What kind of therapy is right for you? from Berkhamsted Counsellor and therapist Sean Heneghan

What Kind of Therapy Is Right for You?

Starting therapy can feel like stepping into a maze, one with too many doors, each promising a different kind of help. How do you know which kind of therapy is right for you?

In this article, I’ll briefly outline some of the most prominent types of therapy and share a little about how I work. If you’re wondering what kind of therapy do I need?, I hope this gives you some clarity.

One helpful way to navigate the landscape is to ask: Does this therapy aim to go deep, or to work more in the short term? Broadly, therapy can be described as either Depth Therapy or Brief / Short-Term Therapy.

Brief therapy, such as CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy), follows set protocols and focuses on conscious management of symptoms. Depth therapy, on the other hand, explores unconscious processes, personal history, and relational patterns. In short-term approaches, you might work with a therapist for six or so sessions on a specific problem. In depth work, the focus is more exploratory, personal, and open-ended.

I’m trained in both brief and longer-term approaches, but I believe therapy is most powerful when it’s tailored to the individual, and when it honours the deeper forces that shape our lives, even when they’re not immediately visible.

 

Depth Therapy vs Brief Therapy

At heart, these two broad approaches reflect different views of human suffering and change.

 

Depth Therapy

* sees psychological pain as rooted in unconscious conflict, attachment wounds, existential distress, or developmental trauma.

* Prioritises emotional insight, self-understanding, and the transformation of deep patterns.

* Open-ended and relational, using unstructured dialogue rather than fixed protocols.

* Change is seen as integration—not just symptom removal.

 

Brief Therapy

* Sees psychological difficulties as problems to be solved or adjusted.

* Focuses on symptom relief, behavioural change, or goal-setting.

* Often time-limited, structured, and directive.

* Change is framed in terms of doing, rather than deeper discovery.

 

Depth-Oriented Therapies

Psychoanalytic / Psychodynamic Therapy

Philosophy: Present-day suffering often has roots in early life experiences. We carry unconscious conflicts and repeating patterns that therapy helps bring into awareness.

Therapist style: Thoughtful, often quiet. Trained to observe subtle patterns, dreams, defences, and the relational dynamics in the room.

What it’s like: Slow, emotionally rich, and sometimes unsettling. Not about quick fixes, but about discovering why you are the way you are.

 

Person-Centred Therapy

Philosophy: Founded by Carl Rogers, this approach trusts in your inner drive toward growth and wholeness. Therapy helps remove the blocks to that natural process.

Therapist style: Non-directive, accepting, emotionally attuned. Offers empathy, unconditional positive regard, and authenticity.

What it’s like: Respectful and safe. You won’t be analysed or pushed. The work unfolds at your pace.

 

Gestalt Therapy

Philosophy: Focuses on the present moment, where unresolved issues from the past tend to reappear. Awareness is the gateway to integration.

Therapist style: Active, present, and relational. May use body awareness, experiments, and dialogue to deepen insight.

What it’s like: Often intense, sometimes playful. You might speak from different parts of yourself or sit with uncomfortable feelings to increase self-awareness.

 

Brief and Solution-Focused Therapies

 

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Philosophy: Problems stem from distorted thinking and unhelpful behaviours. Change your thoughts and behaviours, and how you feel changes too.

Therapist style: Structured, directive, and practical. Often works with worksheets, agendas, and step-by-step plans.

What it’s like: Efficient and focused. Great for specific challenges, though some find it doesn’t go deep enough.

 

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)

Philosophy: Looks at what’s working rather than analysing what went wrong. Focuses on future goals, not past wounds.

Therapist style: Optimistic, collaborative, and goal-oriented. Draws out your strengths rather than your struggles.

What it’s like: Hopeful and energising, especially if you feel stuck in negativity. But may feel too surface-level if you're dealing with deeper pain.

 

Coaching-Oriented Therapy

Philosophy: Centres on performance, achievement, and goal fulfilment. Emphasises mindset and motivation more than emotion or history.

Therapist style: Encouraging, focused, and high-energy. May use tools from positive psychology, CBT, or NLP.

What it’s like: Forward-focused and practical. Often useful for career or life direction—but less so for emotional processing or past trauma.

 

My Own Approach

As someone trained in Gestalt, Cognitive Hypnotherapy, and acupuncture, I bring a wide-ranging skillset to my work. My approach sits firmly within the tradition of depth therapy.

I sometimes draw on brief techniques where appropriate, but I believe real change happens when we begin to explore the unconscious themes underlying even the most seemingly straightforward problems. Pain often carries meaning, and therapy is where we begin to listen.

Philosophy: Therapy is a process of discovery. I’m interested in helping you make sense of yourself in surprising and transformative ways—not just to feel better, but to become more deeply in touch with who you are.

Therapist style: Grounded, relational, attuned. I’ll stay with you patiently, but I can challenge when it’s needed. Therapy works best when it stirs something, when it’s honest, and when it reveals what’s been hidden or denied.

What it’s like: I hope it feels like a warm, supported descent into your depths. I believe the kind of aliveness many of us long for doesn’t come from quick fixes, but from this kind of work: steady, compassionate, and deep.

 

If you're looking for therapy in Berkhamsted or just wondering what kind of support might suit you best, you're welcome to get in touch. I'm happy to answer questions or have a short conversation to help you find the right next step.

(m) 07717 515 013