The Approaches

If you're confused about why you should care about theoretical orientations when choosing a therapist, click here to read more. If you've been convinced read on!

---

Navigating the vast landscape of therapeutic approaches can be overwhelming for individuals who are new to the field. So, to begin exploring these approaches, it's helpful to understand the distinction between two major schools of thought: insight-oriented therapy/process-oriented therapy and solution-focused therapy. Although they have differing emphases and techniques, both offer valuable avenues for healing and personal growth.

Insight-Oriented Therapy/Process-Oriented Therapy:

Process-oriented therapy/Insight-Oriented Therapy is a therapeutic approach that focuses on exploring and working with the unique subjective experiences and unconscious processes of the client. It recognizes that individuals have their own distinct ways of perceiving reality and seeks to understand the underlying patterns, conflicts, and emotions that influence their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.

In process-oriented therapy, the therapist creates a safe and supportive environment where the person feels comfortable expressing their thoughts and emotions. The therapist listens attentively and assists the person in exploring their experiences, both past and present, to uncover the root causes of their difficulties.

During therapy sessions, open and honest conversations take place, with the therapist asking questions to help the person reflect on their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Together, they delve into the connections between these thoughts and feelings and the person's experiences and relationships.

The primary goal of process-oriented or insight-oriented therapy is to help the person gain insight into themselves, their motivations, and their behavioral patterns. By understanding the reasons behind their thoughts and actions, individuals can make positive changes in their lives.

Throughout the therapeutic process, the person may explore childhood experiences, significant life events, and relationships. This exploration may reveal unresolved issues, emotional conflicts, or unconscious thoughts that are influencing their present experiences. The therapeutic relationship between the person and the therapist plays a crucial role, as the dynamics that emerge within this relationship provide valuable insights.

The therapist guides the person in exploring their emotions, identifying recurring themes or patterns, and understanding the impact of these patterns on their lives. This deeper understanding helps individuals develop new perspectives and find healthier ways to cope with life's challenges.

Process-oriented or insight-oriented therapy often involves self-reflection, introspection, and exploration of one's own thoughts and emotions. It is a transformative process that can lead to personal growth, increased self-awareness, and improved emotional well-being.

It's important to note that this type of therapy requires time, commitment, and active participation from the individual. The therapist serves as a guide, helping the person navigate their internal world and facilitating their journey towards self-discovery and positive change.

Solution-Focused Therapy:

Solution-focused therapy is a goal-oriented and brief therapy approach that concentrates on identifying and amplifying the client's existing strengths and resources to create positive change. It emphasizes collaboration between the therapist and the client to develop realistic and achievable goals, with a focus on finding solutions rather than focusing on problems or past experiences.

In solution-focused therapy, the therapist helps individuals envision their preferred future and collaboratively develop practical and achievable goals. Instead of solely focusing on the problems, the therapist guides the person in exploring exceptions to the problem, times when the issue was less present or when they experienced small victories. By examining these exceptions, individuals gain valuable insights.

Therapy sessions in a solution-focused approach revolve around exploring possibilities, generating creative ideas, and identifying actionable steps towards the desired outcome. The therapist utilizes targeted questions, active listening, and goal-oriented techniques to facilitate the individual's progress.

The emphasis in solution-focused therapy is on leveraging existing strengths and resources. It encourages individuals to take an active role in their own growth and change process. The therapist and the individual work collaboratively as a team, with the therapist providing guidance and support while empowering the person to find their own solutions.

Overall, solution-focused therapy is often a shorter-term approach, as the focus is on identifying and implementing practical solutions rather than extensively exploring the underlying reasons for the problem. Solution-focused therapy offers an effective and efficient pathway to change for those seeking practical solutions and a focus on the present and future.

Some Examples

We’ve put together some examples of specific theoretical orientations within both process and solution focused approaches. This is by no means an exhaustive list of the therapies out there, but gives a good scope of some basic themes.

1. Psychodynamic Orientation: This approach focuses on the influence of past experiences and unconscious processes on current behavior and relationships. It emphasizes the significance of the therapeutic relationship in understanding and addressing psychological issues. Through examining patterns of relating, emotional experiences, and attachment dynamics, this approach seeks to foster healing and personal growth.

2. Humanistic Orientation: Humanistic therapies, such as person-centered therapy emphasize an individual's inherent capacity for self-growth and self-actualization. By providing empathy, unconditional positive regard, and genuineness in the therapeutic relationship, the humanistic therapist creates a safe space for clients to explore their feelings, values, and goals.

3. Existential Orientation: Existential therapies focus on the individual's search for meaning, purpose, and authenticity in life. Therapists help clients confront existential concerns, such as freedom, responsibility, mortality and isolation to facilitate personal growth, self-awareness, and a greater sense of meaning in life.

4. Cognitive-Behavioral Orientation (CBT): CBT is based on the idea that our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are interconnected. This approach emphasizes identifying and challenging negative or maladaptive thoughts and replacing them with healthier, more adaptive ones. CBT is widely used due to its structured nature and effectiveness in treating various mental health conditions.

5. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): ACT is based on the idea that suffering is a normal part of being human, but we can learn to relate to our thoughts and emotions in healthy, functional ways. ACT encourages us to observe negative thoughts and feelings without judgment and make room for them in our lives. It's not about eliminating difficult experiences, but rather about changing our relationship with them and living a rich, purposeful life despite them.

6. Trauma focused therapy: Trauma-focused therapy is a specialized approach that addresses the impacts of trauma on individuals' lives. It aims to help clients heal from traumatic experiences by providing a safe and supportive environment. Through evidence-based techniques and interventions, this approach supports individuals in processing and integrating their traumatic memories, reducing symptoms, and fostering resilience and post-traumatic growth.

7. Narrative approaches: Narrative therapy is a collaborative and empowering approach that focuses on the stories we tell ourselves about our lives. The central idea behind narrative therapy is that people are not defined by their problems or diagnoses but rather by the stories they tell about their experiences. By examining and reshaping these narratives, individuals can gain a fresh perspective, discover strengths, and reclaim our lives from the influence of the problem.

8. Family Systems Orientation: Family systems therapy views individuals as part of interconnected systems, primarily their families. It explores how patterns of communication, roles, and relationships within the family influence an individual's mental health. By addressing and improving family dynamics, therapists can promote individual and relational well-being.

It's worth mentioning that while a theoretical orientation provides a valuable framework, therapists should also be flexible and responsive to the unique needs and goals of each client. Integrative approaches that draw from multiple theoretical orientations are also common, as they allow therapists to tailor their interventions to the individual client's circumstances.

If you’re confused

If you're feeling confused about the different approaches to therapy, let me offer you a helpful analogy. Think of the various therapeutic approaches as different ways to take care of our physical health. Just like we have options such as taking medication, engaging in exercise, and eating nutritious vegetables, each approach to therapy can coexist and be useful in its own way. The key is to choose what aligns with our goals and motivations at any given time.

It's also important to understand that while theoretical orientations in therapy do matter and influence what the therapy process will look like, research suggests that different therapeutic approaches tend to have similar effectiveness overall. However, it's crucial to note that this does not mean all therapies are the same or that every approach works equally well for every individual or specific conditions. Instead, it emphasizes the importance of recognizing the shared elements of effective therapy and the impact of the therapeutic relationship and client engagement.

So, when it comes to therapy, it's essential to find a therapist and approach that resonates with your goals, preferences, and unique needs. Remember, therapy is a personal journey, and what works for one person may not work for another. The key is to be open-minded, communicate openly with your therapist about your expectations and concerns, and work together to create a therapeutic experience that is tailored to your specific needs.