What’s the Difference Between Therapy Types—and Why It Matters

Let’s be honest: googling “types of therapy” is like falling into a psychological rabbit hole. CBT, DBT, EMDR, psychodynamic, somatic, integrative… it’s a lot. The good news? You don’t have to know all the acronyms to find something that works. But understanding a few of the key approaches can help you figure out what actually resonates with how you process, feel, and grow.

Here’s a quick breakdown of some of the most well-known therapeutic models—and how they each think about change.

CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy)

The classic. CBT focuses on identifying unhelpful thought patterns and rewiring them through conscious practice. It’s structured, present-focused, and solution-oriented. You’ll likely be tracking thoughts, setting goals, and actively working to shift how your mind responds to life’s curveballs.

Good for: Anxiety, depression, intrusive thoughts, overthinking.

Vibe: “Let’s fix this.” Practical, efficient, often short-term.

Psychodynamic Therapy

Think emotional archaeology. Psychodynamic therapy dives into the unconscious, exploring how early relationships and experiences continue to shape your behavior today. There’s often a focus on defense mechanisms, recurring patterns, and attachment wounds.

Good for: Long-standing emotional struggles, self-esteem issues, identity work.

Vibe: “Let’s understand this.” Deep, introspective, sometimes slower-paced—but powerful.

Somatic Therapy

Where talk therapy meets the body. Somatic approaches work on the premise that trauma and emotional pain live not just in the mind but in the nervous system. Movement, breathwork, and sensation become tools for healing.

Good for: Trauma, dissociation, chronic stress or tension.

Vibe: “Let’s feel this.” Body-based, experiential, grounding.

Gestalt Therapy

Now we’re getting into territory that doesn’t always fit neatly into a box—and that’s kind of the point. Gestalt therapy is a here-and-now, experiential approach that helps you become more aware of your thoughts, feelings, and actions as they’re happening. It’s not about analyzing your past—it’s about noticing what’s unfolding in real-time, in the room, in your body.

Gestalt sees the client as inherently whole (even if they don’t feel that way yet). Rather than pathologizing, it invites integration—of mind, body, emotion, and awareness. It’s creative. It’s relational. It’s a little wild at times. But when it lands, it lands deeply.

Good for: People who feel stuck, disconnected, over-analytical, or emotionally blocked.

Vibe: “Let’s experience this.” Present-focused, embodied, relational, often transformative.

Why This All Matters

Therapy isn’t one-size-fits-all. What works for someone else might fall flat for you—and that’s not a failure, it’s feedback. Some people thrive with structured worksheets and homework. Others need to feel their way through, sit with uncertainty, or speak through metaphor and body language. Your nervous system knows what it needs. The goal is to find an approach (and a therapist) that can meet you there.

No matter the modality, the real work happens in the space between therapist and client—in the honesty, the resistance, the silence, the breakthroughs. The modality is just the container. What fills it is yours.

Curious about Gestalt? That’s the approach woven through everything here. It’s not the only way, but it’s a powerful one—for people ready to meet themselves where they actually are, not just where they think they should be.