Counseling or psychotherapy is a form of treatment that can help you understand and resolve problems, modify your behavior for the better and make positive changes. There are several types of psychotherapy or counseling techniques and they use different approaches, techniques and interventions.

At times, a combination of different counseling approaches may be helpful, while, in some cases a combination of medication with counseling may be best.

Counseling techniques that work, include:

Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)- This approach helps improve your mood and behavior by examining any confused or distorted patterns of thinking you may have. CBT emphasizes that thoughts cause your feelings and moods which, in turn, can influence your behavior.

For example, if you are experiencing unwanted feelings or behaviors, your therapist will work to identify the underlying thinking patterns that are causing them. He or she will then help you to replace your symptom-inducing thinking with thoughts that result in more appropriate feelings and behaviors. CBT can be very effective in treating both depression and anxiety.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) can be used to treat you if you experience chronic suicidal feelings, are harming yourself or have the symptoms of borderline personality disorder. DBT emphasizes taking responsibility for your problems and will help you examine how you deal with your conflict and negative feelings. This can involve a combination of group and individual sessions.

Family Therapy focuses on helping your family to function in more positive and constructive ways. It explores your patterns of communication and provides support and necessary education.

These sessions can include any children along with parents, siblings or even grandparents that are involved. Couples therapy is a specific type of family therapy that focuses on how you and a spouse or other intimate partner communicate, interact or solve problems with each other.

Group Therapy uses the power of group dynamics and peer interactions to increase your understanding and improve your social skills. There are many different types of group counseling (e.g. psychodynamic, social skills, substance abuse, multi-family, parent support, etc.)

Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) is a brief treatment specifically developed and tested to treat depression. Its goals are to improve your functioning with others by decreasing any symptoms of depression that you may have. IPT has been shown to be effective in treating adolescents with depression as well.

Play Therapy involves the use of toys, blocks, dolls, puppets, drawings or games to help your child to recognize, identify, and verbalize feelings. The counselor observes how he or she uses play materials and identifies themes or patterns to better understand his or her issues. Through a combination of talk and play, your child has an opportunity to better understand and manage his or her conflicts, feelings, and behavior.

Psychodynamic Psychotherapy emphasizes the understanding of your historical and past family issues that motivate and influence you. It can help identify your typical behavior patterns, defenses and your responses to inner conflicts and struggles.

Psychoanalysis is a specialized, more intensive form of psychodynamically-oriented counseling which usually involves several consultations per week. Psychodynamic methods are based on the assumption that your behavior and feelings will improve once your inner subconscious and childhood struggles are brought to light.

Psychotherapy or counseling is not a quick fix or an easy answer. It is a complex and rich process that can reduce symptoms, provide insight, improve your functioning and enhance your quality of life.

Clinical psychologists and mental health counselors are trained in providing different forms of counseling and, if necessary, are able to arrange for you to receive medication, as well.