Understanding different types of Therapy

Therapy is never one-size-fits-all. Different approaches help people in different ways depending on what you’re struggling with and how you like to explore things.

Here are a few common types explained simply:

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
CBT focuses on the link between thoughts, feelings and behaviours. It helps you notice unhelpful thinking patterns and replace them with more balanced, realistic ones. It’s structured and practical, often with tools and exercises you can use between sessions.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
ACT teaches you to make space for difficult thoughts and feelings rather than fighting them. It’s about living in alignment with your values and doing what matters to you even when life feels uncertain or painful.

Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT)
CFT helps people who tend to be very self-critical or feel deep shame. It focuses on developing self-compassion and a kinder inner voice, drawing on mindfulness and evolutionary psychology.

Psychodynamic Therapy
This approach explores how early experiences and unconscious patterns shape your relationships and emotional life today. It’s about gaining deeper understanding and insight, so that old patterns lose their grip.

Humanistic / Person-Centred Therapy
Grounded in empathy, acceptance and authenticity this type of therapy offers a safe, non-judgemental space to explore your inner world. The relationship itself becomes the healing part, helping you reconnect with your own inner wisdom.

Integrative Therapy
Many therapists (myself included) draw from different approaches depending on your needs. This allows the work to be flexible, personal and responsive, because you are unique, and so is your therapy.

There’s no one “better” type of therapy. What matters most is the connection you have with your therapist and how safe you feel to explore what’s really going on.