How to Find a Therapist (like, actually)

A 3-Step Guide to Finding the Right Therapist For You

by Daniel Crooks, MA, LPC-A

Looking for a therapist is a beautiful place to have arrived at, but finding one is often challenging. The search-process can be overwhelming and frustrating, to the point where most people quickly give up after taking that first good and inquisitive step. I know firsthand how challenging the process of finding a therapist can be.

It is my hope that if you have arrived at this place, you can hold onto the beauty of beginnings, the beauty of committing to a process that can be wonderfully transformative and deeply healing, without becoming overwhelmed, disoriented, or dismayed in the search. All that to say, if you’ve made it this far, congratulations, now, keep going. You got this.

Before we dive in, let’s expand on the question for the sake of context:

“How do I find a good therapist who knows what they’re doing and who will be able to meet me and support my needs?”

This is what is really being asked. Anyone can find a therapist. There are numerous platforms available, and a quick google search will take you to the nearest one in your city. But we both know that if you are asking this question, you’ve either never been in therapy, or you have had a negative experience with a therapist in the past.

There is a risk to engaging in healing work, just like there is a risk in being vulnerable in any relationship. If you're here, the cost of not engaging in this work is more than likely higher than the cost of continuing on without it. Healing takes courage, and finding someone to walk through this with is important.

You want someone who knows what they are doing, and who will ultimately know you in a very deep, safe, and clear way.

So, as a licensed therapist fielding this question over and over again, I’ve decided to create a brief guide that I believe can help you find your way through this process, to help you take the next step after what feels like entering a room that is a lot bigger and far more crowded than you expected. Remember to breathe. Take another step. Soon, you will connect with someone who will be able to give you the actual support that you are needing.

(to download the brief, pdf version of this guide, click here)

3 Steps to Find Your Therapist

Step 1: Word of Mouth

This is the starting place that I would recommend. More often than not, someone you know has connected with a therapist and found some measure of success in achieving their therapeutic goals, which could be as simple as receiving consistent and attuned emotional and relational support. I am one of those people! And many people have started by using me as a resource. This is a great first step.

By asking around first and getting connected by word of mouth referrals, you are able to move forward with a more trusted reference, saving yourself a lot of time, and the potential of overwhelm, by not needing to enter the dark forest of the online search.

If the therapist you are first connected with is not available to work with you, follow up and ask that same therapist to look for you as well. Therapists are connected to a network of fellow care providers, and they often know of other therapists who are not only available, but also very good at what they do.

This is an empowering first step. It can be vulnerable to ask for help, but leaning into your vulnerability in this way reassuringly proves to yourself that you are committed to getting the support that you need to heal, grow, and change.

Step 2: Connecting With Your Needs

I thought of listing this as the first step, but I wanted to provide you with the feeling of momentum and give you an actionable item to engage with before circling back to this very important phase of the process, which is—to get specific.

Specify as much as you can. Get clear on exactly what it is you are needing therapeutic support with. Also note that therapy isn’t right for everyone. As you get clear on your needs, you may discover that you are seeking something else. And if you’re not too sure what you’re looking for but you know that you need help, consider the following example:

“I am looking to connect with a therapist who can provide relational presence and emotional support as I discover more about myself, my patterns, my personality, my strengths and my weaknesses.”

This is a wonderful place to start without getting too specific.

The two areas to get specific with are: (1) the nature of your presenting problem; (2) the type of therapy provided.

I’ve compiled a comprehensive list of both. You can scroll down to the end of this post to find the list. Please use this list as a resource and library of sorts. This is simply a jumpstart to this phase of your research process. If you need more information, keep pulling the threads you find here.

It is important to note, the most effective factor in therapy is not a specialization or treatment, it is the therapeutic relationship itself. This is what will create safety during the navigation of inner processes, vulnerability, connecting with triggers, dealing with trauma, encountering defense mechanisms, connecting with emotions and energy stored in your nervous system, etc.

Studies have shown that the relationship between a client and the therapist, often referred to as the therapeutic relationship or therapeutic alliance, is more effective at producing positive outcomes than any one type of therapy (APA Article Found Here).

The relationship is the main agent of change. Therefore, building a safe and trusting relationship is the most important goal of any process when it comes to therapy and finding a therapist. From there, treatments and specialization can become much more effective.

During this step, I've had success with Psychology Today and a simple Google search.

On Psychology Today, you can follow the "Find a Therapist" search features and get very specific with specialties and types of therapy. Previously, I have found two therapists that I was able to do really good work with as a client, and I found them by using this method.

However, slogging through the vast databases of therapists on Psychology Today has felt too overwhelming for me, especially when I am feeling dysregulated and in need of emotional support, so I first recommend doing some breathing exercises and grounding practices before searching. The initial phase can be very overwhelming, adding to feelings of frustration and isolation, especially if you enter into the search from a place of dysregulation. Try not to add more pressure or hastiness to your process. Stay steady, be thorough, go slow.

I have also had success by typing into Google, "therapists who specialize in _____", filling in the blank with my specialties (such as disorders, presenting problems, issues, and diagnoses) and types of therapy that I have researched and feel would be most supportive for my needs. Some therapists have private practices or are part of a group practice, and therefore don't have advertisements on Psychology Today, so this search is a good way to find them.

Often, you will see information about a group practice or clinic. You can go into the websites of these practices and find a "team" page that lists the therapists who practice there. This page will include the background and specialties of the therapist, and you can proceed with contacting them from this point.

I have found it helpful to write down a list of three to five therapists at a time who provide the type of therapy I think will be most supportive for me. Containing my list to this size keeps me from becoming overwhelmed and discouraged, and provides me with a much more manageable goal when I am in this stage of the search process.

Again, the most important thing is to get clear on your needs. Do the research ahead of time, find the type of therapy that corresponds to the nature of your needs, and go from there.

Step 3: Tune Into Your Inner Compass (Consultation Calls & Initial Sessions)

After you have found several therapists who fit the general description of what you need, the next step is scheduling consultation calls and initial sessions.

Most consultation calls will last around 15-20 minutes, and consist of the therapist asking you questions to understand what kind of support you are needing and how they might be able to provide it.

Initial sessions will consist of the therapist gathering your personal and family history, and most likely conducting a brief mental status examination, which is simply an assessment that gauges your current level of coherence and regulation. Both of these initial conversations will be just that, talking to another person about your experience and needs. That is what is happening on the surface. 

Beneath the surface, both of you are gauging multiple other things simultaneously. Tone of voice, emotional expression, felt sense of ease and safety, knowledgeability about specific topics, histories and backgrounds. This is when the clarity of a potential connection first begins to form. I say this not to add any pressure to these initial conversations, but to prepare you to truly listen to yourself and to the therapist to give you the best chance at knowing if they are right for you. 

During these first conversations, do the best you can to be aware of what is happening within you. If you are feeling anxious (higher pitch in your voice, unsettled stomach, fidgety, sweaty, fast moving thoughts) I would suggest naming it. Tell the therapist you are feeling anxious about the call or first session.

Be curious and aware of what else is happening during these conversations. Did your mind drift? Did you become bored or tired? Did you go on high alert? Simply notice what happens and do your best to be present with it.

This can be very helpful information that will allow you to know how you are responding to someone else’s presence and newfound nearness to your vulnerability. Again, I would suggest naming these things to yourself and to the therapist you are considering working with. 

After the therapist finishes asking you questions (presenting state, background, schedule and rate) they will hopefully open it up to field some of yours. Here is what you should ask: 

• What does success in therapy look like to you?

  • They may try and turn this question back on you, in hopes of collaborating and setting goals (which is great!), but that doesn’t answer your question, which is, what is the therapist’s personal definition of success in therapy?

• Why do you believe in this specialization and approach to therapy?

• Do you have a therapist?

• How do you personally engage with inner work and relationships? 

  
  

These questions will provide you with the insight and context needed to proceed with establishing a trusting and safe connection. 

Keep Going

I’m going to be honest with you. The right therapist for you will probably not be the first one you have a session with. It very well might be, and that would be wonderful, but it is my hope that you do not get overly disappointed when you feel that it is not working out with a therapist, especially your first one. 

The good news is, they are humans just like you and me, with their own differences and experiences behind a well of training and technique. This means that you are free to "date" around until you find someone who feels safe, trustworthy, and knowledgeable. Stay hopeful and know that you are not beyond anyone’s ability to support you.

Further, you have the power in this dynamic. The therapist works for you. And the best ones will be aiming at working themselves out of a job by empowering you and equipping you with everything you need to function in an interdependent and healthy way. Although, in my experience, having a healthy and consistent relationship that is maintained often, or perhaps only seasonally, is truly what heals. 

So, whenever you are feeling ready, or for future use if you're not quite there yet, download this guide or share it with someone who needs it.  

PDF - How to Find a Therapist.pdf

Download PDF • 24KB

Resources: 

DeAngelis, T. (2019, November 1). Better relationships with patients lead to better outcomes. Monitor on Psychology, 50(10). https://www.apa.org/monitor/2019/11/ce-corner-relationships  

List of Presenting Problems and Types of Therapy

(Click here to scroll down to the Types of Therapy, or download the PDF version of the list below)

PDF of Specialties and Types of Therapy.pdf

Download PDF • 44KB

Presenting Problems: Looking For Therapists Who Work With…

• Addiction: Focuses on overcoming compulsive behaviors related to substances or activities like drugs or gambling through recovery support and coping strategies. Therapy addresses triggers and promotes long-term sobriety.

  
  

• ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder): Targets challenges with attention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity, offering strategies to improve focus and emotional regulation. Therapy includes behavioral interventions for children, teens, or adults.

  
  

• Adoption: Supports individuals and families navigating emotional complexities of adoption, such as identity, attachment, or trauma. Therapy fosters belonging and family integration.

  
  

• Alcohol Use: Addresses problematic drinking, from binge drinking to alcoholism, through counseling and relapse prevention. Therapy explores triggers and builds healthier coping mechanisms.

  
  

• Anger Management: Helps individuals control intense anger, teaching techniques to express emotions constructively and reduce conflict. Therapy emphasizes stress reduction and communication skills.

  
  

• Anxiety: Manages excessive worry, fear, or panic using techniques like cognitive-behavioral therapy to reduce symptoms. Therapy helps clients understand triggers and develop calming strategies.

  
  

• Autism: Provides support for individuals on the autism spectrum, addressing communication, behavior, and sensory challenges. Therapy involves structured interventions to enhance social and life skills.

  
  

• Behavioral Issues: Targets problematic behaviors, often in children or teens, like aggression or defiance, using behavioral modification. Therapy fosters positive habits and emotional regulation.

  
  

• Bipolar Disorder: Manages mood swings from manic highs to depressive lows through therapy and coping strategies. Treatment often complements medication to stabilize emotions.

  
  

• Body Positivity: Promotes self-acceptance and a healthy body image, addressing societal pressures or negative self-perceptions. Therapy fosters confidence and challenges harmful beauty standards.

  
  

• Borderline Personality (BPD): Focuses on managing intense emotions, unstable relationships, and impulsivity through therapies like dialectical behavior therapy. Therapy emphasizes emotional regulation and interpersonal skills.

  
  

• Cancer: Supports individuals and families coping with the emotional impact of a cancer diagnosis or treatment. Therapy addresses fear, grief, and resilience.

  
  

• Career Counseling: Guides individuals through career choices, transitions, or workplace stress via goal-setting and self-exploration. Therapy aligns personal values with professional aspirations.

  
  

• Child Issues: Addresses emotional, behavioral, or developmental challenges in children, such as anxiety or academic struggles. Therapy often involves play-based or family interventions.

  
  

• Chronic Illness: Helps individuals manage the psychological challenges of long-term health conditions. Therapy focuses on acceptance, stress management, and quality of life.

  
  

• Chronic Pain: Supports individuals dealing with persistent pain through coping strategies and mindfulness. Therapy improves mental well-being and daily functioning.

  
  

• Codependency: Addresses unhealthy relationship patterns where individuals prioritize others’ needs over their own. Therapy fosters self-esteem and healthier boundaries.

  
  

• Coping Skills: Teaches strategies to manage stress, emotions, or life challenges, enhancing resilience. Therapy tailors tools to specific stressors or mental health concerns.

  
  

• Dementia: Supports individuals with dementia and their families, addressing cognitive decline and caregiving stress. Therapy focuses on communication and quality-of-life strategies.

  
  

• Depression: Manages persistent sadness, low energy, or hopelessness through therapy exploring thoughts and behaviors. Treatment often includes cognitive and behavioral techniques.

  
  

• Developmental Disorders: Addresses cognitive, social, or physical developmental challenges, often in children, through targeted interventions. Therapy supports skill-building and family involvement.

  
  

• Dissociative Disorders: Focuses on conditions like dissociative identity disorder, addressing fragmented sense of self or reality due to trauma. Therapy promotes integration and coping with dissociation.

  
  

• Divorce: Supports individuals or families navigating the emotional and practical challenges of separation. Therapy addresses grief, co-parenting, and rebuilding post-divorce.

  
  

• Domestic Violence or Intimate Partner Violence: Supports survivors of abuse, focusing on safety, trauma healing, and self-esteem. Therapy emphasizes empowerment and coping strategies.

  
  

• Drug Abuse: Targets dependency on illicit or prescription drugs, offering recovery and relapse prevention strategies. Therapy addresses triggers and underlying emotional issues.

  
  

• Eating Disorders: Addresses conditions like anorexia, bulimia, or binge-eating, focusing on unhealthy relationships with food and body image. Therapy combines cognitive, behavioral, and nutritional support.

  
  

• Education and Learning Disabilities: Supports individuals with learning challenges, like dyslexia, to improve academic performance and confidence. Therapy collaborates with educators or families.

  
  

• Emotional Disturbance: Addresses intense or persistent emotional challenges disrupting daily life, such as mood swings or aggression. Therapy promotes emotional regulation and functioning.

  
  

• Family Conflict: Helps families resolve disputes and improve communication through therapy. Interventions foster understanding and collaboration.

  
  

• Gambling Addiction: Supports overcoming compulsive gambling through therapy addressing triggers and consequences. Treatment promotes healthier coping mechanisms.

• Gender Identity Therapy: Supports individuals exploring or affirming gender identity, addressing dysphoria or societal pressures. Therapy fosters self-acceptance and resilience.

  
  

• Geriatric and Seniors: Focuses on mental health needs of older adults, addressing loneliness, cognitive decline, or life transitions. Therapy promotes emotional well-being and quality of life.

  
  

• Grief or Loss: Helps individuals process emotional pain from losing a loved one or significant life change. Therapy provides tools to navigate mourning and find meaning.

  
  

• Infertility: Supports individuals or couples facing emotional challenges of infertility, such as grief or stress. Therapy fosters coping strategies and decision-making around family-building.

  
  

• Infidelity: Supports individuals or couples dealing with the emotional fallout of cheating, focusing on trust and relationship repair or closure. Therapy addresses betrayal and healing.

  
  

• Intellectual Disability: Supports individuals with cognitive limitations in daily functioning, communication, or social skills. Therapy focuses on skill-building and enhancing independence.

  
  

• Internet Addiction: Targets compulsive internet or technology use, helping regain balance and control. Therapy explores underlying causes and promotes healthier habits.

  
  

• LGBTQ+ Issues: Provides affirming support for navigating challenges related to sexual orientation or gender identity, like discrimination or self-acceptance. Therapy fosters resilience and identity exploration.

  
  

• Marital and Premarital Counseling: Helps couples strengthen relationships, improve communication, and address conflicts. Therapy promotes healthy partnership dynamics.

  
  

• Men’s Issues: Addresses challenges specific to men, such as societal expectations or emotional expression. Therapy fosters self-awareness and healthier coping strategies.

  
  

• Mood Disorders: Focuses on conditions like depression or bipolar disorder, managing emotional highs and lows. Therapy complements medication with behavioral strategies.

  
  

• Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD): Addresses patterns of grandiosity, need for admiration, and lack of empathy through therapy. Treatment promotes self-awareness and healthier relationships.

  
  

• Obesity: Supports individuals addressing emotional or behavioral barriers to managing weight, often tied to self-image or stress. Therapy promotes sustainable lifestyle changes.

  
  

• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Targets intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors through therapies like exposure and response prevention. Treatment reduces anxiety and controls symptoms.

  
  

• Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD): Addresses defiant or hostile behaviors, often in children or teens, through behavioral interventions. Therapy promotes cooperation and emotional regulation.

  
  

• Parenting: Supports parents in managing challenges like discipline or child development. Therapy offers strategies to strengthen parent-child relationships.

  
  

• Peer Relationships: Helps individuals, often youth, navigate social challenges like bullying or isolation. Therapy builds social skills and confidence.

  
  

• Personality Disorders: Focuses on conditions like borderline or narcissistic personality disorder, addressing emotional and relational challenges. Therapy promotes self-awareness and healthier interactions.

  
  

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Supports individuals with trauma-related symptoms like flashbacks, using trauma-focused therapies. Treatment processes trauma and reduces distress.

  
  

• Pregnancy and Postpartum: Addresses emotional challenges during pregnancy or after childbirth, like postpartum depression. Therapy supports maternal mental health and bonding.

  
  

• Psychosis and Schizophrenia: Helps manage symptoms like delusions or hallucinations through therapy and support for daily functioning. Treatment often complements medication.

  
  

• Racial Identity: Supports individuals navigating challenges related to race, cultural identity, or discrimination. Therapy fosters self-acceptance and coping with societal pressures.

  
  

• Relationship Issues: Focuses on improving communication, trust, and connection in romantic or interpersonal relationships. Therapy addresses conflicts and fosters healthier dynamics.

  
  

• School Issues: Supports students facing academic, social, or behavioral challenges in school. Therapy promotes coping strategies and collaboration with educators.

  
  

• Self-Esteem: Helps build confidence and a positive self-image through therapy challenging negative beliefs. Treatment fosters self-worth and resilience.

  
  

• Self-Harm: Addresses behaviors like cutting, linked to emotional distress, through therapy promoting healthier coping. Treatment focuses on safety and emotional regulation.

  
  

• Sex Therapy: Focuses on sexual health, intimacy issues, or dysfunction, improving sexual relationships. Therapy addresses emotional and physical barriers to intimacy.

  
  

• Sexual Abuse or Assault: Supports survivors in healing from sexual violence trauma, focusing on safety and empowerment. Therapy helps process trauma and rebuild trust.

  
  

• Sleep or Insomnia: Targets sleep difficulties through behavioral and cognitive strategies to improve sleep quality. Therapy addresses underlying stress or habits.

  
  

• Spirituality: Integrates spiritual beliefs into therapy to address existential questions or life purpose. Treatment supports emotional well-being through a spiritual lens.

  
  

• Sports Performance: Helps athletes enhance mental focus, confidence, and resilience to improve performance. Therapy addresses performance anxiety and goal-setting.

  
  

• Stress: Teaches techniques to manage overwhelming stress from work, life, or relationships. Therapy promotes relaxation and problem-solving skills.

  
  

• Substance Use: Manages dependency on drugs or alcohol, addressing triggers and promoting recovery. Therapy supports sobriety and emotional healing.

  
  

• Suicidal Ideation: Provides support for individuals experiencing thoughts of suicide, focusing on safety and coping. Therapy addresses underlying pain and fosters hope.

  
  

• Teen Violence: Addresses aggressive or violent behaviors in adolescents through behavioral interventions. Therapy promotes healthier conflict resolution.

  
  

• Testing and Evaluation: Involves psychological assessments to diagnose conditions or evaluate cognitive and emotional functioning. Therapy may follow to address findings.

  
  

• Transgender Issues: Supports individuals navigating gender transition, societal challenges, or dysphoria with affirming therapy. Treatment fosters self-acceptance and resilience.

  
  

• Trauma: Helps process and heal from traumatic experiences like abuse or accidents using trauma-focused therapies. Treatment reduces distress and promotes recovery.

  
  

• Veterans/Military Service: Addresses mental health challenges for veterans, like PTSD or reintegration difficulties. Therapy provides tailored support for military-related experiences.

  
  

• Video Game Addiction: Targets compulsive gaming behaviors, helping regain balance and control. Therapy explores underlying causes and promotes healthier habits.

  
  

• Weight Loss: Supports individuals addressing emotional or behavioral barriers to weight management. Therapy promotes sustainable lifestyle changes.

  
  

• Women’s Issues: Focuses on challenges specific to women, like reproductive health or societal pressures. Therapy fosters empowerment and emotional well-being.

  
  

Therapy Types (How therapists work with the list above)

Psychotherapy

• Adlerian Therapy: Focuses on understanding an individual’s lifestyle and social motivations to foster self-awareness and personal growth. Therapy emphasizes goal-setting and overcoming feelings of inferiority.

  
  

• Existential Therapy: Explores life’s meaning, purpose, and existential concerns like death or freedom to promote self-awareness. Therapy helps clients navigate existential crises and find personal purpose.

  
  

• Humanistic Therapy: Centers on self-actualization and personal growth, emphasizing the client’s inherent capacity for positive change. Therapy fosters self-awareness and authenticity.

  
  

• Jungian Therapy: Explores the unconscious mind and archetypes to promote self-discovery and personal growth. Therapy uses dream analysis and symbolic interpretation to address deep-seated issues.

  
  

• Person-Centered Therapy: Emphasizes a non-directive, empathetic approach to support clients in self-discovery and personal growth. Therapy fosters a safe space for clients to explore their feelings and potential.

  
  

• Psychoanalytic Therapy: Explores unconscious conflicts and past experiences to understand current behaviors and emotions. Therapy fosters deep insight through long-term exploration.

  
  

• Psychodynamic Therapy: Examines unconscious processes and past experiences to address current emotional challenges. Therapy is less intensive than psychoanalysis but still insight-focused.

  
  

Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Focuses on identifying and changing negative thought patterns and behaviors to improve emotional well-being. Therapy is structured and goal-oriented, often addressing specific issues like anxiety or depression.

  
  

• Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT): A trauma-focused CBT variant that helps clients process and reframe distressing thoughts related to traumatic events. Therapy is often used for PTSD.

  
  

• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Combines CBT with mindfulness to help manage intense emotions, particularly for borderline personality disorder. Therapy emphasizes emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal skills.

  
  

• Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP): A CBT-based approach for OCD, involving gradual exposure to feared stimuli while preventing compulsive responses. Therapy reduces anxiety and compulsive behaviors.

  
  

• Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT): Combines mindfulness practices with CBT to prevent depressive relapses and manage stress. Therapy teaches clients to stay present and reduce negative thought patterns.

  
  

• Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT): A CBT variant that challenges irrational beliefs to improve emotional and behavioral responses. Therapy promotes logical thinking and emotional resilience.

  
  

• Schema Therapy: Identifies and modifies deeply ingrained patterns (schemas) from childhood that impact current mental health. Therapy combines cognitive, behavioral, and experiential techniques.

  
  

• Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT): A CBT variant designed for children and adolescents to process trauma and reduce related symptoms. Therapy combines cognitive techniques with trauma-sensitive interventions.

  
  

Creative and Expressive Therapies

• Art Therapy: Utilizes creative processes like drawing or painting to help clients express emotions and process challenges. Therapy supports emotional healing through non-verbal self-expression.

  
  

• Experiential Therapy: Uses expressive activities like role-playing or guided imagery to explore emotions and experiences. Therapy helps clients process unconscious feelings and promote healing.

  
  

• Play Therapy: Uses play as a therapeutic tool to help children express emotions and process challenges. Therapy supports emotional healing through creative and age-appropriate activities.

  
  

Relationship and Family Therapies

• Attachment-Based Therapy: Explores how early attachment patterns influence current relationships, aiming to foster secure connections. Therapy helps clients address relational trauma and build healthier bonds.

  
  

• Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT): Strengthens emotional bonds in relationships, often used for couples or families, by fostering secure attachment. Therapy helps clients express and process emotions constructively.

  
  

• Family Systems Therapy: Examines family dynamics and patterns to address conflicts and improve relationships. Therapy treats the family as a unit to foster healthier interactions.

  
  

• Gottman Method: A research-based approach for couples therapy, focusing on improving communication, intimacy, and conflict resolution. Therapy uses structured exercises to strengthen relationships.

  
  

• Imago Relationship Therapy: Focuses on improving romantic relationships by addressing childhood influences and fostering empathetic communication. Therapy helps couples heal and connect through structured dialogues.

  
  

Mind-Body and Somatic Therapies

• Biofeedback: Teaches clients to control physiological functions like heart rate or muscle tension through real-time feedback. Therapy helps manage stress, anxiety, or chronic pain.

  
  

• Brainspotting: Targets trauma by identifying eye positions linked to emotional distress, facilitating deep processing of unresolved issues. Therapy helps release trauma stored in the body.

  
  

• Neurofeedback: Trains clients to regulate brain activity through real-time feedback, addressing issues like ADHD or anxiety. Therapy uses technology to enhance neurological self-regulation.

  
  

• Somatic Therapy: Focuses on the mind-body connection, using physical sensations to process trauma or stress. Therapy promotes healing through body awareness and movement.

  
  

Specialized and Other Therapies

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Encourages individuals to accept difficult emotions and align actions with personal values to improve psychological flexibility. Therapy uses mindfulness and behavioral strategies to promote meaningful life changes.

  
  

• Christian Counseling: Integrates Christian faith and biblical principles into therapy to address emotional and psychological challenges. Therapy supports clients through a spiritual lens.

  
  

• Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT): Cultivates self-compassion and emotional resilience, particularly for those with high self-criticism or shame. Therapy uses mindfulness and compassionate imagery to foster inner kindness.

  
  

• Culturally Sensitive Therapy: Tailors therapy to respect and incorporate a client’s cultural background, values, and experiences. Therapy addresses cultural influences on mental health challenges.

  
  

• Eclectic Therapy: Integrates techniques from multiple therapeutic approaches tailored to the client’s unique needs. Therapy offers flexibility to address diverse issues effectively.

  
  

• EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing): Uses guided eye movements to process and reduce the impact of traumatic memories. Therapy is particularly effective for PTSD and trauma-related issues.

  
  

• Feminist Therapy: Focuses on empowering clients by addressing societal and gender-based inequalities that impact mental health. Therapy promotes self-advocacy and challenges oppressive systems.

  
  

• Gestalt Therapy: Emphasizes present-moment awareness and personal responsibility to help clients resolve unfinished emotional issues. Therapy uses experiential techniques to promote self-discovery.

  
  

• Hypnotherapy: Uses guided relaxation and focused attention to access the subconscious and address issues like habits or trauma. Therapy promotes positive behavioral changes through suggestion.

  
  

• Integrative Therapy: Combines elements from various therapeutic approaches to create a tailored treatment plan for the client’s needs. Therapy offers flexibility to address complex or multifaceted issues.

  
  

• Interpersonal Therapy (IPT): Focuses on improving interpersonal relationships and communication to alleviate mental health symptoms, particularly depression. Therapy addresses life transitions, grief, or relational conflicts.

  
  

• Ketamine Assisted Therapy: Utilizes low doses of ketamine, a dissociative anesthetic, to facilitate therapeutic sessions, often enhancing emotional processing and reducing symptoms of depression, anxiety, or PTSD. Therapy combines the drug’s psychoactive effects with guided psychological support to promote insight and healing.

  
  

• Motivational Interviewing: Encourages clients to find intrinsic motivation for change, often used for addiction or health-related behaviors. Therapy uses collaborative, goal-oriented conversations to resolve ambivalence.

  
  

• Multicultural Therapy: Addresses the impact of cultural, racial, and ethnic identities on mental health, fostering culturally responsive healing. Therapy helps clients navigate discrimination or cultural conflicts.

  
  

• Narrative Therapy: Helps clients reframe their life stories to view challenges as separate from their identity, promoting empowerment. Therapy uses storytelling to foster new perspectives and solutions.

  
  

• Positive Psychology: Focuses on cultivating strengths, optimism, and well-being to enhance life satisfaction. Therapy promotes resilience and positive coping strategies.

  
  

• Reality Therapy: Focuses on present behaviors and choices to achieve personal goals and improve relationships. Therapy emphasizes responsibility and practical problem-solving.

  
  

• Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT): Emphasizes identifying solutions and setting achievable goals in a short-term, future-focused approach. Therapy helps clients build on strengths to address specific issues.

  
  

• Transpersonal Therapy: Integrates spiritual and transcendent aspects of human experience into therapy. Therapy explores higher consciousness and personal meaning.

Disclosures and Copyright

Disclosures

This document, authored by a licensed mental health professional, is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Readers should consult qualified professionals for personalized mental health care and verify the information for specific applications, as the author assumes no liability for its use.

Copyright Statement

© 2025 Daniel Crooks, Licensed Mental Health Professional. All rights reserved. This document may not be reproduced, distributed, or modified in any form without prior written permission from the copyright holder, except for personal use or editing by the owner.