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Therapy initials can be confusing. This guide spells out CBT, DBT and ACT, and explains why your goals matter more than choosing a method by name.

Therapy abbreviations are handy shorthand between practitioners but can be baffling to anyone simply trying to find help. You can skip the vocabulary lesson entirely. The starting point is the problem that is weighing on you, described in your own words.

What the initials stand for

CBT refers to cognitive behavioural therapy, DBT to dialectical behaviour therapy and ACT to acceptance and commitment therapy. Each is a recognised approach with its own emphasis, but knowing the names does not tell you which one, if any, suits your situation, nor whether a particular practitioner uses it.

Questions about an ordinary session

Talking therapy is offered by Dr Christine Shen, Acupuncturist, as well; her qualifications include psychotherapy, and she sees clients in Lane Cove. Ask Christine to describe a typical session in practical terms. Would you rehearse skills, reflect on past experiences or try a small task between appointments? A description tied to your own goals tells you more than a set of letters that happens to sound familiar.

Setting a direction together

Your priorities should lead the work. Talk through the knots you want to loosen and the evidence that would tell you something has changed. Check when the plan will be revisited and where to turn if a rough patch arrives between appointments. If a different service or practitioner would suit you better, a referral can be discussed openly and without awkwardness.

Reading about methods without pressure

It can be interesting to read about therapy models, and some people like arriving with a little background. Even so, treat what you read as context rather than a decision you must make in advance, and let the first conversation do the sorting.

Making contact

A first message can be as simple as naming the main difficulty and asking how sessions are structured. Questions about specific methods can wait until you have spoken, by which point you will have a much better sense of whether the fit feels right.