There are a wide variety of methods used and your therapist can develop your treatment plan using one or multiple approaches. This plan is a roadmap to helping you work past your problems to a healthier, happier and more fulfilling way of life.
There are multiple factors involved in determining which method will work best for you. Your licensed therapist uses their training and experience to make these decisions, as well as current research in their field and your individual needs.
Your psychotherapy may focus more on talking and counseling, versus specific homework or activities. This talk approach is typically humanistic or psychoanalytic. Your therapist might ask you about your childhood or past experiences to better understand your current problems.
Other methods stem from more information gathering, such as through journaling of your thoughts, behaviors and reactions. Or you may receive homework assignments from your counselor, such as reading assignments or specific tasks to complete.
Some psychotherapy involves only an individual in one-on-one counseling with their therapist. This therapy works to solve the individual's problems or improve aspects of their life. But for other situations,
family therapy or marital counseling work best. These approaches involve multiple members of the same household working together to solve problems shared within the family unit.