Excellent question! And one that is actually pretty easy to answer. Most people are familiar with the third wave of therapeutic modalities… cognitive behavioral, dialectical behavioral, and acceptance with commitment (CBT, DBT, and ACT, respectively). These three are evidence-based and can be very structured modalities. But there’s a whole plethora of modalities… psychodynamic, somatic, solution-focused, Gestalt, and Adlerian, to name a few.
Fun fact! Did you know that DBT was developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan, who herself had borderline personality disorder?
So, which modality is best? Actually, the answer is none of them. It turns out, one modality is not better than the other. The number one predictive factor for therapeutic growth and change is this… it’s the relationship. If you feel like you get along well with your therapist, you trust them and you feel like you can share anything, then there’s a pretty good chance you will have a good outcome with therapy.
A relational therapist is not rigid. I don’t say “CBT for everyone”, because it’s not appropriate for every client’s treatment plan. A relational therapist notices both the client’s strengths and areas of growth, which helps inform the therapist on what will be most helpful for the client.
So don’t be fooled by “CBT is best” or “ACT is the most helpful” (even though I really do like ACT’s principles). If you build trust with your therapist, then you are well on your way to positive change.
Purple Finch Counseling PLLC 