Therapy

Focus Area

Approach Style

Duration

Key Techniques

Ideal For

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Thoughts, feelings, behaviors

Structured, goal-oriented

Short to medium-term

Identifying/challenging thoughts, homework

Clients seeking practical skills and behavior change

Psychodynamic Therapy

Unconscious patterns, past experiences

Insight-oriented

Medium to long-term

Reflective dialogue, insight

Clients interested in deep self-awareness and emotional insight

Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)

Relationships, social functioning

Time-limited, structured

Short-term

Role transitions, communication skills

Clients needing relationship improvement and social support

Mindfulness-Based Therapy

Present-moment awareness, emotional regulation

Experiential, present-focused

Varies

Mindfulness exercises, grounding

Clients wanting stress reduction and emotional flexibility

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy

Strengths, resources, future possibilities

Brief, optimistic

Very short to short

Goal clarification, small steps

Clients seeking quick, goal-driven change