| In This Article: Explore the various individual therapy modalities offered at our Maryland practice. Learn how personalized approaches such as CBT, EMDR, and mindfulness can support your path to healing. |
Are you dealing with anxiety, depression, trauma, challenging life transitions, or other situations impacting your mental wellness? If so, you may have already begun to research local therapy practices to find a good fit. Therapists can guide you through difficult times and help you regulate your mental and emotional health. However, as you have been searching for individual therapy in Maryland, you have likely encountered clinical jargon. CBT? DBT? EMDR? Understanding what these terms mean is an important step in choosing the best practice for your needs.
Specific Maryland practices approach therapy differently, so you should understand those approaches. Wondering how to choose a therapy type based on modalities? Here are the basics.
Therapy Modalities Explained
A therapy modality is a specific approach that a mental health professional uses to address a person’s wellness concerns. For example, if a doctor is treating someone with a tumor, their preferred modalities might be pharmaceutical treatment and then radiation. These are targeted treatments, and they work the same way in therapy. The CBT, DBT, and other jargon you have encountered speak to a therapist’s approaches to problems.
Why the Therapeutic Approach Matters
Modalities are one of the most important factors to consider when working with a therapist. Mental health treatment is not a one-size-fits-all type of care. The type of therapy you receive should be chosen and adjusted according to your specific needs. So, as you consider professionals, examine whether they offer numerous modalities. This grants you access to a wider toolkit of support if needed.
The Most Common Modalities in Maryland Practices
In Maryland, an individual therapist will typically choose from numerous approaches based on the patient’s goals, challenges, and personal attributes. The most common ones you will encounter are usually:
CBT
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in Maryland is focused on your negative thoughts. You will work with a therapist to identify these thoughts, adjust them, and learn new patterns for framing your thoughts. This helps to restructure negative or flawed worldviews and perceptions, stopping them from taking control of your life.
DBT
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is similar to CBT in some ways, but with the added focus of radical acceptance. It balances the need for change with acceptance and validation of your feelings; you feel them, you perceive them, and you understand that they are not “wrong,” only causing issues for you. DBT works best for those who experience intense emotions, mood swings, and impulsive behaviors.
EMDR
EMDR individual therapy, or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, works best for those who have experienced trauma and are seeking help for symptoms such as intrusive memories, nightmares, heightened threat awareness, and similar residual effects. The therapist helps the participant talk about the memories that are causing them to struggle, with an important distinction: they engage in therapist-guided eye movements while doing so, which can help the brain process its trauma and reprogram its neural pathways toward healing.
Art Therapy
Art therapy is a multifaceted approach that is often used with children and those who have experienced difficult life circumstances. Drawing, painting, sculpting, and more help participants bring out their inner worlds that are difficult to put into words. Art therapy can be part of trauma-informed care in Maryland, but it is not exclusive to that approach. And while children are the most common participants, many adults find great success using art therapy. Common symptoms treated with art therapy include PTSD, stress, substance use, relationship difficulties, and aging-related issues.
Work With a Practice That Offers Personalized Mental Health Treatment
Therapy is a multifaceted approach to individual wellness. If you are looking for the right mental health practice in Maryland, always consider options that offer access to multiple therapy modalities, as this opens the door to varied, personalized treatment. Your therapist may suggest one or multiple modalities that work best for you, or you may already have an idea of which types of treatment you would respond to best. Do not hesitate to share those thoughts!
Starting mental health treatment is a significant step on your road to wellness. Rest assured that the professionals at Village Counseling offer a personalized, evidence-based path to healing rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. Our therapists are trained to provide DBT, CBT, EMDR, art therapy, and a range of other approaches for patients of all types. We welcome children, adults, those impacted by trauma, LGBTQIA+ patients, couples, first responders, and anyone who wants to make a change, even if they are not currently experiencing symptoms that interfere with their life. Contact Village Counseling to schedule a therapy appointment and learn more about the modalities that may work best for you.