Therapies & Approaches
What Therapies & Approaches?
The therapies and approaches detailed below are well researched and recognised therapies which also lend themselves well to effective work online.
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
CBT is based on the idea that our thoughts, emotions and behaviour are powerfully connected, each affecting the other. Negative thoughts, for example, can easily spiral out of control, unhelpfully affecting our emotions and leading to responses (behaviour) that may adversely impact on our relationships, life choices and sense of self in everyday life.
Unhelpful thoughts relating to current distress and difficult situations are usually the focus for CBT although it is also useful in exploring deeply held patterns of thinking and beliefs which are often developed in response to past experiences and trauma.
The aim of therapy is to change these repeating negative cycles by gradually exploring how you think and respond and by developing more constructive and healthy ways of thinking, responding and managing emotions – overall improving the way you feel about yourself and your life.
It is one of the most effective and evidence-based treatments where depression or anxiety is the main concern. It is also well established for many other areas of distress e.g. eating/weight, stress and self-esteem.
CBT can also be adapted and effectively used across the age range and across developmental differences.
Eye Movement & Desensitisation (EMDR)
EMDR is based on the idea that our brains have a mechanism for processing and recovering from disturbing experiences and memories. Sometimes this mechanism may become overwhelmed and processing of these experiences may become ‘stuck’ and incomplete. When aspects of this experience are triggered for you, it can sometimes feel as real and as distressing as the original experience. Such memories can interfere with how you see yourself, your relationships and the world.
EMDR helps re-start your brain’s own processing mechanisms, using eye movements or tapping, so that these experiences and memories can be properly processed.
As these experiences become more fully processed:
- emotional and physiological distress is reduced
- negative thinking is re-evaluated and
- the memory is integrated into your normal memory network in a more meaningful and appropriate way.
Whilst you do retain the memory, it is less distressing should you choose to bring it to mind.
EMDR is one of the most effective and well evidence-based therapies for trauma and difficult life events. It is increasingly used for many other areas of psychological distress and physical pain and can also be adapted and effectively used across the age range and across developmental differences.
Systemic Therapy for Couples & Families
Systemic therapy focusses on patterns of behaviour and communication between members of groups – couples, families or work teams. It enables family members to express thoughts and feelings safely.
Systemic Therapy works towards:
- improving understanding of others’ points of view;
- improving understanding of the beliefs behind individual and shared roles and boundaries; and
- the appreciation of others’ feelings and needs both as individuals and members of a couple or family.
Systemic Therapy explores how things come to be played out in the couple/family and encourages more effective communication and negotiation, drawing on both individual and relationship strengths and resources.
It can be useful when a family wishes to explore and understand more about the nature and dynamics of difference and neurodiversity, and to enhance overall family support and communication.
This allows individuals and relationships to flourish as positive resources within a healthy and supportive couple/family.
Systemic Therapy is also helpful to people seeking individual therapy, as it enables reflection on strengths and difficulties from a relationship perspective.
Some couples seek therapy to change and improve their relationship, especially around communication, conflict, trust, and sexual problems, whilst others may wish to explore a potential decision to separate.
Family work may include parents and children or young people, even grandparents, siblings, carers – anyone who is important to the family. Parts of the family may be worked with separately to enhance relationships, roles and boundaries, such as joint, mutually supportive, parenting.
Energy Accounting
Energy Accounting is a way of understanding and helping to regulate energy levels and to pace life so that phases of exhaustion or fatigue and ‘overwhelm’ are less likely.
Those of us with developmental differences may find navigating the social world we live in a particularly confusing, stressful and exhausting process. ‘Autistic fatigue’, for example, and subsequent ‘autistic burnout’ has been described as exhaustion with additional difficulties such as increased experiences of being overwhelmed; shutting down; increased sensory sensitivity; and physical pain e.g. headaches.
Energy accounting and pacing can also be helpful for those of us with pain and/or chronic illness.
Social Problem-Solving Approaches
Social problem-solving focusses on finding adaptive ways of coping with everyday social situations which might be challenging.
It is likely to also likely to include exploration and development of self-awareness, an understanding of emotions, perspective taking, empathy, establishing and maintaining positive relationships.
Social problem-solving skills are important for all of us in our social interactions and relationships in day-to-day life, both personal and professional.
Social Stories
Social Stories can be useful in supporting social understanding. This includes perspective-taking and inferring the intentions, feelings and thoughts of others.
Social Stories are based on the idea that stories can be used to explain social rules, concepts, reactions and feelings (of self and others) alongside the importance of social context and expectations which otherwise may not be recognised and understood. Although Social Stories can be used across the age range, they are most often used with children and young people.
Structured Teaching from TEACCH
Structured Teaching is based on an understanding of how differences in sensory processing, imitation, motivation, and organisation can effect well-being, especially in an environment or context that is not suitably adapted to these differences. This psychoeducational approach is designed to develop coping skills.
Taking account of, and harnessing individual strengths, Structured Teaching focuses on personal and developmental needs, interests, and the development of:
- autonomy/independence;
- flexibility/adaptability and
- self-esteem.
Consideration is also given to the physical environment to enable promotion of attention skills, management of transitions, increased predictability and organisation, whilst decreasing anxiety and feelings of being overwhelmed.
