When you think of talk therapy for anxiety, you immediately think of sitting in a strange room with a strange person who wants you to talk about your inner dark secrets. Encouraging, right? While there’s no denying that traditional talk therapy is exceptionally beneficial, you do have to be willing to open up and that takes feeling comfortable – a feeling that doesn’t always come from said circumstances. What may surprise you though is that there are many different types of talk therapy and counseling for anxiety that are equally as effective.
Different Types of Talk Therapy
Online Talk Therapy for Mental Health
Recommended for:
— everyone and anyone who is looking for affordable yet effective talk therapy.
The first type of anxiety treatment therapy I want to mention is online talk therapy. I am a strong believing in finding ways to use technology for good, and this is a great example. Online talk therapy is just like traditional talk therapy, only you don’t have to leave the comfort of your own home. This allows you to open up and truly dive deep into what’s causing you to feel the way you do.
There are so many additional benefits to doing online talk therapy and you can try it for FREE for 7-days!
Group Therapy
Recommended for:
— people looking for support from people who know what they’re going through.
Group therapy is a powerful type of talk therapy that is particularly great for anyone who feels alone. (Ahem, don’t we all?). With group therapy, you navigate through your discomfort/trauma alongside other people who relate to what you’ve gone through.
You can find group therapy in community centers and churches, as well as private establishments such as hospitals and therapy centers. Group therapy also covers a wide range of topics, from addiction to anxiety, depression, grief, losing a loved one to suicide, etc.
Art Therapy
Recommended for:
— anyone who struggles putting their emotions and struggles into words (you don’t have to be an artist!)
Art therapy is amongst the best therapy for anxiety as it is a creative way to dive deep into your subconscious to reveal whatever it is that’s causing you to feel the way you feel. It’s a powerful type of talk therapy that allows you to express yourself creatively, instead of struggling to find the words.
While art therapy can be done at home, I do suggest going to a professional. Professional art therapists combine integrative methods and art to engage the mind, body and spirit.
Animal Assisted Therapy
Recommended for:
— anyone who finds comfort and calmness when being with animals.
If you’re an animal lover, then Animal Assisted Therapy is definitely one of the best types of talk therapy for you. Animal Assisted Therapy incorporates animals into your healing process to provide you with comfort, safety and a sense of calm. This type of therapy can include dogs, horses, birds, cats, and pigs and gets you up close and personal with a nonjudgmental companion who offers unconditional love.
As a bonus, professionals say that getting up close and personal with an animal has many additional benefits. It can help you develop a stronger sense of self-worth and trust, while also helping you improve your communication, self-regulation and socialization skills. Plus, you get to hang out with an animal!
P.S. Animal Assisted Therapy is a great diversion tool for anxiety warriors.
Exposure Talk Therapy
Recommended for:
— anyone with OCD or “what ifs”, fears and phobias that stop them from living a quality life.
One of the best types of talk therapy for anyone with obsessive compulsive disorder or phobias and fears is Exposure and Response Prevention therapy. Through this form of therapy, you are exposed to your triggers/fears and then work through your response with the help of your therapist. It helps you unlearn the intrusive thoughts and “what ifs” your brain is accustomed to. And as a bonus, you realize that your triggers aren’t near as scary as you thought they were.
Exposure therapy can be done through online talk therapy as well.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Recommended for:
— anyone struggling with a busy mind, racing thoughts and constant worry about the what ifs of the past or future.
Another type of anxiety treatment therapy that uses mindfulness is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. This practice helps you live with the uncertainties and challenges that come with life by being mindful of your surroundings. It also involves the process of accepting the thoughts as they come, without judgment. The DARE approach uses this type of talk therapy.
Schema Talk Therapy
Recommended for:
— anyone struggling with childhood trauma or who finds themselves stuck in negative behaviours and thought patterns.
Schema talk therapy is definitely one of the top types of anxiety therapy that no one talks about. It focuses on identifying the thought and behaviour patterns that affect your mental health and quality of life. Often times, these thoughts and behaviours were formed in your childhood. By using Schema therapy to go back and identify the main source, you can constructively work towards destroying them. This gives you room to form healthier habits and patterns which helps alleviate discomfort and anxiety moving forward.
Schema therapy can be done through online talk therapy as well.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Recommended for:
— anyone suffering with PTSD or struggling with a traumatic memory
One of the more unique types of talk therapy is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It is a type of psychotherapy that identifies your traumatic memories. It then uses eye movement tracking to neutralize your emotions attached to the memory.
If there’s anything I want you to get out of this article about the different types of talk therapy, it’s that you do not have to suffer alone. Many professionals say that overcoming a mental health concern or dealing with a mental illness is 80% therapy and 20% medicine/natural remedies. So, find the perfect types of talk therapy for you and let the healing begin.
The following are the best online talk therapy platforms, and they offer a FREE 7-day trial:
- Better Help (my personal favourite)
- Teen Counseling
- Pride Counselling LGBTQ
- My Therapist
- iCounseling
- Faithful Counseling
- Regain Us (Marriage Counseling)
Reach out for help today and let the healing begin. There are many different types of talk therapy. Find the one that appeals to you most and dive in. Trust the process (and the professional).
This blog post is sponsored by BetterHelp, but all opinions are my own. I may receive compensation from BetterHelp or other sources if you purchase products or services through the links provided on this page.
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