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How to choose between therapy approaches

Different therapies suit different difficulties, and the right starting point depends on what you want to change.

A rough guide

CBT works on the links between thoughts, feelings and behaviour, and suits anxiety, low mood and unhelpful patterns. DBT-informed work focuses on intense emotions, distress tolerance and relationships. Family and systemic therapy works with the relationships around a difficulty rather than treating one person as the problem.

You do not have to decide alone

Choosing an approach is part of what an initial conversation is for. If you are unsure, that is a normal starting position.

What therapy does not promise

Therapy does not guarantee improvement or a particular outcome, and it is not a cure. It may not be the right approach for everyone.

Where to go next

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