The Sub-Groupings
From those mainframes of individual/group/marital/family, therapy drills down into more specific forms. Here are the main groups:
Psychodynamic Therapy: This process tries to help the patient work through unresolved issues, usually rooted in childhood. By talking about the incidents that may have triggered the issues the patient faces, it is hoped that he or she will develop ways to cope. This type of therapy can last months or even years.
Interpersonal Therapy: A method that studies interactions with a patient’s friends and family. This short-term therapy seeks to raise a patient’s self-esteem and bolster communication skills. It’s used for depression in such instances as a death in the family, transition caused by major life events (a birth, a job move), relationship issues and social isolation.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy – This is a perception approach, and the therapist will try to assess and modify patients' views of themselves and interactions with others. The goal is to change the assumptions they may hold and the causes of those situations. Many patients suffering from depression or anxiety will be treated with talk and medication with antidepressants, but some who refuse or can’t take medication will just have the verbal stimulus.
In all cases, patients must cooperate with their therapists by attending all scheduled sessions and being prepared to discuss issues candidly. It helps if the goals are established upfront, providing a guide to the patient and therapist on progress in addressing the issues. Identifying sources of stress, structuring life priorities into positive behaviors, making time for contemplation or recreation, and a focus on positive outcomes and managing stress are all potential goals of therapy, as they enable the patient to move forward from their current state into better mental health.