LISTA
WELLNESS
Different Therapy Modalities:
What are therapy modalities? What do the different letters behind counsellor's names mean?
Read below to find out:
What is Adlerian Therapy?
Alfred Adler was a medical doctor, psychotherapist, founder of 'individual psychology'.
Despite the confusion term 'individual' in Adler's school of thought, he aimed to emphasize the importance of holism.
Adlerian Therapy offers a holistic approach to healing as it accounts for the physical, cognitive, emotional and social components of life.
To read more about Adlerian Art Therapy, click below:
What is Nature-Based Therapy?
Nature-Based Therapy
(also known as Ecotherapy or Green Therapy), is based on the idea that people are connected to and impacted by the natural environment.
It is an experiential therapy that incorporates one’s relationship with nature into counselling interventions to enhance a client’s evolution of Self, and strives towards the reciprocal healing of both humans & their larger
ecological home.
While some professionals teach and practice Nature-Based Therapy exclusively, other mental health practitioners incorporate aspects of the modality into their existing practices.
What is CBT?
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is an evidence based talk therapy that has been demonstrated to be effective in treating depression, anxiety, substance use, eating disorders, & mental illness.
CBT can help bring awareness of inaccurate or negative thinking so you can view challenging situations more clearly & respond to them in a more effective way.
In other words, CBT mainly focuses on one's thoughts, feelings & behaviours to help manage symptoms of various mental health conditions.
Person-Centered?
Developed by Carl Rogers, Person-Centered Therapy focuses on the idea that a human being already possesses all they need to evolve into their best Self, and when given the right conditions, they can do so.
Lista will work alongside you to help you come to greater insights and understand more about who you are as a person, while encouraging you to become the version of yourself you want to be.
What is DBT?
"DBT" stands for Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, which is also a talk therapy, based on CBT.
DBT specifically focuses on teaching four core skills:
-- mindfulness, acceptance & distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness --
to help you create a good life for yourself.
This modality was first created to treat a condition called Borderline Personality Disorder.
But, it can help those experiencing various issues, such as:
anxiety, depression, ADHD, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, and drug abuse.
Which Modalities
Does Lista Use?
As Lista's Masters Degree was obtained from Adler University, she mainly uses an Adlerian approach in her work.
With holism at top-of-mind, she uses various modalities and techniques (drawn from CBT, DBT, Nature-Based Therapy, Talk and Art Therapy) to explore the different parts that make up one's Self.
Some of these parts include: sensory, emotions, thoughts, behaviours, environment, education, identity, orientation, culture, family history, birth order, medical history, and trauma.
Talk vs. Art Therapy?
When people say they are 'going to therapy', they are usually referring to 'Talk Therapy'.
Talk Therapy, or psychotherapy, is a method where individuals speak about their feelings, thoughts, and experiences with a licensed mental health professional to understand and resolve emotional and psychological issues.
It encompasses various forms, including individual and/or group therapy, and focuses on using conversation to explore and address troubling emotions, thoughts, and behaviours, facilitating personal growth and healing.
Therapists may use various therapy modalities and approaches (such as the ones discussed in this page, above) to inform their treatment planning for each client's individual requests and needs.
Art Therapy is a field of its own within the larger world of mental health and psychology where trained professionals utilize art materials to help a client work through a multitude of possible emotional health concerns. However, Art Therapy also uses Talk Therapy, along with visual/motor/sensory functions to help the client move towards their goals of perhaps emotion regulation, brain function, effective communication, bettering interpersonal relationships, Self/Cultural/Societal insight, and so on.
Art can help you to communicate without words and allow you to explore your inner self in a different way.
Art therapy can also be a great option for people who find traditional talk therapy to be intimidating or difficult.
It can provide a sense of safety and control because you are in charge of what you create and how you express yourself.
TLDR:
In short, Art Therapy uses art-making as a tool to explore and express one's emotions/thoughts/behaviours/experiences, whether you are aware of them or not. While Talk Therapy uses talking as the main tool of Self exploration and expression.
Other Modalities/Approach?
Other modalities and approaches that are not discussed on this page may include, but are not limited to:
Jungian Psychoanalysis, Narrative Therapy, Gottman Method, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy, Music Therapy, Horticulture Therapy, Play Therapy, EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing), EFT (Emotionally Focused Therapy), Sandplay Therapy, etc.