Psychotherapy Modalities:
Madison Park Psychological Services

Types of Psychotherapy Modalities

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (or CBT) is an evidence-based form of psychotherapy, which means it’s backed by a wealth of research and proven to be effective at addressing many psychological issues. CBT is primarily focused on how your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors affect one another. The purpose is to provide you with practical solutions to reduce your symptoms, shift unhealthy patterns, and create lasting change. CBT is a short-term and effective treatment method designed to help people who are suffering from a wide range of problems.

Dialectical-Behavioral Therapy (DBT) combines Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with core skills to support your wellness journey. The goal is to help you accept your experiences, cope with stress, regulate your emotions, and improve your interactions. Dialectical-Behavioral Therapy (also known as DBT) aims to reduce distress and build up your skills so you can grow and thrive. DBT therapy marries two strategies: acceptance and change. DBT can help you accept your experiences and support you to make the necessary changes for a healthier life.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (also known as ACT) is a type of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) infused with mindfulness skills and other psychological processes. The goal is to help you acknowledge and distance yourself from painful experiences, embrace the present and live by your values. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (or ACT) helps you recognize and accept distressing thoughts and emotions. It also encourages you to commit to mindful actions that align with your values. The purpose of ACT is not to reduce or replace negative experiences, but to help you defuse these events while engaging in habits that support your goals.

Psychodynamic therapy is a depth-oriented form of talk therapy that explores the root cause of your problems to help you recognize your patterns and find relief. Psychodynamic therapists can help you achieve true transformation and lasting change. Psychodynamic therapy aims to shed light on those hidden corners of yourself to help you reflect on your psychological processes and underlying motivations. Remember that you don’t need to suffer from a mental health condition or particular problem to benefit from psychodynamic therapy. This method can also support you if you want to learn more about yourself and your past experiences or identify where certain behaviors might come from.

Interpersonal Psychotherapy (also known as IPT) focuses on addressing interpersonal challenges to help you relieve your symptoms and improve your relationships. Interpersonal therapy (or IPT) is a short-term treatment for severe mood symptoms and interpersonal problems associated with them. Interpersonal therapy aims to explore how your relationship difficulties might be affecting your mental health. It centers on current or more immediate problems instead of childhood or developmental hurdles.

Relational therapy (also known as relational-cultural therapy) aims to support your well-being by discovering healthier ways to relate to others. Relational therapy centers on exploring your experiences, relationships, social framework, and unconscious thoughts to uncover how they have shaped your relational self. This method is rooted in psychodynamic and psychoanalytic theories, emphasizing the importance of the client-therapist relationship. Relational therapy regards healthy relationships as the key to our well-being, thus associating our suffering with relational and socio-cultural challenges.

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (also known as MBCT) can help you manage your thoughts and emotions to find relief and improve your well-being. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy or MBCT is an evidence-based form of psychotherapy that helps you understand and change your relationship with your thoughts and feelings in a mindful way.  The goal is to increase awareness, reduce distressing symptoms, and develop practical skills to deal with life stressors. MBCT combines the Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) method with mindfulness practices rooted in ancient Buddhist traditions. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy aims to help you look at your thoughts and feelings as separate entities from yourself without judging them or trying to change them.  This approach can then halt potential spirals that may bring distress or overwhelming emotions.

Holistic therapy is an integrative form of psychotherapy focused on seeing individuals as a whole, highlighting the links between the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual self. Holistic psychotherapy centers on the relationship between your body, mind, emotions, and spirit to increase awareness and self-acceptance.  It draws from other forms of therapy such as psychodynamic therapy and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), as well as non-traditional practices like mindfulness and breathwork. This treatment aims to look at the whole person instead of solely focusing on the issues or distressing symptoms to help people heal and thrive. Holistic therapy is an effective way to explore, integrate different aspects of yourself, and find balance for sustained wellness.  It can also prepare you with tools and strategies to apply when challenges arise.