Therapy Approaches
Therapy Approaches
Transformative Counselling uses evidence based psychotherapy approaches that work. Depending on your needs will depend on the approach used. It also depends on the right fit for you.
See below for different therapy approaches.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
CBT is often referred to the ‘gold standard of psychotherapy’. It has many years of research and evidence to back it up and is recognized world wide. CBT is based on the precept that thoughts, perceptions and personal beliefs effects one’s state of being and behaviors. Changing a person’s thoughts and beliefs begin to change a person’s feelings and behavior. It also works on the principle that our feelings, emotions, thoughts and behaviors are all connected and if we begin to change one we can influence the others. This type of therapy does utilize and build on out-of-session work and tasks. CBT is beneficial when working on behavioral change.
Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT)
EFT is becoming more recognized in the world of psychotherapy. Research and evidence is backing up the effectiveness of this form of psychotherapy. EFT is an experiential psychotherapy, which means the therapy sessions are about experiencing and working with those experiences in the present moment. It is highly dependent on the therapeutic relationship. The presence of the therapist is very important. In EFT, emotions are not regarded as good or bad but as guides. Emotions are adaptive and help us to live but when they are treated as invasive or problematic they can cause turmoil in life. And so, therapy helps to transform those difficult emotions into adaptive emotions through in session work. EFT utilizes interventions such as two chair work to encounter healing and emotional transformation that helps a person feel unstuck and bring out inner change.
Mindfulness Based Approach
Mindfulness is more than just meditation, it is a way of being. Mindfulness is about being present and aware in a non-judgmental way. Being mindful creates a space within the self to be with uncomfortable feelings, emotions and thoughts. It fosters an attitude of acceptance, which frees the person from holding on to that which keeps the person stuck and helpless. Research is backing up the positive effects it has on a person's well-being and usefulness in helping people overcoming problematic behaviors. It is an experiential approach that builds on practice.
Integrative Therapy
Integrative Therapy strategically combines and utilizes different types of therapy and therapeutic interventions to address the needs of the person, at a specific time. For example, a person in therapy may benefit from shifting from a behavioral approach to an emotional approach and then a cognitive approach. This type of therapy is flexible and accommodating.
Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy
Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy is a humanistic approach that has been gaining momentum since the 80's and 90's. It is globally recognized due to its high success rate in helping couples heal and connect, which strengthens their attachment bond. EFT is based on the principles of attachment and that people are created to be in relationship and form social bonds as a part of survival.
Within that ability to bond with others comes the capacity to love and feel safe. It is that feeling of safety and connection that helps the person feel emotionally regulated and secure. When that sense of safety and attachment bond is not there then the person begins to feel in distress, which then effects the relationship. The process of EFT helps the couple recognize the interaction cycle or "dance" that happens, which keeps the harms the attachment bond, leaving a feeling of disconnect or hurt.
Once the couple begins to feel more safe by recognizing those cycles then the therapy can engage in emotional healing and repairing the attachment bond. EFT is considered as a short term therapy but it depends how deep the wounds of the couple lie and what the couple is seeking to get out of the therapy.
