This section introduces more technical and theoretic therapies and interventions that focus on self-regulation and modelling balanced behaviours. While they may have less impact on your daily life and self-care, you can experiment and learn about these approaches and consider how they can be applied both personally and professionally.
You are encouraged to consider and research how some of these therapies may assist with your own self-care and management and also how they may impact supporting clients in the future. Below you will find a quick overview of therapies for you to scan through, and you’ll have the opportunity to delve more deeply into CBT and ACT approaches during your placement/external supervision.
Don’t worry about getting too caught up with developing a highly comprehensive understanding of these therapies, this section is really just to introduce these concepts. This is just a quick introduction to therapies you may like to explore further and they may be useful in your practice in years to come.
Main therapies
During your placement with Wiser Ways (or through external supervision), you will engage in learning a select number of therapies and interventions (ACT and CBT). Familiarising yourself with a few therapies will equip you with skills and techniques that you can experiment with to help you to take better care of yourself.
The ability to practice self-regulation will also directly benefit your future clients by modelling healthy and balanced behaviour.
You may be familiar with none, some or all of the following therapies. This non-exhaustive list may help you to find some which most resonate with you.
1. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) (compulsory)
The Happiness Trap Course by Dr Russ Harris is a program all students at Wiser Ways complete. This is also open to students receiving external supervision with Wiser Ways.
The Happiness Trap is an 8-week program which outlines how to ACT. ACT focuses on increasing psychological flexibility by promoting acceptance of negative thoughts and feelings, while encouraging commitment to behaviour aligned with personal values. ACT can be used for a variety of psychological complaints including stress, depression, anxiety and chronic pain.
There is also a book version by the same name, The Happiness Trap by Russ Harris that you can buy from various places, or borrow from the library.
2. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
CBT is seen as the go-to therapy for many psychological issues and there are many variants of CBT which are problem specific. If you wish to become a mental health social worker (MHSW) in the future, then the learning CBT is a must! CBT is a strongly evidenced based, structured, short-term therapy aimed at identifying and changing negative thought patterns and behaviours. It is widely used for anxiety, depression, PTSD, and more. You will have an opportunity to do a CBT course by the University of Reading in the UK during your Wiser Ways placement, and this is available for external supervision students with Wiser Ways also.
3. Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT)
Originally developed for borderline personality disorder, DBT combines elements of CBT with mindfulness and acceptance strategies. It focuses on helping individuals manage intense emotions and improve interpersonal relationships. DBT has been shown to be particularly helpful for addressing emotional dysregulation and self-harming behaviours. This is a complex therapy that requires extensive training and practice to deliver effectively. While it is valuable to be familiar with its principles, comprehensive application is beyond the scope of placement learning.
4. Eye-movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR)
EMDR is mostly known for treating trauma and PTSD. It involves processing distressing or traumatic memories while engaging in bilateral stimulation (typically eye movements but adaptable to other options). EMDR has a strong evidence based for effectively helping people process their trauma and reducing the severity of symptoms experienced by people with PTSD.
5. Internal Family Systems (IFS)
IFS is a therapeutic approach that views the mind as consisting of different “parts,” each with its own roles and behaviours, such as protecting, managing, or reacting to emotional pain. At the core is the “Self,” a calm, compassionate state that can lead the system. The goal of IFS is to heal wounded parts and foster harmony within by helping clients understand and unburden their parts, allowing the Self to take control. IFS is widely used for trauma, anxiety, and other emotional challenges and it assumes that there are no bad parts when exploring the inner life of a person, even if some parts have been forced into maladaptive roles.
6. Motivational Interviewing
Motivational Interviewing is a client-centred, goal-oriented therapeutic approach designed to help individuals resolve ambivalence about behaviour change. It uses techniques like open-ended questions, reflective listening, and affirmations to elicit the client’s own motivations for change, emphasising autonomy and collaboration. Grounded in empathy and empowerment, motivational interviewing is particularly effective in addressing behaviours related to addiction, health management, and lifestyle changes, focusing on building intrinsic motivation rather than imposing external pressure.
7. Narrative Therapy
Narrative Therapy is a collaborative, strength-based approach that helps individuals reshape their personal stories to reflect empowerment and resilience. It views problems as separate from the person, emphasising externalising issues to reduce blame and foster solutions. Through techniques like re-authoring and deconstructing dominant narratives, clients can explore alternative perspectives and identify values and strengths that support positive change. Often used for trauma, identity, and relational challenges, narrative therapy highlights the individual as the expert in their own life, encouraging self-determination and growth.
8. Polyvagal Theory
Polyvagal Theory explores how the autonomic nervous system (ANS) influences emotional regulation, social connection, and stress responses. Developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, it highlights the vagus nerve’s role in activating three ANS states: the ventral vagal state (safety and social engagement), the sympathetic state (fight or flight), and the dorsal vagal state (shutdown or freeze). It emphasizes the importance of co-regulation and safety cues in fostering well-being. Polyvagal-informed approaches are used in trauma therapy and stress management to help clients restore a sense of safety and connection through self-regulation and relational practices.
9. Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)
EFT also known as “tapping,” combines elements of cognitive therapy and acupressure to reduce emotional distress. The technique involves tapping on specific acupressure points on the body while focusing on a distressing thought or emotion. By stimulating these points, EFT aims to balance the body’s energy system, reduce negative emotional states, and reframe thought patterns. It’s commonly used for anxiety, PTSD, and chronic pain management. Research suggests that EFT can help lower cortisol levels, improve emotional regulation, and support healing from trauma through self-regulation.
In the next section you will find some exercises sourced from some of these therapies to help you on your placement self-care journey.
Reflection Questions
Take some time to write down responses to these reflective questions, and you might like to discuss at your next supervision session:
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Of the therapies listed, which one resonates with you the most, and why?
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How might practising these therapies benefit your personal well-being during your placement?