17 Types of Therapists
Therapy is a diverse field with a wide range of specializations. Each type of therapist uses different methods and approaches to help their clients. Here, we delve into 17 types of therapists to help you understand their roles and how they can assist individuals in their journey towards mental health and well-being.
17 Types of Therapists:
1. Music Therapist
Music therapists use music to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals.
2. Clinical Therapist
Clinical therapists help clients overcome challenges related to mental health issues. Unlike behavioral therapists who help clients cope with their issues, clinical therapists also focus on treating the underlying issues.
3. Art Therapist
Art therapists use the creative process of making art to improve a person’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
4. Behavioral Therapist
Behavioral therapists work with clients experiencing challenges due to mental disorders. For example, they may help clients with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder develop coping strategies.
5. Dialectical Behavioral Therapist
Dialectical behavioral therapists teach patients how to accept that their behaviors and experiences are valid and how to change their behaviors to move forward in a positive way.
6. Child Therapist
Child therapists treat children aged 17 and younger for emotional, behavioral, and mental disorders. They may work in private practices, schools, or as part of a medical team.
7. Recreational Therapist
Recreational therapists plan, direct, and coordinate recreation-based treatment programs for people with disabilities, injuries, or illnesses.
8. Addiction Therapist
Addiction therapists specialize in helping clients overcome substance abuse problems. They may work individually or in groups, helping clients process issues that may have led to their addiction.
9. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapist
Cognitive-behavioral therapists operate under three basic principles that address the way a person thinks, their patterns of behavior, and how they cope with trauma or psychological problems. Of the 17 types of therapists on the list, this is one of the most common.
10. Marriage and Family Counselor
Marriage and family counselors focus on addressing behaviors within marriages and families. They examine relationships between family members and provide individual, couple, or family counseling.
11. Humanistic Therapist
Humanistic therapists focus on the patient and emphasize their ability to help themselves. They revolve around the rejection of the idea that therapists are the experts of their patients’ minds.
12. Divorce Therapist
Divorce therapists specialize in helping couples who are struggling in their marriage. They discuss topics like communication, infidelity, inequality, and abuse. Out of the 17 types of therapists on this list, we hope you never have to visit one of these!
13. Psychotherapist
Psychotherapists have specialized training in treating mental disorders. They use talk therapy to help people find better ways to cope with emotional issues and overcome unhealthy behaviors or thinking patterns.
14. Holistic Therapist
Holistic therapists utilize more than one type of therapy. They take a well-rounded approach by blending different elements of the approaches so that they can personalize treatments to a patient’s needs.
15. Occupational Therapist
Occupational therapists help people across the lifespan participate in the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday activities.
16. Psychodynamic Therapist
Psychodynamic therapists focus on how people’s past experiences affect their current behavior. They force patients to look inward and gain self-awareness around their behavioral patterns.
17. Massage Therapist
Massage therapists treat clients by using touch to manipulate the muscles and other soft tissues of the body.
Choosing the right therapist out of this list of 17 types of therapists depends on your specific needs and goals for therapy. Whether you’re dealing with relationship issues, grief over loss, personal challenges, past issues, mental health conditions or addiction, there’s a type of therapist suited for you.
Remember that seeking help is the first step towards healing. Don’t hesitate to reach out to a professional if you feel the need. Therapy can be a transformative experience that can greatly improve your quality of life.
