Types of Therapy in Burlington and London, Ontario
In-Person, Virtual and Phone Call Appointments Available No Waitlist | Free Parking
Why Does Understanding Different Therapy Methods Matter?
Understanding the different types of therapy available can be empowering when you’re seeking mental health support. At Steyaert Counselling – serving communities in Burlington, Ontario, and London, Ontario – we believe in matching each person with a therapeutic approach that fits their unique needs. In this article, we’ll explore various therapeutic approaches and how they differ, so you can make an informed choice on your counselling journey.
Knowing which therapy modality suits you can make a big difference in your comfort and progress in counselling. Each method offers distinct techniques and perspectives. By learning about these approaches, you can find one that resonates with you and addresses your concerns effectively.
Why does understanding different therapy methods matter? Consider this: if you’re dealing with anxiety or depression, a structured approach like cognitive behavioural therapy might be very effective, while someone coping with past trauma might benefit more from a trauma-focused or narrative approach. Being aware of your options helps you find a mental health counselling method that feels right.
Key Benefits of Knowing Your Therapy Options:
- Better Outcomes: Choosing a therapy approach aligned with your goals and personality can lead to more meaningful progress and better results.
- Personal Comfort: When you understand how a therapy works, you’re more likely to feel comfortable and engaged in the process, whether it’s a practical method like CBT or a more reflective style like psychodynamic therapy.
- Empowered Decisions: Knowing the types of therapy available gives you a sense of control. You can discuss preferences with your therapist and actively participate in planning your treatment.
Factors Influencing Therapy Choice
Selecting the right therapy is a personal decision influenced by several factors. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer – the best approach depends on you. Here are some key factors to consider when choosing a therapeutic approach:
- Your Goals and Issues: What do you want to achieve in therapy? Are you looking to reduce anxiety, work through trauma, improve relationships, or manage stress? The nature of your concern can influence the choice. For example, some modalities are especially effective for certain issues – CBT for anxiety or trauma-focused therapy for PTSD.
- Therapist’s Expertise: Therapists often have specialized training in particular methods. You may choose a therapist based on the approaches they offer. At Steyaert Counselling, our team includes clinicians skilled in a range of methods, from structured Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to compassionate Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT).
- Your Comfort Level: Think about what style you might be most comfortable with. Do you prefer a short-term, solution-oriented approach, or something open-ended and exploratory? For instance, some people like the goal-setting nature of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), while others prefer the deep exploration of psychodynamic therapy.
- Severity and Complexity: The severity or complexity of your situation can play a role. Severe trauma or long-standing emotional difficulties might require a different approach (or a combination of approaches) than a brief situational stress. Complex issues sometimes benefit from integrative methods like Internal Family Systems (IFS) that address multiple layers of experience.
- Practical Considerations: Logistics such as scheduling, length of treatment, and insurance coverage can influence your choice. Some approaches are very structured with a set number of sessions, while others are more flexible. In Ontario, many insurance plans cover sessions with a registered psychotherapist or social worker, but coverage varies – it’s worth checking your plan (more on this in the FAQ below).
Remember, it’s okay if you’re not sure which approach is right for you initially. A qualified therapist can guide you, and often the first session (or a free consultation call) is about determining a good fit.
Overview of Major Therapeutic Approaches
Therapy isn’t one-size-fits-all. Here’s an overview of several major therapeutic approaches available (and practiced by our team at Steyaert Counselling), along with what makes each unique. By understanding these, you can start to see which might align best with your situation:
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps you accept difficult feelings while committing to actions aligned with your values. Instead of fighting uncomfortable thoughts, you learn to mindfully accept them and still move forward.
Benefit: ACT is useful for issues like anxiety, depression, or chronic pain. It’s great if you feel ‘stuck’ in negative thought loops and want a way to break free and live a more value-driven life.
Attachment-Based Therapy
Attachment-Based Therapy explores how early bonding experiences with caregivers shape our current relationship patterns. By examining the dynamics of trust, security, and emotional responsiveness, this approach helps individuals understand and heal attachment wounds that may contribute to present-day difficulties. Through fostering healthier interpersonal connections and a sense of security, clients can build stronger, more resilient bonds in their adult relationships.
Benefit: It’s especially useful for those who’ve experienced inconsistent or unstable relationships in childhood, as it can clarify how past attachments influence current emotional and relational challenges.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
CBT focuses on how your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours influence each other. It helps you reframe negative thinking patterns and develop healthier coping skills.
Benefit: It’s highly effective for common issues like anxiety, depression, or phobias, especially if you prefer structured sessions with concrete techniques (like practicing new skills between meetings).
Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT)
Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) aims to help individuals cultivate compassion toward themselves and others, thereby reducing feelings of shame and self-criticism. Drawing from evolutionary psychology, cognitive therapies, and Buddhist teachings on mindfulness and compassion, CFT encourages the development of a “compassionate mind.” Clients learn techniques like guided imagery and soothing rhythm breathing to strengthen self-soothing abilities and foster a kinder inner dialogue.
Benefit: Particularly useful for those struggling with harsh self-judgment, anxiety, or depression, as it promotes emotional warmth, acceptance, and empathy in place of constant self-criticism.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
DBT is a modified form of CBT, originally developed for borderline personality disorder, that helps people manage intense emotions. It balances acceptance with change, teaching skills like mindfulness, better emotion regulation, and healthy ways to cope with distress.
Benefit: It’s particularly useful for individuals who feel overwhelmed by their emotions or engage in self-destructive behaviours, providing a framework to build stability and improve relationships.
Emotionally Focused Therapy
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) is all about improving emotional bonds, especially in couples. It’s widely used in couples counselling to help partners understand each other’s feelings and create a secure attachment.
Benefit: EFT can be transformative for couples struggling with conflict or distance by rebuilding trust and enhancing communication.
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy sees your mind as made up of different ‘parts’ (for example, a wounded inner child or a protective voice) that have their own feelings and roles. IFS helps these parts heal and work together under the guidance of your core Self.
Benefit: Often effective for trauma and inner conflicts, IFS can lead to profound emotional healing by helping you understand and nurture every part of yourself.
Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)
Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) focuses on improving your mood by addressing your relationships and social interactions. It usually targets one of four areas: grief, major life changes (role transitions), conflicts, or social difficulties.
Benefit: IPT is well-known for treating depression, especially when relationship issues or life transitions are involved. By strengthening your support network and communication skills, it can help alleviate symptoms and improve your overall emotional well-being.
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
Mindfulness-based therapies (like Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy) integrate meditation and present-moment awareness into counselling. They teach you to observe your thoughts and feelings without judgment.
Benefit: Effective for managing stress and anxiety and preventing depression relapse, these approaches suit those who prefer a calm, reflective therapy style and want to build skills like meditation or breathing exercises for everyday life.
Motivational Interviewing
Motivational Interviewing is a goal-oriented, collaborative counselling style designed to elicit and strengthen personal motivation for change. Rather than telling clients what to do, the therapist uses open-ended questions and reflective listening to help them explore their own reasons for change. This process resolves ambivalence, boosts self-efficacy, and supports clients in taking concrete steps toward their goals—whether it’s overcoming an addiction or making lifestyle adjustments.
Benefit: Especially helpful for individuals who feel stuck or uncertain about changing unhealthy habits. By enhancing internal motivation, MI empowers clients to take meaningful action.
Narrative Therapy
Narrative therapy helps you re-author your story in a way that separates you from your problems. You and your therapist identify the values and strengths in your life story, and use them to change how you view challenges.
Benefit: This approach is empowering for anyone who feels defined by their problems (such as trauma survivors or people with low self-esteem). It allows you to find new meaning and see yourself in a more positive light.
Positive Psychology
Positive Psychology focuses on enhancing well-being rather than merely addressing problems. Therapists using this approach encourage clients to identify and build upon their strengths, cultivate gratitude and optimism, and engage in activities that foster resilience and fulfillment. Techniques often include exercises like journaling positive experiences, practicing acts of kindness, or setting inspiring personal goals to increase a sense of purpose.
Benefit: Ideal for those looking to boost overall life satisfaction and emotional health. By shifting focus from “what’s wrong” to “what’s going well,” individuals can develop a more balanced, growth-oriented mindset.
Psychoanalytic/Psychodynamic
Psychodynamic therapy is an insight-oriented approach that explores how unconscious thoughts and early-life experiences shape your current behaviour.
Benefit: By uncovering hidden patterns and unresolved feelings, it can help with long-standing issues and relationship difficulties. This approach is a good fit if you want to gain deep self-understanding and work through the root causes of your emotions.
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) concentrates on finding solutions in the present and future rather than dissecting the past. You’ll work with your therapist to envision your desired outcome and identify small, achievable steps to get there.
Benefit: SFBT is ideal if you have a specific issue to address or want a shorter therapy. It can quickly boost motivation and confidence by highlighting the strengths and resources you already have.
Strengths-Based Therapy
Strengths-based therapy operates on the principle that everyone possesses unique capabilities, talents, and resources that can be harnessed to overcome challenges. Rather than centering on deficits, therapists in this modality work collaboratively with clients to uncover and amplify existing strengths, resilience, and past successes. The goal is to empower individuals to recognize their intrinsic capacity for growth, thereby improving self-esteem and problem-solving skills.
Benefit: Useful across a wide range of issues, this approach fosters a positive self-image and helps clients feel more confident in handling life’s hurdles by drawing on their natural aptitudes and prior achievements.
Trauma-Focused Therapy
Trauma-focused therapy isn’t a single method but a category of approaches that specifically help people heal from trauma. These therapies are delivered in a trauma-informed way, meaning your therapist prioritizes your safety and control during the process.
Benefit: If you’ve experienced trauma, this approach helps you process painful memories, reduce PTSD symptoms, and rebuild a sense of safety at your own pace. A trauma-focused therapist provides compassionate support throughout your healing journey.
Each of these approaches offers a different path to healing and growth. Some people even use a combination — many therapists at Steyaert Counselling are eclectic or integrative, meaning they draw techniques from multiple modalities to suit what works best for you. There is no “one right way” to do therapy; the best approach is the one that aligns with your personal needs and helps you feel heard and supported.
How Steyaert Counselling Helps You Choose the Right Therapy
With so many options available, deciding which therapy to try can feel overwhelming. Steyaert Counselling is here to help. We take a client-centred approach, which means you and your unique situation are at the core of our recommendations.
Initial Consultation and Intake: When you reach out to Steyaert Counselling (whether you’re in Burlington, London or anywhere in Ontario via our online therapy services), we start with an initial consultation. This might be a brief phone call or first session where we get to know you – what challenges you’re facing, what goals you have, and any preferences or concerns about therapy you already know of. Based on this conversation, we can suggest a suitable therapist on our team who specializes in the area relevant to you.
Personalized Matching: Our clinic has a diverse team with expertise in various therapeutic approaches. After understanding your needs, we’ll match you with a therapist who not only has the professional skills (for example, training in CBT for anxiety or EFT for couples) but also is someone you can connect with. We know that having a strong, trusting connection with your therapist is crucial for success, so we make it a priority to connect you with the right person from the start.
Collaborative Decision-Making: In your first few sessions, your therapist will explain their approach and make sure you’re comfortable with it. This is a collaborative process. If you have any questions about the method or if something isn’t clicking for you, we encourage you to share that. Sometimes therapy might involve trying a couple of strategies to see what resonates. For example, your therapist might primarily use psychodynamic therapy but also introduce some mindfulness techniques if stress is a big factor for you. At Steyaert Counselling, we don’t believe in a rigid, one-size-fits-all formula – we adapt to you.
Flexibility and Ongoing Evaluation: Choosing the right therapy is not a one-time decision; it can evolve. As you progress, your needs might change. Our therapists regularly check in about what’s working and what isn’t. If necessary, they can adjust the treatment plan – whether that means incorporating a new technique or even referring you to another specialist for a different approach. The goal is to ensure you always feel you’re getting the most out of your counselling experience.
Throughout the process, we’ll also help you with practical details like scheduling and using your insurance benefits, so you never have to navigate those alone.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the best therapy for anxiety?
The “best” therapy for anxiety can vary from person to person, but Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is often considered a gold-standard treatment for anxiety. CBT helps you tackle anxious thoughts and gradually face fears in a manageable way, which has proven very effective for many anxiety disorders. That said, other approaches can also help with anxiety. For example, Mindfulness-based therapies teach calming techniques and present-moment focus, which ease anxious feelings. The key is finding what approach you resonate with. At Steyaert Counselling, our therapists are experienced in treating anxiety and may blend techniques from different therapies to tailor the treatment to you.
What therapy is most common?
Generally, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is one of the most commonly used therapy methods today, thanks to its strong evidence base for many conditions. Traditional talk therapy (psychodynamic therapy) is also very common given its long history. These days, many therapists integrate multiple techniques, but CBT is often a go-to starting point for a lot of people.
What are the different types of trauma therapy?
Trauma therapy comes in various forms. Some common approaches include Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT), EMDR, somatic therapies (body-focused methods like Somatic Experiencing), Narrative Therapy and even psychodynamic therapy adapted for trauma. All of these aim to help you process traumatic memories safely and reduce symptoms like PTSD. At Steyaert Counselling, our trauma-focused therapy is tailored to each client. We often integrate multiple methods – for example, using grounding and mindfulness techniques to keep you stable while gently working through trauma memories when you’re ready. The important thing is that any trauma therapy proceeds at your pace, with plenty of support along the way.
How do I pick the right approach for me?
It can feel overwhelming to choose, but remember, you don’t have to figure it all out alone. Here are some steps to consider:
- Research and Reflect: Reading articles like this is a great start. Notice if any particular approach resonates with you or matches how you like to learn and communicate. For instance, if you prefer concrete tools and homework, CBT might stand out; if you value deep exploration of your past, psychodynamic might appeal.
- Consult a Professional: Therapists are trained to assess your needs and can recommend approaches that have worked for others with similar concerns. You might start with a general psychotherapy session and discuss your goals. The therapist can then recommend an approach they believes will suit you.
- Consider the Issue: Certain problems have therapies that are particularly effective for them. If your main challenge is a relationship issue, you might lean towards EFT or IPT. If it’s a habit or behavior you want to change, maybe CBT or DBT would be appropriate.
- Try and See (and Trust Your Instincts): Sometimes, you won’t know if a therapy style suits you until you try a session or two. It’s absolutely okay to switch if you feel it’s not a good fit. Your comfort and sense of safety in therapy are the top priority—if something doesn’t feel right (too slow, too fast, too technical, etc.), discuss it with your therapist or consider a different approach. A good therapist will support you in making adjustments because, ultimately, the right therapy is the one where you feel heard, understood, and hopeful you’re making progress.
Is therapy covered by my insurance or benefits in Ontario?
In Ontario, many extended health benefit plans cover therapy sessions provided by a Registered Psychotherapist (RP), Registered Social Worker (RSW), or Psychologist. The exact coverage and amount will depend on your specific plan. Some plans cover a set dollar amount per session or a total amount per year for counselling. It’s best to check with your insurance provider about the details of your psychotherapy coverage. Remember that OHIP (the public health plan) generally does not cover private therapy sessions. At Steyaert Counselling, we provide official receipts with your therapist’s credentials, which you can submit for reimbursement. If direct billing is available under your plan, we can assist with that process as well. We’re happy to help you navigate your benefits during the intake process.
Regulatory Considerations & Ontario-Specific Details
Mental health services in Ontario are regulated to protect your safety and privacy. Steyaert Counselling’s therapists are all licensed professionals who adhere to the standards of their regulatory colleges. Most of our counsellors are registered with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) or the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers. This means they follow strict ethical guidelines, maintain confidentiality, and continually update their skills.
Choosing a therapist who is registered (like with the CRPO) ensures they have proper education and accountability. At Steyaert Counselling, you can feel confident you’re working with qualified professionals who are held to high standards of care.
If you live near our offices in London or Burlington, you can opt for in-person sessions. We also offer secure online therapy across Ontario), so distance isn’t a barrier to getting help.
Lastly, keep in mind that therapists can’t promise a “cure” and must use evidence-based methods. These regulations protect you and ensure that the care you receive is effective, professional, and honest.
Conclusion & Next Steps
Choosing the right therapy approach is a significant step toward improving your mental health, and it’s great that you’re educating yourself on the options. Each therapeutic method has its own strengths, and the best way forward is the one that feels right for you. Whether it’s the structured problem-solving of CBT, the deep introspection of psychodynamic therapy, or the skills-building of DBT (or something else entirely), the goal is to help you feel better and achieve your personal goals.
At Steyaert Counselling, we’re here to support you on this journey. Our warm and professional team in Burlington and London, Ontario is ready to help match you with a therapy that suits your needs. We believe in holistic, personalized care – you’re never just a diagnosis or a number to us, but a whole person with a unique story.
Ready to start your counselling journey? Don’t hesitate to reach out and book a consultation (we have offices in both London and Burlington and online options for others in Ontario). We’re happy to answer any further questions and guide you toward the support you deserve.
Your mental well-being is important. By understanding different therapeutic approaches and seeking the right help, you’re taking a brave and positive step forward.