10/09/2026
There are many different types of therapy, and the terminology can sometimes make the process of looking for support feel more complicated than it needs to be.
CBT, EMDR, DBT, Brainspotting, psychodynamic therapy, mindfulness and play therapy all describe different ways of working, based on different ideas about how emotional difficulties develop and how change can happen.
Some approaches are more structured and skills-based. Others focus more on relationships, past experiences, emotional patterns, trauma, behaviour, development or the way we relate to our internal experiences.
And not every therapy will look the same in practice.
The approach may also change depending on the person’s age, needs, goals, preferences and the therapist’s training.
Understanding the basic differences can make it easier to know what a therapist is offering, ask better questions and feel more informed when choosing support.
There is no single type of therapy that is right for everyone.
What matters is finding an approach that is appropriate for the person, the difficulties they are experiencing and the work they want to do