July 23rd, 2025
Deciding which type of therapy to pursue can be difficult, especially with so many different approaches and techniques available. To help you better understand your options, we’ve broken down the main types of therapy and mental health treatments, so you can find what best fits your current needs and goals. Remember, it is always best to speak to a mental health care professional before beginning any form of treatment!
Let’s being taking a deep dive on the different types of therapy options available for mental health treatment:
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a form of psychotherapy that aims to improve mental health through its focus on cognitions (thoughts and beliefs) and behaviors. One major benefit of CBT is that it has been widely researched and is an evidence-based model of treatment. Research has shown cognitive behavioral therapy to be helpful for a wide range of mental health symptoms and diagnoses, including depression treatment, anxiety treatment, and treating trauma.
Some key features of CBT treatment include:
Dialectical behavior therapy is a method of mental health treatment that focuses on addressing self-destructive behaviors, relationship struggles, and managing intense emotions. This approach to therapy emphasizes balancing acceptance of the current situation - while simultaneously working towards change for the future.
While dialectical behavior therapy was originally developed for treating chronically suicidal patients and borderline personality disorder (BPD), it has also been shown to be effective for other mental health conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, substance use, disordered eating, self-harm, and suicidal ideation.
DBT focuses on four core skill areas, which are:
ACT is an approach to therapy that promotes acceptance of difficult thoughts and feelings, rather than avoiding, suppressing, or changing them. This treatment method focuses on taking action towards what matters most in an individual’s life through commitment to their personal core values.
Acceptance and commitment therapy is about accepting what is outside of your control, such as difficult circumstances and feelings, then committing to actions that are aligned with your values in order to live a more meaningful life. This includes living with both enjoyable and uncomfortable thoughts, feelings, and events.
Major benefits of ACT include:
EMDR is a form of psychotherapy which was developed to primarily help those recovering from traumatic experiences, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy has wide research supporting its effectiveness for treating PTSD; however, it has also been used to address a range of other mental health concerns, including depression, anxiety, grief, and phobias.
Some key components of EMDR treatment include:
Psychodynamic therapy is an approach to treatment that addresses current struggles and behaviors through the lens of past experiences and influences. Psychodynamic therapy focuses on the belief that our present-day behavior is largely driven by unconscious thoughts and feelings inspired by unresolved conflicts from our past.
This form of treatment has been shown to be effective for a wide range of symptoms and struggles, including relationship problems, low self-esteem, depression, and anxiety.
Major components of psychodynamic therapy include:
Mindfulness-based therapy is a method of treatment that promotes awareness and acceptance of the present moment, including current thoughts and feelings (both physical and emotional).
There are many benefits to mindfulness-based therapy, such as:
Expressive art therapies are multimodal approaches to psychotherapy that utilize different creative methods, including movement, music, drama, visual arts, and writing within the treatment space. The integration of creative practices into therapy allows individuals to process emotions and experiences and address symptoms through self-expression. Different types of expressive arts therapies include art therapy, music therapy, dance/movement therapy, and drama therapy, among others.
Some key parts of expressive arts therapies are:
Couples therapy (also known as couples counseling or marriage counseling) is a type of treatment that aims to help couples improve their relationship through addressing various struggles, including conflict, infidelity, trust issues, and loss of connection or intimacy. Couples therapy can have many benefits, including building a stronger, healthier, and more fulfilling relationship.
Different goals couples therapy addresses can include:
Family therapy is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on improving familial relationships through involving the entire family unit in the treatment process. Family therapy seeks to understand and address the dynamics/patterns within a family system in order to resolve conflicts and enhance connections among family members.
Family therapy can be helpful for families struggling with conflict and arguments, behavioral problems, martial struggles, and other problems related to mental or emotional health and well-being within the family.
Some core areas addressed in family therapy include:
Group therapy is a type of treatment that involves a therapist working with a group of clients in the same space, usually focused on addressing common struggles, past experiences, or similar symptoms among group members.
Group therapy is beneficial for many mental health diagnoses and struggles, including depression, anxiety, substance use, and trauma, and has been shown to have similar benefits to individual therapy for many people.
Benefits of group therapy include:
Online therapy (also known as teletherapy or virtual therapy) is a method of treatment that provides mental health services remotely through a digital platform, typically a video call, instead of in-person. Online therapy can often be used and adapted to fit other forms of treatment, including the types of therapy listed above.
Some benefits of online therapy include:
A Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) is a highly structured outpatient mental health treatment program designed for individuals who need more support than weekly therapy but do not require overnight hospitalization. PHP is often used as a step-down from inpatient care or as a more intensive starting point for those experiencing severe mental health symptoms. (severe depression, anxiety, and mood disorders)
PHP typically involves attending treatment 5 days a week for several hours each day. The program includes a combination of individual therapy, group therapy, psychiatric care, and skill-building to help individuals stabilize and begin their healing process.
Key features of PHP program include:
PHP can be especially helpful for individuals who are experiencing intense symptoms but still have a safe and supportive home environment to return to after treatment each day.
An Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) is a flexible, structured treatment option for those who need more support than traditional outpatient therapy but less than PHP. An IOP program is ideal for managing conditions like stress and anxiety, depression, and mood disorders, especially when these issues begin to interfere with daily functioning.
IOP typically involves attending therapy sessions 3 to 5 days a week for a few hours each day. Like PHP, it includes a combination of individual therapy, group therapy, and psychiatric services—but with fewer hours and more flexibility to maintain school, work, or other responsibilities.
Benefits of IOP program include:
IOP helps bridge the gap between weekly outpatient sessions and more intensive treatment, offering effective care in a supportive outpatient setting. For more on PHP and IOP programs, head to our blog "PHP vs IOP Part 1: What Does it all Mean!?" .
Feel free to fill out our inquiry form to request more information on our outpatient mental health programs for depression, anxiety, stress, or mood disorders (PHP and IOP programs)
After learning a bit about some different forms of therapy that are available, choosing which approach best fits your needs can be difficult. Below are some factors that may be helpful to consider when deciding which form of treatment would be beneficial for you:
This article explored some of the major current approaches to mental health treatment, including:
This information can be helpful for choosing a therapy approach that best fits you and your current needs/goals, but you can also work with a mental health professional to collaborate on figuring out the treatment method that will allow you to address your struggles and promote your well-being.
Finding the right therapist is an important step in your mental health journey. Whether you're seeking in-person support or online therapy that takes insurance, Clarity Clinic makes it easy to connect with a trusted provider.
Our experienced team of mental health professionals offers a wide range of therapy options—from CBT and psychodynamic therapy to trauma-informed care and more. We provide therapy near you, with mental health clinics locations throughout the Chicago area, including downtown Chicago (Loop). We also offer flexible online therapy sessions to meet you wherever you are.
If you're looking for a therapist in Chicago, or searching for a mental health therapist near you, we’re here to help you find the right fit. Whether it's couples therapy in Chicago, therapy for kids, an outpatient mental health program, or anything in between, we can help.
Take the next step—find a therapist near you today and start getting the support you deserve.
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Disclaimer: The information on this page is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment. Never ignore or delay seeking professional help due to information found here.
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