COGNITIVE BEHAVIOUR THERAPY
Regulated by the British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapists
 
The duration of this treatment varies drastically according to the patients needs. It is concerned with modifying behaviour through challenging unhelpful methods of thinking. It is based on the assumption that our perceptions affect our actions and defines 'cognitive distortions' such as thinking 'it's all my fault'. These thoughts can be challenged and then changed leading to more productive behaviour. The limitations are that the problem must be strictly defined and the patient must be properly motivated and capable of understanding/change.
 
DIALECTICAL BEHAVIOUR THERAPY
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is the treatment of choice for helping people with a diagnosis of emotionally unstable or borderline personality disorder give up self-harm. Following a referral by the mental health service to the Psychological Therapies Service, a client is offered an assessment and up to six sessions of 'commitment' work before signing a therapy contract and commencing treatment.
 
Full DBT involves attending one individual therapy session (1 hour) and one skills group session (2 ½ hours) per week (in addition to accessing DBT specific telephone coaching to practise skill use) for a minimum of six months duration. There is an opportunity for clients to repeat the skills group a second time to consolidate learning. Once people have learnt how to manage their problems without self harming then other issues can be addressed which could mean further therapy.
 
DBT is one of the new therapies which are based on practising mindfulness and anyone interested may want to find about more about this. For more information see:-
http://www.behaviouraltech.com/
http://www.dbtselfhelp.com/html
 
[Information courtesy of Dr Lorraine Bell, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, D Clin Psych, FBPsS]
 
PSYCHOTHERAPY
Regulated by United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy and others
 
This is a long term treatment which is concerned with personality change. It is reconstructive in nature and can often be mentally painful for the patient. It depends on the personal analysis as to exactly how the therapy is approached. The limitations are the length of treatment, and also the highly theoretical nature, rather than practical emphasis.
 
COUNSELLING
Regulated by the United Kingdom Register of Counsellors and others
 
This is a shorter term treatment which is concerned with the development of the patients own resources. It is facilitative in nature and may be less intrusive than psychotherapy. The emphasis is on skill acquisition and development rather than fundamental personality change. The limitations are that it can be merely supportive rather than challenging behaviour and is thought overly simplistic by some professionals.
 
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Other methods are also used such as drama/art therapy, hypnotherapy and group therapy.