المدونة

Therapy acronyms can feel like a new alphabet. Here is how to cut through them and focus on what a session would actually involve for you.

CBT, DBT, ACT: if you have started looking into therapy, you have probably seen these letters everywhere. They are convenient shorthand for practitioners, but for anyone else they can make seeking help feel like it requires homework.

You do not need to decode them first

The good news is that you can ask for support without knowing what any of the acronyms stand for. The starting point is the difficulty you would like to work on, whether that is worry, a relationship pattern, low mood or something you cannot yet name.

Ask what a session would actually look like

Dr Christine Shen, Acupuncturist, is also qualified in psychotherapy. Rather than asking which method she uses, you might ask her to describe an ordinary session. Would you be learning and practising particular skills? Reflecting on past and present experiences? Trying small activities between appointments? Hearing how an approach plays out in practice is often far more informative than its label.

Goals before methods

An explanation that connects with your own aims is more useful than choosing a therapy because its initials sound familiar or a friend mentioned it. Methods are tools; what matters is whether the work fits your situation.

Keeping track together

You can talk openly about what you hope to understand, what feels resistant to change and how you might notice things shifting. Ask Christine how you will review the work and what extra support exists if you find things harder between sessions. If another service or professional would suit your needs better, a referral can be discussed.

Psychotherapy in Freshwater

For Northern Beaches residents, the Freshwater clinic offers psychotherapy without the drive across to the city. Anyone feeling unsafe should get in touch with emergency services or a crisis support service straight away instead of holding on for a booking. This article is a general explainer and does not assess which approach would suit you.