Starting therapy can feel overwhelming, and the many acronyms and approaches don’t make it easier. The good news is that you don’t need to understand all of them before reaching out. Many therapists blend approaches, and research consistently shows that feeling comfortable with your therapist matters a great deal.
It helps to know the basics. Below are seven common types of therapy and who they are often used for. Under each one, I’ve listed Peterborough therapists who offer it.
About these listings: These are not recommendations or endorsements. I contacted each therapist to confirm that they offer the approach listed, are currently offering therapy, and do not currently have a waitlist. This information was confirmed in November 2026 and may change, so please contact the therapist directly to confirm availability, fees, and fit. Therapists are listed in alphabetical order.
What it is: A practical, structured therapy that looks at how your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours affect each other.
How it works: You learn to notice automatic thoughts that show up in stressful moments, check whether they’re accurate, and try more helpful ways of responding. It often includes exercises between sessions, like tracking your mood or gradually facing situations you’ve been avoiding.
Often helpful for: Anxiety, depression, panic, phobias, OCD, and sleep difficulties.
Might suit you if: You want practical tools for day-to-day life and you’re comfortable trying exercises between sessions.
Peterborough therapists offering CBT:
What it is: A therapy that helps you change your relationship with difficult thoughts and feelings, rather than fighting them, while moving toward what matters to you.
How it works: Instead of trying to get rid of anxious or painful thoughts, ACT teaches you to notice them without being controlled by them, a skill called cognitive defusion. You also clarify your values and take small, committed steps in line with them.
Often helpful for: Anxiety, depression, chronic stress, perfectionism, and feeling stuck or directionless.
Might suit you if: You’ve tried to “think positive” or push feelings away without success, and you want to focus on living a meaningful life even when things are hard.
Peterborough therapists offering ACT:
What it is: A skills-based therapy that combines acceptance and change. It was originally developed for people with intense emotions and is now used more widely.
How it works: DBT teaches specific skills in four areas: mindfulness, tolerating distress, managing emotions, and communicating in relationships. It’s often delivered through a mix of individual sessions and skills groups.
Often helpful for: Intense or overwhelming emotions, self-harm, emotional reactivity, and relationship difficulties.
Might suit you if: Your emotions feel big and hard to manage, and you want concrete skills for getting through difficult moments.
Peterborough therapists offering DBT:
What it is: A talk therapy that explores how past experiences and unconscious patterns shape your present thoughts, feelings, and relationships.
How it works: Sessions are more open-ended than in CBT. You talk freely, and your therapist helps you notice recurring themes, such as how early relationships influence the way you connect with others today.
Often helpful for: Long-standing patterns, relationship difficulties, and a desire for deeper self-understanding.
Might suit you if: You’re curious about the “why” behind your patterns and are comfortable with a longer-term, exploratory process.
Peterborough therapists offering a Psychodynamic approach:
What it is: An approach built on the idea that people have the capacity to grow and heal when they feel truly heard and accepted. It grew out of the work of psychologist Carl Rogers.
How it works: Your therapist offers empathy, warmth, and a non-judgmental space, and you set the direction of the conversation. There are usually fewer set exercises and more room to explore what’s on your mind.
Often helpful for: Low self-esteem, life transitions, grief, and feeling unheard or unsure of yourself.
Might suit you if: You want a supportive, unhurried space without a structured plan.
Peterborough therapists offering a Person-Centered approach:
What it is: A structured therapy designed to help people process distressing memories, especially those related to trauma.
How it works: While briefly recalling a difficult memory, you follow a back-and-forth stimulus, such as guided eye movements or tapping. Over time, this is thought to help the memory feel less intense. You don’t have to describe every detail of what happened.
Often helpful for: Post-traumatic stress, trauma-related memories, and distressing life events.
Might suit you if: You’re dealing with the effects of a specific traumatic experience and want an approach that doesn’t rely on talking through every detail. EMDR requires specialized training, so look for a therapist trained in it.
Peterborough therapists offering EMDR:
What it is: A short-term, goal-oriented therapy that focuses on what you want your life to look like, rather than on the problem itself.
How it works: Your therapist helps you describe your goals, notice times when things are already going better, and build on your existing strengths. Many people use it for a small number of sessions.
Often helpful for: Specific goals, work or school stress, decision-making, and getting unstuck.
Might suit you if: You want a focused, forward-looking approach and aren’t looking to dig deeply into the past.
Peterborough therapists offering Solution-Focused Brief therapy:
How to Choose a Type of Therapy
A few things to keep in mind:
- You don’t have to pick perfectly. Many therapists draw on more than one approach and adjust based on what you need.
- Fit with your therapist matters. Feeling comfortable and understood is one of the strongest factors in whether therapy helps.
- Think about what you want. Practical skills may point toward CBT or ACT. Deeper exploration may point toward psychodynamic or person-centered work. Trauma may call for a trauma-specialized approach like EMDR.
- Use a consultation call. Many therapists offer a short free call. Not sure what to say? See What to Ask in a 15-Minute Therapy Consultation for questions about training, approach, fees, and what a typical session looks like.
This article is for general information and is not a substitute for professional advice. If you are in crisis, call or text 9-8-8 (Canada’s Suicide Crisis Helpline) or call 911.
De Jongh, A., Amann, B. L., Hofmann, A., Farrell, D., & Lee, C. W. (2019). The status of EMDR therapy in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder 30 years after its introduction. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 13(4), 261-269.
Elliott, R. (2002). The effectiveness of humanistic therapies: A meta-analysis.
Fonagy, P. (2015). The effectiveness of psychodynamic psychotherapies: An update. World psychiatry, 14(2), 137-150.
Forman, E. M., Herbert, J. D., Moitra, E., Yeomans, P. D., & Geller, P. A. (2007). A randomized controlled effectiveness trial of acceptance and commitment therapy and cognitive therapy for anxiety and depression. Behavior modification, 31(6), 772-799.
Gingerich, W. J., & Peterson, L. T. (2013). Effectiveness of solution-focused brief therapy: A systematic qualitative review of controlled outcome studies. Research on social work practice, 23(3), 266-283.
McEvoy, Peter M., and Paula Nathan. “Effectiveness of cognitive behavior therapy for diagnostically heterogeneous groups: a benchmarking study.” Journal of consulting and clinical psychology 75.2 (2007): 344.
Panos, P. T., Jackson, J. W., Hasan, O., & Panos, A. (2014). Meta-analysis and systematic review assessing the efficacy of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). Research on social work practice, 24(2), 213-223.