When deciding on psychotherapy, the therapist’s training and educational background are important to consider, but so is his or her area of expertise. Patients who are introspective often respond to insight-oriented or psychodynamic therapy, a form of treatment that explores inner motivations for behaviors.

On the other hand, someone who tends to be more action-oriented would probably respond better to behavioral therapy that focuses on the client’s reactions to situations that trigger unwanted behaviors.

Here are some of the most popular forms of psychotherapy:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on developing ways of thinking differently by changing patients’ perceptions about themselves and others.

• Psychodynamic therapy helps clients cope with their feelings by understanding unresolved psychological conflicts that sometimes date back to childhood.

• Supportive psychotherapy helps people to express themselves better and reduce their psychological stress through the therapist’s encouragement and reassurance.

• Interpersonal therapy helps lift the client’s self-esteem and improve communication skills by focusing on behaviors and relationships.

• Eclectic therapy brings together aspects of different approaches and personalizes the treatment to meet a patient’s specific needs.

While most people opt for one-on-one sessions between patient and therapist, other formats can be helpful for others. For obvious reasons, a couple’s therapist is often best for marital issues. Those suffering from substance abuse or other addictions often benefit from group therapy, where other substance abusers offer emotional and practical support.

Other options include family therapy or even telemental health using the Internet or video[1]conferencing for people in more remote areas.