Welcome to the world of counseling, where the common types of therapy are vast and varying! The field of mental health has grown and gained much traction in the past decade. This emphasis on mental health has allowed for the opportunity to create and assess many new forms of treatment, while also statistically validating and finding efficacy in the more traditional approaches. 

Included is a brief synopsis of the most common types of therapy services along with the candidates who would most benefit from it. A great therapist will weave aspects of multiple types of therapy into treatment. A treatment plan that integrates the best of different therapeutic interventions allows the client to gain a diverse skill set. 

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been proven to be highly effective in treating both depression and anxiety. CBT can be incredibly helpful to all ages: children, teens and adults. The premise of CBT is identifying thought patterns that lead to negative emotional experiences and undesirable behavior. We all have thought patterns. Some of these thought patterns lead us down a rabbit hole of negativity and fear. We then make decisions out of that negativity or fear, rather than logic and reason. This can lead to conflict, erratic behavior, volatility or panic. Once we identify the thoughts that trigger this chain of events, we can break our patterns and change outcomes. 

Narrative Therapy

Narrative therapy works towards helping us understand “our story.” How have we experienced ourselves and our lives? Often, we have a negative narration of who we are – “not enough,” “inadequate,” or “broken” to name a few. A negative self-perception can come from trauma, our childhoods, or a depressive lens. The narrative approach aims to change our story so that we can see our strengths rather than our deficits. Our story can transform from one of self depreciation to one of self celebration. Narrative therapy can be utilized early on in life to help children develop a strong and positive sense of self. It can also be utilized later in life to heal from the wounds of emotional abuse or traumatic experiences.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy

With the use of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) in therapy, it is possible to both reprocess and reconsolidate difficult memories, leading to a reduction in emotional distress and lessened symptomatic thoughts and behaviors. If you’ve been repeatedly thinking about or re-experiencing a past pain or trauma, EMDR may be for you.

Family Systems Therapy

Family systems therapy aims to understand each individual family member as an independent person within the family system, while simultaneously looking at how the family functions as a whole. We achieve that by:

1. Identifying the position of each player within the family.
2. Learning to value autonomy and integrating individual strengths.  
3. Running inventory of resource contribution versus resource depletion.

Newport Beach Family Development Center

At Newport Beach Family Development Center, we offer treatment that moves beyond symptom relief by establishing a resilient foundation. All therapy services are personalized and fluid, meaning as your life changes, so will your approach to strengthening your unique connection to yourself. Contact Us today to schedule an intake session and learn if individual therapy is right for you.