In the first post in this miniseries, we looked at different types of credentials that you may come across when looking for a therapist. Now it’s time to look at more of the letters associated with therapy: abbreviations and acronyms for different therapy orientations. This post is not going to be an exhaustive list of types of therapy, because that list would be, well, exhausting. My goal is to hit on some of the most common “alphabet soup” letters that you might encounter so that you have some context and understanding when you see them listed on a therapist’s profile. (I’m arranging them loosely in categories by the focus of the approach; you’ll find that many fall into more than one category.)
Cognitive-Behavioral Approaches
Cognitive-Behavioral approaches focus on the connections between our thoughts, feelings and behaviors. In general, therapists using a cognitive-behavioral approach work with the client on identifying and changing or reframing underlying negative thought patterns. Cognitive-behavioral therapies are often referred to as “evidence based” treatment for a wide range of mental health concerns, including anxiety, depression, eating disorders and substance use disorders. Some of the letters you’ll find when looking into cognitive-behavioral therapy include:
CBT: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
DBT: Dialectical Behavior Therapy
ACT (pronounced “act”): Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
REBT: Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy
Mindfulness-Based Approaches
Mindfulness based therapy approaches focus on living fully in the present moment in a non-judgmental and accepting way. Therapists using these types of approaches often teach skills such as meditation, relaxation and self-awareness. Mindfulness approaches are often used to help manage stress, enhance emotional regulation, and improve coping skills. Some of the letters you’ll find related to mindfulness approaches:
DBT: Dialectical Behavior Therapy
MBCT: Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy
MBSR: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction
ACT (“act”): Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Emotion Focused Approaches
Emotion-Focused Therapies delve into the power of emotions and their role in human experiences. These approaches help individuals explore and process deep-seated emotions, fostering emotional intelligence and helping emotional healing. Emotion focused approaches may be used to help heal past trauma, improve relationships, and manage anxiety or mood disorders. Some examples of Emotion-Focused approaches include:
EFT: Emotion Focused Therapy
AEDP: Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy
Solution Focused Approaches
Solution-Focused Therapies are future-oriented, focusing on finding solutions rather than dwelling on problems. These approaches are typically designed to be brief and action-oriented. This type of therapy is often useful in helping people with life transitions, relationship or parenting concerns, substance use or stress management. Some of the letters you may find include:
SFT: Solution Focused Therapy
SFBT: Solution Focused Brief Therapy
MI: Motivational Interviewing
Trauma-Focused Approaches
Trauma-Focused approaches specialize in addressing trauma and its aftermath. These approaches help individuals process traumatic experiences, develop coping skills, and promote healing and resilience. Some examples include:
EMDR: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
CPT: Cognitive Processing Therapy
TF-CBT: Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
Family and Interpersonal Therapies
Family and Interpersonal Therapies recognize the significance of relationships and social interactions in shaping an individual's mental health. These approaches address interpersonal dynamics, communication patterns, and relational issues to promote healthier connections with others. Letters you may find that indicate this type of therapy include:
IPT: Interpersonal Therapy
FST: Family Systems Therapy
EFFT: Emotionally Focused Family Therapy
Other common abbreviations you may come across:
IFS: Internal Family Systems
ERP: Exposure and Response Prevention
CFT: Cognitive Flexibility Therapy
PCIT: Parent-Child Interaction Therapy
PCT: Person Centered Therapy
Hopefully this list provides a good starting point for understanding some of the jargon of therapy. While this blog post provides an overview of various therapy approaches and their associated abbreviations, it's essential to recognize that the field of therapy is rich and diverse. The therapeutic landscape continuously evolves, with new approaches and techniques emerging regularly. Each therapy is unique, with its specific focus and strengths, tailored to address a wide range of mental health concerns. As you explore the world of therapy, you may come across other abbreviations and approaches that resonate with your needs and preferences. Remember that finding the right therapy is a personal journey, and working with a qualified therapist can help you navigate the vast array of therapeutic options to find the approach that best suits your goals and aspirations.
In future posts, I’ll do a deeper dive into some of the therapy approaches I use most often and why I find them to be helpful.