top of page

What type of therapy do you do?

Writer's picture: Dr. PerlDr. Perl

Updated: Jan 13

Therapy can seem like a bit of a black box. There's a therapist, some comfy seating, tissues, a clock, you . . . then what?



The truth is, there are hundreds of types of psychotherapy. Some therapists strictly practice one type, and some learn several types and blend them together. Most therapies originate from a central idea: talking to someone can help you gain perspective, increase self-awareness, and feel more content and confident.


My practice is most deeply rooted in therapies focused on emotion and attachment--specifically, Applied Experiential Dynamic Therapy (AEDP) and Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT). I have also trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Psychodynamic Therapy, and I often draw on these as well. To understand what therapy will be like with me, it's helpful to learn a little bit about each one...


Applied Experiential Dynamic Therapy (AEDP) helps you connect with your most authentic, wise self, by tapping into the power of your emotions. Core human emotions--sadness, anger, fear, joy, excitement--are vital for living a healthy, successful life. If they are stifled--as they can be in early childhood experiences--it can lead you to feel anxious and unsure of what you need and want as an adult. For example, if anger was not acceptable or safe to express in your childhood, you may have trouble using it as an adult to set healthy boundaries with work or in relationships. AEDP helps you to slowly reconnect with your emotional experiences in the context of a safe space so that you can use them to live a life you feel good about. Clients often report feeling more alive, confident, curious, powerful, joyful and connected.


Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on the relationship between our thoughts, feeling and behaviors. Often people come in feeling emotionally "overwhelmed" and want relief. Other times, they feel stuck in a behavioral pattern (ex: "I keep getting in the same fight with my wife, and it's never resolved.") CBT gives you tools to slow down and look carefully at the related thoughts (ex: "When my wife rolls her eyes at me, I think she hates me"), feelings ("Then, I feel terrified") and behaviors ("I start acting clingy and texting her constantly"). By breaking down these parts, you can gain insight into your underlying beliefs and begin to explore ways to change your patterns.


Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) was created by a psychologist named Marsha Linehan, as a way to help patients who were chronically suicidal. In its intended form, DBT is an intensive treatment that involves weekly individual therapy in addition to a 90-minute weekly skills group and therapeutic coaching calls. I don't offer this form of intensive treatment, and it's rarely necessary for the clients I see. But, I do draw on my DBT training because I've found that DBT skills provide a clear, step-by-step path to becoming more confident and assertive, setting healthy personal boundaries, tolerating emotional distress, and becoming more focused and effective at work and in relationships.


Psychodynamic Psychotherapy assumes that much of what we do and feel is controlled by our unconscious. If this idea seems abstract, consider the last time you fell in love. What drew you to this person? Did you feel in control of your emotions and choices, or did it seem as though the love was happening to you? Similarly, have you ever had an intense dream, filled with vivid images and memories that left you feeling shaken, but you're not sure why? Psychodynamic therapy provides a space to be open and curious about these experiences in order to gain greater personal insight. It provides a frame to explore childhood relationships to understand how they're unconsciously impacting our current relationships and actions. It also provides a frame to discuss the client/therapist relationship to gain greater insight into the unconscious messages we send to others. Clients typically gain greater understanding of themselves and their motives, and ultimately a deeper sense of self compassion and confidence.


I find that different clients are naturally drawn to one therapy more than another, depending on his or her needs or temperament. That said, I don't pick one therapy per person; I always weave aspects of each into my work. If you are particularly interested in one type of therapy, I would love to hear about it! You are always welcome to ask me questions about how I work and therapy in general. Email me at linaperl@gmail.com

2,971 views14 comments

Recent Posts

See All

14 Comments


Basharat Khan
Basharat Khan
3 hours ago

In therapy, we focus on healing and growth, much like finding shortcuts in beach buggy racing. Just as racers analyze tracks to uncover faster routes, therapy helps individuals navigate life’s challenges by identifying mental and emotional shortcuts to resilience, clarity, and success—ensuring a smoother, more efficient journey both on and off the racing circuit. https://beachbuggyracing.net/beach-buggy-racing-for-pc/

Like

Capcut PRO
Capcut PRO
3 hours ago

Therapy focuses on healing and growth, addressing emotional or behavioral challenges. In the context of a Spoof Paytm App, "therapy" could metaphorically represent the process of identifying and fixing vulnerabilities in the app's security. Just as therapy helps individuals recover, cybersecurity measures aim to restore trust and functionality, protecting users from fraudulent activities and ensuring a safe digital experience.

Like

clgames
Jan 18
Like

Flooring is an inevitable part of our homes, and flooring is one of the main ingredients of our room and has a direct influence on the aesthetics of the qatar carpets room. It’s part of our interiors. If you choose the right type of UAE Carpets for your room, they will add beauty to your home. We are one of the best flooring suppliers in Dubai, and we provide all types of flooring and installation services to our clients at our doorstep from our flooring company in Dubai.

Like

diyor30920
Sep 26, 2024

We at Tribrid have years of experience working with brands across all niches be it beauty, healthcare, tech, etc. Our years of wholesale cereal boxes experience combined with the latest printing technology will allow you to get the best design and packaging solutions out there for product boxes wholesale. So what are you waiting for? Book a call or request a quote to get started today.

Like
Blog: Blog2

©2018 by Lina Perl, Clinical Psychologist. 

bottom of page