The 6 Types Of Behavioral Therapy

Mental health is always important to be aware of and maintain, but it can be hard to figure out how best to do that. Especially during pandemic times.

Even without COVID-19, it can be intimidating to figure out where to begin when you decide that you want to give therapy a try. Behavioral therapy is the go-to for getting help with your mental health, but there are so many types under that umbrella term — which one is right for you?

Luckily, there's this list of the 6 types of behavioral therapy you can use to get a feel for which option is the best fit for you! Let's dive in.

1. Cognitive

Cognitive behavioral therapy deals with treating problematic thoughts or patterns in your life. It looks at the way you are processing things and tries to address those unhealthy processes.

2. Dialectical

Dialectical behavior therapy works to balance out extreme emotions that one might be going through. DBT works to find the level ground between changing negative behaviors and accepting oneself for the person that they are.

It takes a little work, but it's worth it when you find out about DBT.

3. Aversion

Aversion therapy usually works to help condition out negative behavior. Most who utilize aversion therapy struggle with some kind of abuse, like drugs or alcohol.

So, in aversion therapy, they might be taught to associate the drug or beer with something they find unpleasant, lessening the urge to partake.

4. Desensitization

Desensitization therapy is mainly used to treat fears or phobias. It is also a type of conditioning based therapy, where the therapist works to replace feelings of anxiety with feelings of relaxation.

Normally this starts with basic breathing techniques to involve the whole body in becoming desensitized.

5. Cognitive Play

Cognitive play therapy is a type of therapy mainly used for children. Yes, there is a therapy for children!

This involves a behavioral therapist observing a child while they play to pinpoint when a child feels uncomfortable and whether or not they struggle with expressing that. If you're looking to cultivate your child's mental health from early on, you can look into this kind of therapy.

6. Art

While not a traditional branch of behavioral therapy, art therapy is still a great way to access some help in improving your mental health. Art is a form of expression that sometimes reaches far deeper than conversation!

It's always worth a try, especially if you feel nervous about diving right into exactly how you are feeling with a therapist.

Different Types of Behavioral Therapy for Your Best Self

Therapy is a normal and important part of staying healthy. There's no right or wrong way to go about it, it's all about what feels best for you, which can find out by exploring the different types of behavioral therapy.

So what are you waiting for? Time to take your life back and feel a thousand times better!

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