1. Psychodynamic Counseling

Psychodynamic counseling is probably the most well-known counseling approach.

Rooted in Freudian theory, this type of counseling involves building strong therapist-patient alliances.

The goal is to aid clients in developing the psychological tools needed to deal with complicated feelings and situations. Freud also was concerned with the impact of early experiences and unconscious drives on behavior. This focus is evident in the following quote:

The conscious mind may be compared to a fountain playing in the sun and falling back into the great subterranean pool of subconscious from which it rises

Sigmund Freud, Brainyquote.com

Some of the ways in which these drives are uncovered include dream interpretation, projective tests, hypnotism, and free association.

Historically, psychodynamic therapy was a lengthy process, but nowadays, it also is applied as a relatively short-term approach. Research has indicated effectiveness for both long- and short-term psychodynamic treatment for the treatment of psychiatric issues (e.g., Bögels, Wijts, & Oort et al., 2014; Knekt, Lindfors, & Härkänen, 2008; Leichsenring, Salzer, & Jaeger, 2009).

2. Interpersonal Counseling

Interpersonal counseling is a diagnosis-focused approach in which the client’s disorder is regarded as a medical illness that requires intervention (Markowitz & Weissman, 2004).

In this sense, any fault or self-blame is diminished for the client. The role of interpersonal relationships and attachment on mental health outcomes are also important targets for this type of counseling.

It is a time-limited approach during which clients learn that their psychological issues are linked to environmental stressors. Interpersonal counselors are supportive and compassionate, serving as client allies.

Such therapists suggest ways for clients to deal with situations in a way that promotes self-efficacy and reduced symptoms (Markowitz & Weissman, 2004). Based on clinical trials, Interpersonal Therapy has been effective for the treatment of psychiatric disorders, especially depression (Markowitz & Weissman, 2004).

3. Humanistic/Client-Centered Counseling

Humanistic counseling is based on the assumption that individuals already possess the qualities needed to flourish. This approach encourages curiosity, intuition, creativity, humility, empathy, and altruism (Giorgi, 2005; Robbins, 2008).

Humanistic Counseling was first developed by Carl Rogers, who later founded Client-centered Therapy—a humanistic counseling style that helps clients reach their full potential as human beings.

Client-centered Therapy promotes a safe climate in which the therapist is both empathetic and nonjudgmental. In this way, the client experiences a sense of acceptance, openness, and unconditional positive regard.

These ideas are beautifully articulated by Rogers, who noted that:

People are just as wonderful as sunsets if you let them be. When I look at a sunset, I don’t find myself saying, ‘Soften the orange a bit on the right-hand corner.’ I don’t try to control a sunset. I watch with awe as it unfolds.

Carl Rogers, Goodreads.com

Carl’s words also convey the importance of allowing the client to make his/her own discoveries rather than providing a lot of therapist direction. Therefore, with a client-centered counselor, the client usually does most of the talking. The therapist’s role is to guide clients in an accepting way—helping them to see the beauty within themselves.

4. Existential Therapy

Existentialism is a philosophy aimed at examining the question of human existence. It is often associated with 19th and 20th-century writers and philosophers such as Jean-Paul Sartre, Soren Kierkegaard, Albert Camus, and Friedrich Nietzsche.

Existential thinking is also inherent in ancient Greek philosophy going as far back as Socrates—469-399 BCE (Flynn, 2009).

Existential Therapy does not attempt to cure a person or diminish specific symptoms, but rather, it seeks to explore and question aspects of the human predicament (Corbett & Milton, 2011). The client is viewed as ever-changing and always in the process of becoming (Dryden, 2007).

The existential therapist operates from the client’s perspective to explore what it means to be alive. He/she works with the client to examine unfulfilled needs and potential; and how to make rational choices. While this counseling approach is still evolving, research has indicated significant reductions in anxiety and depression symptoms following short-term existential therapy (Rayner & Vitali, 2015).

5. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is grounded in the assumption that “emotional disorders are maintained by cognitive factors, and that psychological treatment leads to changes in these factors through cognitive and behavioral techniques” (Hofmann & Smits, 2008, p. 621).

In other words, by combining both cognitive and behavioral approaches, CBT is focused on how thoughts AND behaviors dictate a person’s feelings in a given situation.

The following principles guide Cognitive-behavioral Therapy:

1. Mental health disorders involve key learning and information processing mechanisms.
   
   
2. Behaviors are better understood by exposing their true functions.
   
   
3. New adaptive learning experiences can be used to substitute prior nonadaptive learning processes.
   
   
4. Therapists use a scientific approach to therapy by creating hypotheses about patients’ cognitive and behavioral patterns; by intervening and observing outcomes; and by reframing original hypotheses as needed (Hazlett-Stevens & Craske, 2004).

A variety of different techniques and components may be included in CBT therapy, such as exposure, social skills training, cognitive restructuring, problem-solving training, journaling, and relaxation training—among others.

6. Mindfulness-based Counseling

Mindfulness-based Counseling is grounded in mindfulness philosophy which “refers to a process that leads to a mental state characterized by nonjudgmental awareness of the present moment experience, including one’s sensations, thoughts, bodily states, consciousness, and the environment while encouraging openness, curiosity, and acceptance” (Hofmann, Sawyer, & Witt et al., 2010, p. 169).

During mindfulness-based therapy, the client pays attention to his/her feelings and thoughts in the moment, and without judgment. Following Buddhist traditions, it is an openminded and accepting way of responding to thoughts (Kabat-Zinn, 2005).

Mindfulness-based counseling is an increasingly popular approach aimed at helping clients to increase relaxation while removing negative or stressful judgments. This technique helps to teach clients how to deal with emotional stressors reflectively instead of reflexively (Hofmann et al., 2010).

Different types of mindfulness meditation approaches may be applied as part of mindfulness counseling such as yoga, breathing meditation, sitting meditation, bodyscan, and soundscan.

Bodyscan involves attending to different parts of the body in a gradual format while tensing and then relaxing muscles. With soundscan, responses to sounds are adjusted such that their aversive impact is reduced. While mindfulness approaches are often added onto CBT and other forms of therapy, there is recent evidence supporting their unique benefit for the reduction of anxiety (Blanck, Perleth, & Heidenreich et al., 2018).

7. Rational Emotive Therapy

Albert Ellis developed Rational Emotive Therapy in the mid-1900s. It is a type of CBT in which a person’s distress is perceived as a function of irrational or faulty thinking.

The therapist works with the client to examine his/her cognitive appraisals of how an event may have created an outcome (Gonzalez, Nelson, Gutkin, et al., 2004). In other words, it is the client’s belief about a situation—rather than the situation itself, that is the focus of treatment.

Unlike Client-Centered Therapy, Ellis’s rational-emotive approach is active and directive, intending to help clients avoid self-defeating beliefs and ultimately to experience a more positive sense of wellbeing.

8. Reality Therapy

Reality Therapy was developed by William Glasser in the 1950s. Its principles stem from Alfred Adler’s ideas about the social context of human behavior (Wubbolding, 2010). It is based on Choice Theory, which focuses on the power of individuals to control their behaviors.

While not all aspects of life are within our power to change, human beings are always faced with opportunities to respond either rationally or responsibly—or the opposite thereof (Peterson, 2000).

Reality Therapy helps clients to establish greater control over their lives while enhancing the ability to build meaningful and effective relationships. It is a present-day, non-symptom-focused approach in which the counselor takes on a friendly, positive, and nonjudgmental stance.

Reality Therapy promotes individual responsibility for actions while helping clients make decisions that are in line with the visions they have for their lives (Peterson, 2000; Wubbolding, 2010).

9. Constructionist Therapy

Constructionist Therapy is concerned with the meanings humans construct regarding the world around them. Within this framework, qualities believed to be related to gender, race, and social class is shaped by cultural influences and human interpretation. (Sutherland & Strong, 2010). Constructionist therapy is thus concerned with power imbalances, as well as the importance of language (Munro, Knox, & Lowe, 2008).

More specifically, language is considered the avenue through which individuals create meaning about themselves and others. Language is viewed as constructive, involving various aspects of communication (e.g., questions, reflections, and interpretations), along with the invitation for “clients to develop specific constructions of their identities, problems, and relationships” (Sutherland & Strong, 2010, p. 257).

It is a client-driven process in which the client actively participates in discussions as to their problematic perceptions and constructions.

10. Systemic Therapy

Systemic Therapy underscores the influence of how patterns across systems (e.g., family, school, and employment) influence behaviors and psychological issues. A systemic approach, therefore, does not aim to treat a problem, so much as the system underlying it (Carlson & Lambie, 2012).

For example, Systemic Therapy is often used for family counseling, as it enables the identification of dysfunctional patterns of communication and other behaviors across family members. Family involvement (which may be cross-generational) entails having family members work with the therapist to develop healthier roles, interactions, and dynamics.

11. Narrative Therapy

Narrative therapy enables individuals to become experts in their own lives. Each of us has a story we tell ourselves about who we are as a person. Because we derive meaning from our stories, they shape and influence how we perceive and respond to the world around us.

By impacting our decisions, these narratives influence our ability to enjoy meaningful and satisfying experiences. The narrative counselor works collaboratively with the client to create alternate stories using a nonjudgmental, respectful approach (Morgan, 2000).

Ultimately, clients are guided in re-authoring their stories in a way that is more consistent with their life goals.

12. Creative Therapy

Creative Therapy involves the use of different art mediums aimed at improving mood and other aspects of wellbeing.

For example, Music Therapy consists of “the monitored use of music to promote clinical change” (Bulfone, Quattrin, & Zanotti et al., 2009, p. 238). Music therapy may be used in multiple ways, such as in combination with CBT or other types of therapy.

Performing music also may foster positive feelings that reduce stress and promote healing. The scientific literature indeed supports a link between music therapy and reduced psychological symptoms such as anxiety (e.g., de l’Etoile’ Etoile, 2002; Bibb, J., Castle, D. & Newton, 2015; Shirani Bidabadi & Mehryar, 2015).

Art Therapy is also used as a creative therapeutic tool. Engaging clients in art projects such as healthy image posters, collages, and clay modeling provides a method of self-expression that goes beyond words.

Artistic expression also supports the cathartic release of positive feelings (Curl, 2008), and aids counselors in applying other types of therapy (Chambala, 2008). Research indicates that art therapy is indeed useful for the reduction of anxiety and other psychological symptoms across multiple populations (e.g., Chandraiah, Ainlay, & Avent, 2012; Sandmire, Gorham, & Rankin et al., 2012).

To aid the reader in the main points of each of the above counseling types, they are outlined in the following table: