Therapy Styles

Therapy styles, also known as modalities, are diverse approaches and techniques that we use in therapy. Each style we use is catered to different needs, preferences, and conditions. We use various therapy styles to provide tailored, and effective care that will support you in your journey toward mental and emotional well-being. Read more on the styles we use at Hello, or see the therapies we offer.

Therapy We Offer

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

CBT involves changing unhelpful thought patterns and behaviours. CBT is based on the notion that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviours are interconnected, and by changing our thoughts, we can change how we feel and behave. CBT is a structured and goal-oriented therapy that typically involves working with a therapist to develop coping strategies and skills to manage symptoms.

Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT)

DBT focuses on teaching individuals’ skills to manage their emotions, improve interpersonal relationships, and cope with stress in a healthy way. It combines cognitive-behavioral therapy with mindfulness techniques to help individuals develop a greater sense of self-awareness and emotional regulation.

Multidiagnostic Eating Disorder Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (MED-DBT)

MED-DBT is a blend of DBT and eating disorder interventions for those with complex eating disorder presentations. It is a skill-based intervention focused on accountability for food intake and weight stabilization as well as targeting emotion dysregulation and harmful behaviours that can interfere with treatment delivery and success.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

ACT focuses on helping individuals accept what is beyond their control and commit to taking action that enriches their lives. ACT is based on the idea that trying to control our thoughts and feelings often leads to psychological distress and that instead of trying to change or eliminate unwanted thoughts and emotions, we should learn to accept them and take action in line with our values. ACT uses mindfulness techniques to help individuals become more aware of their thoughts and feelings and encourages them to take steps toward living a meaningful and fulfilling life based on their values.

Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)

CPT is a type of cognitive-behavioural therapy designed to treat individuals who have experienced trauma, particularly those with post-traumatic stress disorder. CPT focuses on helping individuals no longer avoid trauma-related thoughts and emotions. With a focus on understanding and challenging unhelpful beliefs and thoughts related to the traumatic event, people can experience a significant reduction in symptoms of PTSD. CPT typically involves structured sessions where individuals learn skills and techniques to identify and change negative thought patterns and cope with distressing emotions and memories related to the trauma. Homework is also a part of the therapy to promote the use of skills outside of sessions.

Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT)

EFT is a type of psychotherapy that focuses on helping individuals become more aware of, accept, and regulate their emotions. It is based on the idea that emotions play a central role in our psychological well-being and that we can create meaningful change in our lives by exploring and processing our feelings. EFT aims to help individuals understand their emotions better, identify underlying emotional patterns, and learn how to express and regulate their emotions in a healthier way.

Play Therapy

Play therapy creates a safe and supportive environment for children to play freely and uses various techniques to help them process their emotions, develop coping skills, and work towards healing and growth. Play therapy can be used to address a wide range of issues for children including trauma, anxiety, behavioural problems, and social skills development.

Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT)

Solution-focused therapy focuses on identifying the challenges you are facing, and building upon your strengths and resources to help you achieve your goals. This approach emphasizes finding solutions to current problems rather than focusing on past issues. The therapist and client work collaboratively to set specific, achievable goals and develop strategies to reach those goals. Solution-focused therapy is typically goal-oriented, with an emphasis on positive change and progress.

Narrative Therapy

Narrative therapy views individuals as experts in their own lives, and allows for individuals to share stories and assign meaning to their lives and relationships. As individuals tell their stories, the clinician is able to identify messages and themes within their story. Once these messages are decoded, they typically demonstrate how the individual views themselves. Clients can work with their therapist to gain new perspectives and develop a sense of agency in creating their own life stories.

Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR)

EMDR is a leading treatment for trauma and other distressing life situations and experiences (including anxiety, phobias and depression). It uses bilateral stimulation (BLS – typically eye movements) to help the brain reprocess what it couldn’t process in the past. With this line of treatment, memories and distressing experiences can be properly stored in the brain leading to a reduction in emotional intensity and vividness of past traumas.
EMDR is based on AIP (Adaptive Information Processing Model), which explains the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other disorders, aside from being chemical or physically based, to be a result of past trauma and disturbing experiences. These experiences continue to be distressing due to not being properly processed at the time. The thoughts, emotions, beliefs, and physical sensations from past events are within these maladaptive memories. When memories are triggered in the present, the disturbing elements are re-experienced, causing the symptoms of PTSD and/or other related disorders to be maintained. EMDR focuses directly on these memories, helping to change how memory is stored in the brain.