Different Types of Mental Health Therapies

Anxiety disorders and depression are treatable. Many people experience meaningful symptom relief and improvement in their quality of life with professional care. However, treatment success varies. Some people respond to treatment after a few weeks or months while others may take longer. If people have more than one anxiety disorder or if they suffer from other co-existing conditions, treatment may take longer. An experienced provider will conduct a comprehensive assessment before discussing an individualized treatment plan. Download our Therapy Options Guide infographic.

To learn more in-depth about different types of therapy and treatments, check out ADAA's Patient Guide to Mood and Anxiety Disorders.

Types of Therapy

Q&A

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) + −

A well-established, highly effective, and lasting treatment is called cognitive-behavioral therapy, or CBT. It focuses on identifying, understanding, and changing thinking and behavior patterns. Benefits are usually seen in 12 to 16 weeks, depending on the individual.

In this type of therapy the patient is actively involved in his or her own recovery, has a sense of control, and learns skills that are useful throughout life. CBT typically involves reading about the problem, keeping records between appointments, and completing homework assignments in which the treatment procedures are practiced. Patients learn skills during therapy sessions, but they must practice repeatedly to see improvement.

Watch ADAA's Video on CBT.
Download our What is CBT? infographic.
The Wisdom of Cognitve Behavioral Therapy (CBT): The Perfect Gift for New Moms

Check out four helpful evidence- based videos produced by the Washington University Pediatric & Adolescent Ambulatory Research Consortium, Washington University Medical School. The videos feature ADAA member Melanie Van Dyke, PhD. The videos cover: Evidence-based Therapy for Adolescent Depression, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Selecting a CBT Therapist and How to Know if Therapy is Working.

To learn more in-depth about Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and other treatments, check out ADAA's Patient Guide to Mood and Anxiety Disorders.

ADAA blogs:

Three Things I Need to Know About CBT (Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy)
“Is This All My Fault?” Addressing the Myth that CBT Blames People for Their Problems
What is CBT?, ADAA short video
What is CPT?, ADAA short video

Exposure Therapy + −

A form of CBT, exposure therapy is a process for reducing fear and anxiety responses. In therapy, a person is gradually exposed to a feared situation or object, learning to become less sensitive over time. This type of therapy has been found to be particularly effective for obsessive-compulsive disorder and phobias.

Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRE)*

VRE is a type of exposure therapy that uses virtual reality (i.e., interactive computer-generated simulations) to present the patient with stimuli for exposure therapy with a therapist. Exposure therapy helps people confront what they fear in a therapeutic manner so that the fear decreases. VRE has the advantage of being able to present situations that may be difficult to arrange in real life, for example, flying on an airplane for someone with the fear of flying. The therapist can exactly control the VRE stimuli to create the perfect exposure for that patient, for example, making sure there is no turbulence until the patient is ready for turbulence. Research supports VRE for PTSD, social anxiety, and specific phobias (e.g., fear of heights and flying).

The virtual reality system is just a tool used within VRE – it is not the therapy. Patients interested in VRE should not be directed toward equipment but rather clinicians trained in VRE and explore how VRE might provide additional benefits over conventional exposure therapy.

Q. What questions should a patient ask his/her doctor or clinician about what virtual reality tool might help their disorder?

What is my diagnosis? What is the evidence for virtual reality exposure therapy for this problem? What is your experience using virtual reality exposure therapy for this problem?

Q. How do I know the tool is working for me?

If your provider is practicing evidence-based care, they will assess your symptoms and progress using questionnaires or other evaluations throughout treatment. Hopefully, you will notice improvement, usually in experiencing less anxiety and less avoidance.

To learn more in-depth about Exposure Therapy and other treatments, check out ADAA's Patient Guide to Mood and Anxiety Disorders.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) + −

Also known as ACT, this type of therapy uses strategies of acceptance and mindfulness (living in the moment and experiencing things without judgment), along with commitment and behavior change, as a way to cope with unwanted thoughts, feelings, and sensations. ACT imparts skills to accept these experiences, place them in a different context, develop greater clarity about personal values, and commit to needed behavior change.

To learn more in-depth about Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and other treatments, check out ADAA's Patient Guide to Mood and Anxiety Disorders.

Watch ADAA's video on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) + −

Integrating cognitive-behavioral techniques with concepts from Eastern meditation, dialectical behavioral therapy, or DBT, combines acceptance and change. DBT involves individual and group therapy to learn mindfulness, as well as skills for interpersonal effectiveness, tolerating distress, and regulating emotions.

To learn more in-depth about Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and other treatments, check out ADAA's Patient Guide to Mood and Anxiety Disorders.

Watch ADAA's video on Dialectical Behavioral Therapy

Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) + −

Often referred to as IPT, interpersonal therapy is a short-term supportive psychotherapy that addresses interpersonal issues in depression in adults, adolescents, and older adults. IPT usually involves 12 to 16 one-hour weekly sessions. The initial sessions are devoted to gathering information about the nature of a person’s depression and interpersonal experience.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

EMDR is a type of therapy that can help you heal from past life events that impact you in the present. Utilizing bilateral stimulation, through eye movements, tapping, and/or tones, EMDR taps into a natural healing process in our brain that helps to “unlock” distressing memories. In doing so, it reduces the overall emotional and physical distress connected to a memory and shifts a negative belief to an adaptive belief. Research supports the effectiveness of EMDR as a therapy to target past traumatic and distressing experiences.

Check out this article: Considering EMDR Therapy? What to Expect.
Read more about EMDR from the National Center for PTSD

To learn more in-depth about Interpersonal Therapy and other treatments, check out ADAA's Patient Guide to Mood and Anxiety Disorders.

Treatments Under Study + −

Inference-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT)

I-CBT was created by Dr. Stephen P. Shuchter in the 1980s, primarily for the treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). I-CBT is a treatment based on the central idea that obsessions are abnormal doubts about what “could be”, or “might be” (e.g. “I might have left the stove on”; “I might be contaminated”; “I might be a deviant”).

I-CBT’s approach emphasizes identifying core beliefs and underlying assumptions that are associated with OCD and reframing them in a more positive manner to facilitate recovery. Learn more.

ADAA Blog:

“Is This All My Fault?” Addressing the Myth that CBT Blames People for Their Problems

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) + −

Transcranial magnetic stimulation, known as TMS or rTMS, may be a safe, effective, and noninvasive option for people who have depression that has not improved with medications. TMS creates a magnetic field to induce a small electric current in a specific part of the brain; the current comes from the magnetic field created by an electromagnetic coil that delivers pulses through the scalp. TMS is an FDA-approved treatment and recently (June 2019), the Brainsway Deep TMS device was approved for the treatment of OCD. There is ongoing research on the use of TMS to treat PTSD and other mental health conditions.

TMS does not require sedation, is non-invasive and is virtually pain-free. With modern safety techniques, there is a less than 0.1% risk of seizure or loss of consciousness with TMS. Those receiving TMS usually are treated four or five times every week for four to six weeks. Research shows that TMS produces few side effects. Each treatment session lasts about 40 minutes. A new form of TMS called theta burst stimulation was recently approved by the FDA for the treatment of depression; sessions of theta burst stimulation last only about 10 minutes but still are provided daily for several weeks.

To find out if TMS is the right treatment for you, speak to your therapist, doctor, or other mental health treatment provider. Your insurance may provide reimbursement for this treatment.

To learn more in-depth about Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and other treatments, check out ADAA's Patient Guide to Mood and Anxiety Disorders.