposure therapy also may not be helpful for people with other conditions that should be addressed first, such as suicidal thoughts, personality disorders, and substance use disorders.
Length of Treatment
Exposure therapy can be completed in as few as three months, or 8-12 weekly sessions, if the person complies with homework exposures between sessions. However, it’s not uncommon to need more sessions if there are multiple fears and things someone is avoiding.
7. Somatic Experiencing Therapy
Somatic experiencing is a therapeutic approach that focuses on the connection between the mind and body. It is based on the idea that trauma and emotional pain can become “trapped” in the body and manifest as physical symptoms or tension. Somatic therapy aims to help you process these bodily sensations and release the stored trauma or stress for overall healing.6
Key elements of somatic experiencing include:
- Body awareness: The therapist will guide you in paying close attention to your body’s physical sensations, such as tension, discomfort, tightness, or even changes in heart rate or breathing. The goal is to increase awareness of how emotional experiences are stored in the body.
- Somatic tracking: This involves you learning to track and notice subtle bodily changes in response to emotions or memories. The therapist will help you to stay present with these sensations, without becoming overwhelmed, so that you can gradually process the underlying emotions.
- Release of trauma or tension: This involves the therapist guiding you through gentle physical touch or guided movements. It aims to release any pent-up energy or trauma that has been trapped in the body. This release can lead to a feeling of relief or a lessening of physical symptoms.
Who Would Benefit
Somatic therapy can be helpful for many issues that a person may bring to therapy, including most mental health issues, chronic pain and illness, self-esteem issues, trauma, and relationship issues. It can particularly be helpful for people who have not previously responded to talk therapy.
Who May Not Be a Good Fit
While many people can benefit from somatic experiencing therapy, some people who may not be a good fit include people who struggle to tune into their body or people who struggle with dissociation. Somatic experiencing is also not a good fit for people who would prefer a more cognitive or solution-oriented approach.
Length of Treatment
Some people can feel relief relatively quickly, within a couple of months if sessions are weekly, but many people may need more sessions if they are struggling with multiple concerns or if they are dealing with intense past experiences.
8. Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)
ACT is a form of psychotherapy that encourages you to accept difficult emotions and thoughts rather than trying to change them. By accepting what is out of your control (like emotions or past experiences) and committing to values-based actions, you can learn to move forward and achieve personal fulfillment, even with life’s difficulties.7
Who Would Benefit
ACT can be beneficial for a wide variety of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, eating disorders, and PTSD. ACT can also be helpful for people dealing with chronic pain, severe physical health conditions, as well as overall stress.
Who May Not Be a Good Fit
ACT is helpful for a variety of stressors, but often is not helpful for people who are in active crisis, having suicidal thoughts, are actively self-harming, or are in an abusive relationship. ACT is also not helpful for people who have cognitive deficits.
Length of Treatment
People in ACT therapy can begin feeling relief relatively quickly—in as little as 8 sessions sometimes. However, depending on the nature of the issues they’re struggling with and how willing the person is to work on homework between sessions, they may need longer treatment.
9. Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS)
IFS is a therapeutic approach that views the mind as made up of different “parts” or sub-personalities, each with its own feelings, behaviors, and roles. During sessions, the therapist will work with you to identify and understand your different parts, including how they function and why they behave the way they do. The goal of IFS is to help you understand and heal your wounded inner parts, while connecting with your core “Self,” which is calm, compassionate, and wise.8
Who Would Benefit
Most people can benefit from IFS therapy, but it has been found to be particularly helpful for people who struggle with a history of trauma and addiction. It’s also helpful for people who want personal growth and to understand themselves better.
Who May Not Be a Good Fit
IFS is not a good fit for individuals who struggle with being in the present moment, including people with schizophrenia, dissociative disorders, and psychosis. Some people also find this framework can be limiting, and others struggle with the fact that it doesn’t factor in cultural and social stressors.
Length of Treatment
Some people may begin feeling relief in a few months of weekly sessions, but most people stay in IFS therapy for a year or more.
10. Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
EFT is a structured, short-term therapy that is grounded in attachment theory, which suggests that humans are wired for connection, and the quality of your emotional bonds with others shapes how you experience security or distress. EFT will encourage you to delve into your deeper emotional experiences, particularly those that are often hidden or misunderstood, like fear of rejection, loneliness, or shame. The therapist will help you recognize and express these emotions, leading to greater self-awareness and empathy.
In couples therapy, EFT helps identify and break negative cycles of interaction, such as withdrawal, conflict, or defensiveness. These patterns often develop when partners feel emotionally disconnected or insecure, and the therapy focuses on understanding how emotions fuel these behaviors.9
Who Would Benefit
EFT therapy is helpful for people who want to learn to express their emotions, regulate their emotions, improve their communication, and navigate conflict. EFT can be helpful for individuals, couples, and for families.
Who May Not Be a Good Fit
EFT is not good for people who are experiencing unhealthy relational dynamics, such as abuse, ongoing infidelity, domestic violence, when people don’t feel safe in their relationships, or if someone is not willing to engage emotionally within their relationships.
Length of Treatment
EFT is often a short-term therapy that often takes couples between 8-20 sessions to complete. However, couples, individuals and families may need more sessions depending on the length of their relationships.
11. Creative Therapies
Creative therapies refer to therapeutic approaches that use various forms of creative expression—such as art, music, dance, drama, or writing—to help people process emotions, reduce stress, and improve mental health. These therapies offer an alternative to traditional talk therapy, providing a nonverbal way to express complex feelings and experiences.
Here are some common types of creative therapies:
- Art therapy: Art therapy uses drawing, painting, sculpting, or other visual art forms to help you express feelings and process experiences. By creating art, you can explore emotions that may be difficult to discuss, gain insight into your inner world, and release pent-up emotions. The therapist helps interpret the artwork to facilitate deeper understanding.
- Music therapy: Music therapy involves using music—whether through listening, playing instruments, singing, or writing songs—to improve emotional well-being. Music can evoke strong emotions and help you express feelings that may be hard to put into words. Music therapy can also include analyzing lyrics, improvisation, or using rhythm and sound for relaxation.
- Dance/movement therapy: Dance or movement therapy uses body movement and dance to help you express and process emotions. Through movement, you can release emotional tension, explore your feelings, and connect more deeply with yourself.
- Psychodrama therapy: Psychodrama therapy involves role-playing, storytelling, and other theatrical techniques to help you explore emotions and process difficult experiences. By acting out different roles or situations, you can gain new perspectives on your problems, experiment with different solutions, and express emotions in a safe and creative way.
Who Would Benefit
Creative arts therapy can be helpful for many things, but it can be particularly helpful for people who struggle to put their past experiences, thoughts, and emotions into words. This can be particularly helpful for children, adults with developmental delays, older adults, and people recovering from major medical traumas.
Who May Not Be a Good Fit
Creative arts therapy is not a good fit for people who are uncomfortable expressing themselves in a creative way.
Length of Treatment
People may begin feeling relief in as few as 8-12 weeks with creative arts therapy, but may need much longer for more complex or multiple issues.
12. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)
MBSR is an evidence-based program that combines meditation, body awareness, and yoga to promote mindfulness and thereby manage stress, anxiety, pain, and other physical or emotional difficulties. It teaches you to approach stressful situations with mindfulness and acceptance, rather than reacting impulsively or avoiding discomfort. By becoming more aware of the present moment, you can observe your thoughts and feelings without being overwhelmed by them.10
Who Would Benefit
Mindfulness-based stress reduction is helpful for people who are struggling with managing stress levels, such as people with anxiety, chronic pain, sleep disruption, headaches, and chronic illness.
Who May Not Be a Good Fit
MBSR is not a good fit for people with severe mental health concerns, such as suicidal ideation, substance abuse disorders, severe PTSD, and psychosis. It may also not be a good fit for people who struggle to focus or sit still, such as people with ADHD.
Length of Treatment
MBSR is a structured treatment that typically lasts 8 weeks, with weekly sessions that are 2-2.5 hours long.
13. Biofeedback or Neurofeedback
Biofeedback and neurofeedback are techniques that help you gain control over certain body functions that usually happen automatically, like your heart rate, breathing, or even brain activity.11, 12
Here’s how they work:
- Biofeedback: Sensors are placed on your skin to track things like heart rate, muscle tension, breathing, or skin temperature. You can then see this information on a screen in real-time. By watching how your body reacts during different exercises, like breathing deeply or relaxing muscles, you learn ways to calm your body down and manage stress. Over time, this helps you recognize and control your body’s reactions even when you’re not hooked up to the machine.
- Neurofeedback: This is similar but focuses specifically on brain activity. Electrodes are placed on your scalp to monitor brainwave patterns, which are then shown on a screen. As you practice exercises to help relax or focus, you can see how these actions affect your brainwaves in real-time.
Who Would Benefit
Biofeedback is helpful for people to manage the ways their body shows stress, and is particularly helpful for people with anxiety disorders, PTSD, ADHD, fatigue, chronic pain, and many physical health disorders. Neurofeedback helps a person train their brain to shift into calmer or more focused states, which can be helpful for issues like anxiety, ADHD, or sleep problems.
Who May Not Be a Good Fit
Biofeedback or neurofeedback is not a good fit for people who struggle to follow instructions or for people who struggle with being mindful. It is also not helpful for people with physical health issues that may make biofeedback unsafe, such as people with heart issues or skin diseases.
Length of Treatment
Biofeedback treatment often lasts 8-12 sessions, with neurofeedback treatment taking a bit longer to complete at 6-12 months.
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How to Decide What Type of Therapy Is Best for You
Choosing the right type of therapy can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re not sure what to expect from each approach. The good news is that therapy isn’t one-size-fits-all, and the right fit often depends on your individual needs, preferences, and what you’re seeking to achieve.
Here are some key factors to consider when deciding what type of therapy is right for you:
Think About What You’re Struggling With
When you think about what you’re currently struggling with, see if you can create a list of themes and categories that your struggles fall into – this could be emotional, relational, trauma, anxiety, or depression struggles. The things you’re struggling with can help you decide what kind of therapy will fit best, such as EFT therapy if you’re struggling with expressing your emotions or EMDR therapy if you’re struggling with trauma.
Consider How Deeply You Want to Dive Emotionally
Some therapies dive deeper into emotions than others. Thinking about how ready you are for emotional exploration can help you choose a good fit. Modalities that dig deep into emotions and experiences include psychodynamic therapy, emotionally focused therapy, and somatic therapy. Other modalities focus more on practical strategies for managing emotions in the present, such as CBT, ACT, DBT, and MBSR.
When determining your comfort level with confronting past experiences and deep emotional work, note how easily you can think about past stressful experiences before you become dysregulated. These factors can help you decide whether you are ready to do deep emotional work or if it would be better to start with skills building.
Think About How Much Time You Are Willing to Commit
It can also be helpful to consider how much time you are willing to commit to therapy before you begin. Some therapy types are built for more long-term work (such as psychodynamic therapy), while other types are designed to be completed in the short term (such as CBT, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, and exposure therapy). Understanding this before you begin your search for a therapist can help guide you to pick the right kind of therapy approach for you.
Explore What Type of Relationship You’d Like to Have With Your Therapist
Different therapist personalities tend to be a better fit for different modalities. If you would prefer a relationship with your therapist that includes more guidance and direct problem-solving, then CBT or DBT may be a good fit for you. If you prefer a more collaborative and supportive therapist that guides you without being directive then psychodynamic or humanistic therapy may be a better fit for you.
Be Open to Experimenting With Different Therapies
It’s important to keep an open mind as you begin experimenting to find the right modality fit and the right therapist for you. Therapy is not a one-size-fits-all process, and different therapists will apply each approach slightly differently from one another. It’s common for people to try a few different approaches and therapists before finding the best fit. If you’re unsure, it’s okay to try a couple of different therapists.
How to Find a Therapist
One great way to find the right therapist is by searching an online therapist directory. It will allow you to filter by location, specialty, and credentials, making it easier to find a professional who fits your needs. Take the time to read through reviews and therapist bios to get a sense of their approach and areas of expertise. This can help you determine whether their experience aligns with what you’re looking for.
Alternatively, online therapy services like BetterHelp or Talkspace allow you to browse therapists by specialty, schedule sessions from the comfort of your home, and even communicate via text or video calls. These services offer flexibility, making it easier to fit therapy into your routine and providing access to a wide range of licensed professionals.
Find the Perfect Therapist for You, with BetterHelp.
If you don’t click with your first match, you can easily switch therapists. BetterHelp has over 30,000 licensed therapists who provide convenient and affordable online therapy. BetterHelp starts at $65 per week and is FSA/HSA eligible by most providers. Take a free online assessment and get matched with the right therapist for you.
Free Getting Started in Therapy Worksheets
Questions to Ask a New Therapist
Starting therapy with someone new can feel a little uncertain, but asking the right questions upfront can help you feel more comfortable and ensure the therapist is a good fit for your needs. Open communication at the beginning sets the foundation for a successful therapeutic relationship and can give you a clearer sense of what to expect from treatment.
Here are some important questions to ask your therapist:
- What is your educational background?
- What are your specialties or areas of focus?
- What is your approach to therapy, and how does it align with my goals?
- Do you think this type of therapy is effective for the issues I’m dealing with?
- What are your fees, and do you accept insurance?
- How frequently will we meet, and how long should I expect treatment to last?
- Do you offer other services like group, family, or couples therapy if needed?
- Are you available by email or phone between sessions or do you limit contact to session time?
- How will we measure and track my progress?
- What should I do if I’m feeling stuck or not making progress?
Different Types of Therapy Sessions
Therapy comes in various forms, and the right type depends on your needs and preferences. Whether you’re seeking help for personal issues, relationship struggles, or support within a group, understanding the different therapy formats can guide you toward making the best choice.
When to Choose Individual Therapy
Individual therapy is a one-on-one session between you and a therapist, focusing entirely on your personal concerns. It’s ideal if you want to explore your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in-depth with the guidance of a professional. Whether you’re dealing with anxiety, depression, trauma, or personal growth, individual therapy offers a private, focused space to work through your issues.
When to Choose Couples Therapy
Couples therapy focuses on helping partners improve communication and resolve conflicts within their relationship. It’s not just for couples in crisis—this type of therapy is useful whether you’ve been together for years or are facing new challenges early in a relationship.
Couples therapy can address common issues like poor communication, emotional disconnection, or more specific situations like infidelity or life transitions (such as becoming parents or dealing with loss). A therapist facilitates discussions to help both partners feel heard and understood, fostering a stronger emotional connection.
When to Choose Family Therapy
Family therapy involves working with multiple members of a family to resolve conflicts and improve the overall family dynamic. During sessions, each member is given space to express their feelings, and the therapist helps everyone understand how their interactions affect the family as a whole. Whether the issue is related to parenting, sibling conflict, or long-standing family dynamics, this form of therapy brings hidden issues to light and creates healthier communication patterns within the family unit.
When to Choose Group Therapy
Group therapy involves a small group of individuals, led by a therapist, who share similar challenges. It provides a unique sense of community and belonging, helping participants realize they are not alone in their struggles. The therapist acts as a moderator, guiding discussions and offering professional insight, while group members support each other by sharing their personal stories. Both in-person and online group therapy options are available, depending on your preferences.
Understanding the Different Therapist Degrees
There are many kinds of mental health professionals, including psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and family therapists. Each type of mental health professional has different strengths and expertise, and the best fit for you depends on your specific needs. If you’re looking for medication, a psychiatrist is your best bet. If you’re interested in talk therapy or psychological testing, a psychologist may be a better fit. For relationship issues, an LMFT might be the best option, while LPCs, LMHCs, and LCSWs are great choices for general mental health support.
Psychiatrist (MD)
- What they do: Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in mental, emotional, and behavioral health. They can diagnose mental health conditions, prescribe medication, and assess physical health issues that may affect mental well-being.
- Training: Psychiatrists complete medical school (four years) followed by a psychiatry residency (four years).
- Key difference: As medical doctors, they can prescribe medications and often manage medication plans. However, many psychiatrists do not provide traditional talk therapy, so it’s important to ask if therapy is the main service you’re seeking.
Psychologist
- What they do: Psychologists focus on emotional and mental health and how it affects behaviors. They typically provide psychotherapy to individuals, couples, and families, and often conduct psychological assessments (e.g., cognitive or personality testing).
- Training: Psychologists complete a doctoral program (typically four to six years) in psychology, which includes clinical training.
- Key difference: Psychologists generally cannot prescribe medication (except in a few states). Their focus is on therapy and assessments to help diagnose and treat mental health conditions.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
- What they do: LCSWs are trained to assess and treat mental health issues using a range of therapeutic approaches. They work in a variety of settings, including healthcare, private practice, schools, and legal systems.
- Training: LCSWs complete a master’s degree in social work (two to three years) and must undergo two to three years of supervised clinical experience before obtaining their license.
- Key difference: LCSWs are often known for their focus on social, environmental, and community factors that affect mental health, alongside therapeutic interventions. They also may specialize in different therapy methods over time.
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapy (LMFT)
- What they do: LMFTs specialize in treating mental health issues within the context of relationships, including couples counseling, family dynamics, and relational conflicts. They help address issues like infidelity, divorce, parenting challenges, and family transitions.
- Training: LMFTs complete a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy (two to three years) and must go through supervised clinical work before getting licensed.
- Key difference: LMFTs are specifically trained to approach mental health through the lens of relationships and family systems, making them ideal for couples or family therapy.
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) or Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)
- What they do: LPCs and LMHCs provide a range of counseling services for individuals and groups to address mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, or life transitions. They also work with clients to develop treatment plans.
- Training: These professionals earn a master’s degree in counseling or a related field (two to three years) and complete supervised clinical experience before becoming licensed.
- Key difference: LPCs and LMHCs are trained to provide direct therapy and interventions for a broad range of mental health issues and often work in private practices, hospitals, or community mental health settings.
What If I Need Medication?
If medication could be beneficial for your treatment, your therapist might recommend that you consult with a medical professional, like a psychiatrist or your primary care doctor, as they’re the ones qualified to prescribe it. You can also connect with a psychiatrist through online psychiatry services, which can be a convenient option if going in person is tough.
It’s a good idea to keep the conversation open between your therapist and the doctor prescribing your meds, so everyone’s on the same page. When therapy and medication work together, they can be even more effective, giving you stronger support to manage your mental health.
In My Experience
“If you’re wondering, “What kind of therapy is right for me?” remember that choosing a therapist can be a tough decision, but it is worth the time and effort in the long term. Remember, if you feel it isn’t a right fit, don’t lose hope; try another therapist! There is definitely a mental health professional out there for you.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I Need Counseling or Therapy?
In most cases, counseling and therapy are used interchangeably to describe the same services. Counselors provide therapy, and therapists can offer counseling. In certain situations, counseling may refer to care given to people experiencing normal life events, while therapy is a treatment for people with diagnosable mental health conditions.
Sometimes, faith leaders offer counseling but are not licensed mental health practitioners, so their sessions would not qualify as therapy. Only you know what type of support is best fitting for your needs, but if you suspect you have a diagnosable mental health concern, you should seek a licensed professional.
ChoosingTherapy.com strives to provide our readers with mental health content that is accurate and actionable. We have high standards for what can be cited within our articles. Acceptable sources include government agencies, universities and colleges, scholarly journals, industry and professional associations, and other high-integrity sources of mental health journalism. Learn more by reviewing our full editorial policy.
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Greenberg, L. S. (2010). Emotion-Focused Therapy: a Clinical synthesis. FOCUS the Journal of Lifelong Learning in Psychiatry, 8(1), 32–42. https://doi.org/10.1176/foc.8.1.foc32
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Mindfulness-based stress reduction. (n.d.). Yale Stress Center. https://medicine.yale.edu/stresscenter/reduction/mbsr/
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Biofeedback – Mayo Clinic. (n.d.). https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/biofeedback/
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Biofeedback – Mayo Clinic. (n.d.). https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/biofeedback/
We regularly update the articles on ChoosingTherapy.com to ensure we continue to reflect scientific consensus on the topics we cover, to incorporate new research into our articles, and to better answer our audience’s questions. When our content undergoes a significant revision, we summarize the changes that were made and the date on which they occurred. We also record the authors and medical reviewers who contributed to previous versions of the article. Read more about our editorial policies here.
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Reviewer: No Change
Primary Changes: Updated for readability. Added How to Start Therapy worksheets.
Author: Silvi Saxena, MBA, MSW, LSW, CCTP, OSW-C (No Change)
Reviewer: Benjamin Troy, MD (No Change)
Primary Changes: Revised sections titled “Understanding the Different Types of Therapy” and “How to Decide What Type of Therapy Is Best for You.” New content written by Maggie Holland, MA, MHP, LMHC, and medically reviewed by Kristen Fuller, MD. Fact-checked and edited for improved readability and clarity.
Author: Silvi Saxena, MBA, MSW, LSW, CCTP, OSW-C (No Change)
Reviewer: Benjamin Troy, MD (No Change)
Primary Changes: Added sections titled “Do I Need Counseling or Therapy?”, “What Questions to Ask a New Therapist,” “What If I Need Medication?” and “How Long Will I Be in Therapy?” Revised section titled “What Type of Therapy Do I Need?” New material written by Eric Patterson, LPC, and medically reviewed by Kristen Fuller, MD. Fact-checked and edited for improved readability and clarity.
Author: Silvi Saxena, MBA, MSW, LSW, CCTP, OSW-C
Reviewer: Benjamin Troy, MD
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Best Online Psychiatry Services
Online psychiatry, sometimes called telepsychiatry, platforms offer medication management by phone, video, or secure messaging for a variety of mental health conditions. In some cases, online psychiatry may be more affordable than seeing an in-person provider. Mental health treatment has expanded to include many online psychiatry and therapy services. With so many choices, it can feel overwhelming to find the one that is right for you.
