Talk Therapies

Every Viva therapist is certified and extensively experienced in various forms of talk therapy.

When people think of therapy, they are often thinking of talk-based methods like the ones on this page. The setup is often simple: a therapist and a client (or multiple clients) sitting across from one another. Yet any two therapists’ approaches may differ greatly based on the type of talk therapy they practice.

Behavior therapies, such as Cognitive-Behavior Therapy (CBT), involve identifying and changing unhelpful patterns of thought or behavior.

Psychodynamic therapies also look at thought and behavior patterns, but are more focused on identifying their origins. This allows you to understand how they developed and make deep, lasting changes.

Behavioral Therapies

“Behavior therapy has given me the tools to recognize and fight unhealthy thoughts and actions. I’ve been using it for years and would recommend it to anyone seeking to develop a more positive view of themselves or the world.” – G

What are Behavioral Therapies?

Behavioral therapies, namely Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), focus on identifying thought and behavior patterns that aren’t working and changing them to fit your needs.

There are several therapies that are based on the principles of CBT, including DBT and ACT.

Dialectical-Behavior Therapy (DBT)

DBT uses cognitive-behavioral skills with individuals who experience emotional dysregulation. It helps clients improve their awareness, ability to tolerate distress, and more. You can learn more about DBT here.

DBT is an evidence-based treatment for borderline personality disorder, bipolar disorder, and complex trauma. It is also useful for individuals with self-harming behaviors, suicidal ideation, addictions, eating disorders, and other behaviors related to impulsivity.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Like CBT, ACT assumes that anxiety and depression can be treated by changing thinking and behavior. It uses a combination of classic CBT strategies with newer skills. You can learn more about those here.

Research

CBT and its derivatives are among the most researched mental health treatments. They have been found to be effective for almost every category of mental health disturbance: anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, complicated grief, substance abuse, trauma recovery, eating disorders, borderline personality disorder, and schizophrenia.

The following Viva therapists offer Behavioral Therapies:

Psychodynamic Therapy

The process I went through with Viva Partnership was really something. I came here in a serious crisis. Through the individual and group support I received, I gradually shifted my outlook. This, in turn, changed how I experienced my life and relationships. Viva created a safe space where I got to heal and grow. – J

What is Psychodynamic Therapy?

Psychodynamic therapy examines recurring patterns with the self and others. It encourages individuals to acknowledge unconscious fears and desires, allowing them to alter negative behaviors and recover from traumatic experiences.

What To Expect

Psychodynamic therapy is rooted in traditional psychoanalysis, while incorporating modern-day practices and beliefs. A popular misconception is that Psychoanalysis and Freudian practice are one and the same. In reality, psychodynamic theory is the tree that Freud’s beliefs branched out from; his practices occupy their own separate subset of therapy. Want to know more?

What Does It Treat?

This form of therapy has been used to treat depression, anxiety, bodily disorders, phobias, eating disorders, and personality disorders. It can also be beneficial for anyone interested in how their thoughts and actions are rooted in past beliefs and experiences, especially relational challenges. This makes it especially useful for trauma work.

Research

Because psychodynamic therapy is so personalized, it is not possible to manualize it—that is, to write a manual that covers what each session will be about. Therefore, it’s not possible to study it in a randomized control trial (RCT). However, evidence suggests that psychodynamic therapy is highly effective at reducing the symptoms of mental illness. They also indicate that its effects are particularly long-lasting. These are just a few reasons why psychodynamic therapy has been used for decades, evolving to incorporate new findings.