ACT is an evidence-based theory that has been effective in addressing multiple levels of anxiety, depression, chronic pain, obsessive compulsive disorders, and eating disorders.  Its unique goal is to help patients create a rich and meaningful life and develop mindfulness skills alongside the existence of pain and suffering. ACT works to create psychological flexibility and is a form of behavioral therapy that joins mindfulness skills with the practice of self-acceptance. ACT encourages people to embrace their thoughts and feelings rather than fighting or feeling guilty for them.  ACT is effective for a wide range of psychological disorders, and it is also effective as a life-affirming and inspirational perspective of self-determination.

Attachment Theory focuses on how the interactions people engage in as adults were formed partially by the relationships that they experienced as children.  The lessons caregivers teach children how to express emotions, show support and love, experience appropriate touch, and how to feel safe. these are important factors in the future adult relationships of those children. Based on a person’s attachment style, the way he or she approaches intimate relationships, marriage, and parenting can vary widely.  Attachment Theory is used to address issues of grief and trauma associated with loss, parenting skills, as well as interpersonal relationship issues. Although attachment theory may not explain every aspect of personality issues, it provides a solid understanding of oneself and those around us when it comes to connecting and interacting with others.  

Culturally sensitive therapy focuses on the therapist’s understanding of a client’s background, ethnicity, and belief system. Therapists can incorporate cultural sensitivity into any therapy modality to accommodate and respect differences in opinions, values, and attitudes of various cultures and different types of people.  Research has documented the positive effects of cultural sensitivity practices and has also outlined examples of how therapists can be more culturally competent in their interactions with clients of different backgrounds.  Supporters for cultural sensitivity believe it is more effective to customize a therapeutic approach to fit an individual’s personal needs, depending on client’s culture group, than to simply apply the same standard approach for everyone.

This approach focuses on a person’s capacity to increase self-awareness, make rational choices, self-determination, and create change.  Existential therapists believe that everyone is continually changing and growing and possessing a unique identity that can be discovered through relationships with others.  Interventions focus on increasing self-awareness, personal responsibility, and the freedom of choices.  Existential therapists not only focus on working to alleviate symptoms of apathy, isolation, shame, despair, guilt, resentment, etc., but focus on increasing life-enhancing experiences such as courage, creativity, will, individuation, self-actualization acceptance and authenticity.

Humanistic therapy is a positive approach to psychotherapy that focuses on a person’s individual nature, rather than categorizing groups of people with similar characteristics as having the same problems.  Humanistic therapy looks at the whole person with the emphasis being on a person’s positive traits and behaviors, and the ability to use their personal instincts to find wisdom, growth, healing, and fulfillment within themselves.  A humanistic approach may be incorporated into various therapies and requires the participating therapist to be empathetic, understanding and non-judgmental.  Additionally, the humanistic therapist provides an atmosphere of support, empathy, and trust that allows the individual to share their feelings without fear of judgment.  A humanistic approach may be incorporated into various therapies resulting in increased rapport building between the client and therapist.

Integrative therapy focuses on the individual needs of a person and combines the most effective approaches and therapeutic tools to meet that individual’s specific treatment needs.  Integrative therapy is more flexible than traditional singular forms of psychotherapy.  This theory focuses on the multifaceted aspects of each client (such as personality characteristics, preferences, physical abilities, spiritual beliefs, and motivation levels) and considers the most effective form of treatment based on information provided.  With more than 400 different types of psychotherapy, some therapists simply refer to themselves as integrative therapists rather than one specific therapeutic model. 

IFS is an evidence-based approach that has been shown to be effective for treating various conditions and their symptoms, such as depression, anxiety, phobias, panic, as well as improving general overall well-being.  Recent research has demonstrated that IFS is very effective when working with trauma issues.  IFS works to create a unified self with the belief that each person holds multiple sub-personalities or families within their mental system.  These sub-personalities are identified as wounded parts, painful emotions such as anger and shame, and parts that protect the individual from the pain of the wounded parts.  These sub-personalities create a division within the core of the person, thus causing a separation within the self.  IFS focuses on healing the wounded parts and restoring mental balance and harmony by changing the dynamics that create discord among the sub-personalities and the Self.

Multicultural therapy deals with the concerns of anyone who is marginalized in society.  This can be due to a person’s race, ethnicity, religion, gender identification, income, disability, or other social factor falls outside of the majority. Issues that arise for minority groups, such as oppression, racism, and marginalization, are relevant and recognized. Multicultural therapy can be applied to many other therapeutic frameworks and is appropriate for all ages and individual and family work.  The therapist has increased cultural awareness and places an increased emphasis on individualism than in some traditional therapy settings that take a more universal approach. 

This is a psychotherapeutic approach that utilizes the activity of play to create a safe place to explore repressed thoughts and emotions through play and learn healthier ways of interacting with others.  Play therapy is generally used for children ages 3 to 12 but can also be utilized to assist adults.  The goal of this therapy is to increase communication skills, change behaviors, develop problem-solving skills, and relate to others more effectively.  It is appropriate for clients undergoing or witnessing stressful events in their lives, such as a serious illness or hospitalization, domestic violence, abuse, trauma, a family crisis, or an upsetting change in their environment. Play therapy can help children with academic and social problems, learning disabilities, behavioral disorders, anxiety, depression, grief, or anger, as well as those with attention deficit disorders or who are on the autism spectrum.

This therapy focuses on finding solutions in the present time and exploring one’s hope for the future to find resolutions for current problems.  SFBT is based on the premise that everyone already has the answers to their problems, and with the appropriate help, can find the best solutions.   Goal setting is one of the primary elements of this theory and views identifying and clarifying goals as essential for success.  The concept that once a goal is clarified and a clear plan is applied, then the person will have the solutions needed for change.  This theory can be integrated with other therapy styles or remain a separate intervention.  SFBT is used with all ages, a variety of issues, and may improve the quality of life of people who suffer from multiple diagnoses.