What is talking therapy?
Talking therapy is a treatment option that helps people manage mental health conditions, emotional distress, and personal challenges.
Also known as psychotherapy or counselling, it involves speaking with a trained therapist to explore thoughts, feelings, and behaviours in a supportive environment.
Talking therapy can help with a range of issues, from anxiety and depression to relationship difficulties and trauma. There are several types of talking therapy available, with some more specialised to specific needs.
Find out more about our talking therapy services.
Table of contents
- What can talking therapy help with?
- What are the different types of talking therapy?
- What happens in talking therapy?
- How do I know which talking therapy is right for me?
- Interested in talking therapy?
What can talking therapy help with?
Talking therapy can help with several mental health issues. It can also be beneficial for those going through difficult life events and changes. Therapy provides a safe space to explore thoughts, feelings, and behaviours while developing coping strategies.
- Depression: Talking therapy can be incredibly beneficial in managing depression. Therapies like CBT and counselling can help manage low mood, and provide strategies to change negative thought patterns.
- Anxiety: Talking therapy supports people dealing with excessive worry, panic attacks, phobias, and social anxiety. Talking therapy can help manage anxious thoughts and reduce avoidance behaviours.
- Difficult life events and changes: Bereavement, divorce, job loss, or significant life transitions can be overwhelming. Therapy can offer emotional support and coping techniques to work through difficult times.
- Personal challenges: Low self-esteem, stress, and relationship difficulties can impact well-being and health. Therapy provides guidance to build confidence and improve communication skills.
- Other mental health problems: Therapy can be part of treatment for conditions like PTSD, OCD, bipolar disorder, and eating disorders, often alongside medical support.
What are the different types of talking therapy?
Talking therapies treat a range of psychological and emotional issues, including stress, anxiety, and depression. While they take different approaches, all involve working with a trained therapist.
Below are the most common types of talking therapies.
Cognitive behavioural therapy
CBT is the most commonly prescribed form of therapy. It is a structured, goal-oriented therapy that helps people identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviours. It is regularly used for the treatment of anxiety, depression, and OCD. However, it can also be incredibly beneficial for the treatment of other mental health conditions.
Dialectical behavioural therapy
DBT is a form of CBT, specifically designed for people who experience intense emotions. Commonly used for borderline personality disorder (BPD), DBT helps to change unhelpful ways of thinking, and reduce self-destructive behaviours. It can also be used to treat other conditions such as depression, eating disorders, and PTSD.
Person-centered therapy
Person-centered therapy is a general form of talking therapy that provides a safe space to discuss personal issues, such as stress, grief, or relationship difficulties.
Couples therapy
Couples therapy can help partners improve communication, resolve conflicts, and figure out the next steps to best benefit those in the relationship. It is suitable for married and non-married couples, and allows relationships to find resolutions in a non-judgemental atmosphere.
Family therapy
Family therapy supports families dealing with challenges like parenting difficulties, conflict, or the impact of mental health conditions on family relationships. This form of therapy can help bring families closer together and develop positive coping strategies moving forward.
EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) is a therapy primarily used for PTSD and trauma. It helps reprocess distressing memories to reduce their emotional impact. This therapy can be beneficial in the long run for those who need help processing traumatic memories.
Learn more about EMDR therapy.
Other therapy types available
There are a wide range of talking therapies available, all specialised in treating specific conditions.
- Rational emotive behaviour therapy: A form of CBT that focuses on identifying irrational beliefs and replacing them with healthier thinking patterns.
- Integrative psychotherapy: Combines techniques from different therapy models to suit the requirements of each person.
- Psychoanalytical therapy: Explores unconscious thoughts, experiences, and underlying emotions to understand behaviours you display in the present.
- Schema therapy: Helps people recognise and change long-standing negative thought patterns (known as schemas) that may have been developed in childhood.
- Cognitive analytic therapy: A short-term therapy that combines cognitive and psychoanalytical approaches to help people understand their relationship patterns and behaviours.
What happens in talking therapy?
Talking therapy sessions, no matter the type, are non-judgemental spaces with a trained professional. They will work with you to ensure you are comfortable, and respect your boundaries and confidentiality.
A talking therapy session generally lasts around 50–60 minutes. Frequency varies depending on individuals (every week or every other week, for example), and can either be for a long-term period or short.
It’s important to note that sessions may differ depending on your condition and individual needs, however, sessions will often include:
- goal setting
- discussing progress
- exploration of your current feelings and thoughts
- learning exercises or strategies to help your individual situation
- therapeutic techniques (varies by therapy type, CBT, EMDR, for example)
- identifying unhelpful thoughts and behaviours
- discussing experiences and how they may link to your current situation
- open conversation
How do I know which talking therapy is right for me?
If you're unsure which option is best for you, speaking to a GP or mental health professional can help guide your next steps.
You may be at an earlier stage of your journey, or be looking at options after diagnosis. Either way, discussing options with your doctor or our mental health care team is the next positive step.
Interested in talking therapy?
If you think talking therapy is right for you, take the first step and learn more about our talking therapy services.
Contact us now at 0203 326 9160.
As the UK’s largest private mental health partnership, we're dedicated to supporting children, adults, families, and organisations nationwide. Let's start your journey towards clarity and support today.
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Clinically reviewed
- Dr Paige Fujiu-Baird