Different Types of Therapy: Which One Is Right for You?

Understanding Different Types of Therapy: Finding the Right Fit for You

Starting therapy can feel like a big step. And with so many different approaches out there — CBT, psychodynamic, humanistic, existential — it’s completely normal to wonder: Which type of therapy is best for me?

The truth is, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Different therapeutic approaches offer different paths to healing, and the right fit often depends on what you’re struggling with, how you relate to yourself and others, and what feels most helpful in the moment.

Let’s explore some of the most common types of therapy — and how each one can support your wellbeing in a unique way.

1. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

CBT is one of the most well-known and widely researched therapies. It’s structured, goal-oriented, and focuses on the relationship between your thoughts, feelings, behaviours, and physical sensations.

CBT helps you identify unhelpful thinking patterns and replace them with more balanced, realistic ones. It’s often used for:

• Anxiety and panic

• Low mood or depression

• Phobias

• OCD

• Disordered eating

• Sleep problems

Think of CBT as giving you a psychological toolkit — one that helps you better understand how your mind works and how to manage distress in everyday life.

2. Psychodynamic Therapy

Psychodynamic therapy explores the unconscious patterns that shape how we think, feel, and relate to others. It looks at how past experiences — especially early relationships — might still influence you today, even without realising it.

This approach is especially useful if you want to explore:

• Relationship difficulties

• Repeating life patterns

• Low self-worth

• Childhood trauma

• Unresolved grief

Rather than just managing symptoms, psychodynamic therapy invites you to go deeper — to understand the emotional roots beneath your struggles.

3. Person-Centred Therapy (Humanistic Approach)

This approach is grounded in the belief that you already hold the answers within you — and that, in the right conditions, you can grow, heal, and become more fully yourself.

Person-centred therapy offers:

• A warm, non-judgmental relationship

• A space to express your emotions freely

• Support in reconnecting with your inner values and self-worth

If you’ve ever felt silenced, dismissed, or not truly heard — this approach can help you rebuild trust in yourself and your voice.

4. Existential Therapy

Existential therapy is less about diagnosis and more about meaning. It explores life’s “big questions” — freedom, identity, responsibility, death, and the search for purpose.

This approach is especially helpful when you’re feeling:

• Lost or directionless

• Overwhelmed by life transitions

• Disconnected from yourself or others

• Anxious about meaning or mortality

Rather than giving answers, existential therapy helps you live the questions — and discover what feels true for you.

5. Integrative Therapy: Tailored to You

Many therapists (myself included) take an integrative approach — meaning we draw from different modalities depending on what’s most helpful for you.

This way of working is:

• Collaborative: You’re an active part of the process

• Flexible: Your therapy evolves as your needs shift

• Holistic: We consider emotional, physical, relational, and psychological aspects

You’re unique — and your therapy should be too. With integrative therapy, we can find what feels most helpful for you, in a way that’s gentle and personal.

So… Which Therapy is Best?

There’s no single “best” approach — just the one that fits you right now. Some people benefit from practical strategies and structure (like CBT), while others need space to process and reflect (like psychodynamic or existential therapy).

What matters most is feeling safe, supported, and seen by your therapist — and knowing that your therapy can grow with you.

Choosing therapy is a courageous step toward healing — and learning about different approaches can help you feel more grounded in that decision.

If you’re not sure where to start, that’s completely okay. I offer a warm, gentle space where we can explore what feels right for you — with curiosity, care, and no pressure.

Contact me here if you’d like to take the next step or simply find out more.